This blog was inspired by a friend, to whom on first meeting I asked the question: “On a scale of 1 – 10, what level of Astrology would you say you’re at?”

She replied confidently “A Six”.

Since then she has gradually lowered her level to a Three.

So here, at current understanding, are the 10 Levels.

1.  You don’t take interest in Astrology, except to occasionally read your newspaper horoscope for fun.
2. You know your Sun signs, and sometimes ask people theirs.  You can come up with some startling psychological insights on this basis.
3. You have had your chart done, and know the rudiments of how a birth chart works.  From listening to and reading Astrological articles, you can make theories of your own and you feel connected with what is out there in the Cosmos.  You play it safe by using only the Equal House System, otherwise you would get confused.
4. You have jumped in on Astrology through the psychic route, perhaps from tarot or palmistry or mediumship, and can almost read a chart just by placing the palms of your hands on the chart while looking at someone’s face (or without even looking at them).  You may feel like ignoring some of the unnecessary details and new-fangled theories, as they interfere with your mental images and the messages from your guides.  Sometimes you just look at the aspect patterns in the middle of the chart and see the interpretations visually.  A type 4 can rise through the ranks very rapidly, but often finds a new primary path.
5. You see Astrology as part of your philosophical research, and may be a Psychiatric professional, a Philosopher or even a Scientist, and it becomes part of your tool kit in a wider practice.  You sense the potential of Astrology, but see it as an adjunct to your main Profession.  Nevertheless, you have a very proficient grasp of the subject, and at the back of your mind you sense that you may give it a higher profile in your work some day.  You see yourself as an intellectual liberal.
6. You are a serious student of Astrology, perhaps reluctant to see yourself as an Astrologer, but soaking up information and learning and theory at a prodigious rate.  The study of the subject fills you with confidence that the Science/Art can potentially solve any question.  You take on a few clients in order to help you with what you see as an eternal research.
7. You maintain a private Astrological practice, but do not feel yourself to be very adventurous.  You are quietly contented with your level, and happy to carry on as you are.  You have, however, gone beyond the classical textbooks in examining the role of Chiron since it was discovered in 1977.  You are a bit wary about Ophiuchus theories, though.
8. From starting on the basics years ago, and possibly taking a qualification in Astrology, you have learned through experience and a computer-like memory which can compile statistics mentally, plus a steady private practice, to apply Astrology all the time to everything in your life.  You might even have a blog, too.  You may be a bit daunted by all the advanced Astrological software, and therefore are unable to fulfil its potential.
9. You work with all the asteroids, mid-points, harmonics, Solar Arc, and embrace all the latest theories, with a flexible bendy astrological mind, and can evaluate, co-ordinate and contrast all of these approaches confidently and communicate them articulately.  In addition, you are a whiz with all the computer software available to the Astrologer in the 21^st Century , regularly skype your clients and publish your latest research in e-books.  You earn a living wage through Astrology.
10. You are the teachers’ teacher in Astrology, and regularly contribute to Astrology magazines, lecture at meetings, and are a published author of several books.  Your books are regularly referred to in articles and lectures by others.

Feel free to quarrel with these descriptions, and the order in which I have placed them and to let me know if you come outside these categories.

Please note, I may alter this blog from time to time; indeed, we may create this together, reaching towards an accurate representation of the picture.  You might want to print out this article as a starting point.

Interesting synchronicity that Joanna Lumley was finishing her Greek Odyssey on our screens as a Greek drama unfolded on the Eurozone scene,  in the crescendo of the week.  In the final programme of the series, Joanna was told that the series would be successful by an elderly Greek lady who was reading her coffee grounds.  Unfortunately, she did not pronounce on the future of the Euro.  The same evening Nicolas Sarkozy was telling the G20 summit “We cannot accept the explosion of the euro, which would mean the explosion of Europe” at the same time as George Papandreou of Greece had threatened a referendum, which he later described as a shock tactic, saying he didn’t mean it really… George Papandreou the Prime Minister of Greece has Mercury (his mental equipment) at 4 degrees Cancer, which squares the Pluto of the natal chart of Greece (bringing mental strain to his natal equipment).  The current square of Uranus in Aries and Pluto in Capricorn form a T-square with his natal Mercury, increasing that mental strain to the hilt.  Some questioned his mental state in engineering the brinkmanship brought about by his announcement of a referendum, and political positions are still being worked out in Greece now.  Meanwhile, almost at the heart and helm of the Euro crisis (Angela Merkel being the heart and helm) according to the Astrology, Nicolas Sarkozy has an instinctive understanding of the European Union (and therefore has easily built up an image of how his role should be within it).  His Mercury is sextile the European Union Mercury (giving him a facility with ideas related to it, business and economic issues within it, and communication channels).  His Neptune is also conjunct the European Union Jupiter, so there is almost a sense of religiosity in the way he feels about the European Union and its potential.  His Jupiter squares the Euro (as distinct from the European Union) Nodal Axis, so he has a karmic role to play at this time, and one of keeping up its profile in some way.  His Pluto trines its Jupiter, so he is totally involved in trying to make it work.  His Neptune squares its Uranus however, so his own illusions may complicate its destiny further.  But there is no doubting his commitment, in saying: “The euro is at the heart of Europe”.  I took a break from all this yesterday, and had a great time at the Brian Weiss workshop in London yesterday. Brian Weiss is the most popular of past-life therapists and author of such classics as “Many Lives, Many Masters” and “Same Soul, Many Bodies”, and I booked my place months ago. Apparently the event was an almost instant sell-out.  People came from all over the world (except for the U.S.) to see this psychiatrist from Florida.  They came from places as far flung as Trinidad and Portugal, bringing translated editions from exotic locations such as Iran and Malta.  Dr. Weiss has the slowest speaking voice I have ever heard, as befits someone who has been doing past life therapy for 30 years.  He has a GSOH, in fact an acutely and unusually teasing sense of humour that doesn’t come across in his books!  I wonder how that persona comes out from his birthchart…We do not have a birthtime and so cannot divine his Ascendant and Midheaven, which often contribute to the persona.  He is a Scorpio, which is the sign of Psychiatry, and in fact it’s his birthday today.  The humour may be linked with his Jupiter being exactly sextile his North Node, which has given him a karmic grace in his work and mission.  I spent most of the day pleasantly semi-comatose (he gave 4 meditations – tremendous value!), surfacing occasionally to make notes.  I don’t know how it was for the rest of the 900-strong audience.  That might just have been my pattern because, not comparing the two in any intrinsic sense, I admit to always falling asleep whenever I have been in the presence of the Dalai Lama.  A few years ago, my hubby complained that I was meditating too much, but I have got it down to once a day now.  Enough about me, let’s look at the aspects for the week ahead.  Today is a good day for tying up small but important loose ends, with the minor aspects of Mercury/Venus semi-sextile Pluto.  It is another week with a dominant theme by Neptune, as tomorrow we face an opposition between Mars and Neptune.  Whereas last week’s Neptune issues were emotional and mental confusion, tomorrow’s opposition could bring instinctual confusion.  Well if your instincts are currently wading on shifting sands, what can you trust?  You can go to a higher level, to your intuition (via meditation, but don’t overdo it like me).  The work you do on this will pay off by Wednesday (9^th) because Neptune is stationary prior to turning direct (what a relief) and you will be able to see that a spade will look like a spade.  It always was a spade, but you had your doubts, lately.  A Full Moon in Taurus on Thursday (10^th) adds some more earthiness and practicality to your outlook, but not everyone finds the Full Moon energy easy, and it has to be balanced with the intensely searching Sun in Scorpio.  So if you are immersed in gardening, some part of you still has to engage with the angst going on in the world or in your personal affairs.  The same day Chiron (which has been travelling with Neptune in recent years) also turns stationary prior to direct, which benefits healing efforts, healing projects, and uncovering the associated mental causations, which may or may not be derived from the past.  And on Friday (11:11:11) Mars means business, leaving its performance-based urges in Leo, for the quieter conscientious working mode of Virgo.  We’ll be knuckling down to some real work schedules, and health and safety projects.  Many of us will be earth healing, or marking the impressive numerology of the day in some way.  The week ends on Saturday (12^th) with an opposition between Mars and Chiron: energies could be awkward that day, and there may be minor healing crises or opportunities to put into practice what we have learned this week or recently.  What were your learnings, and how can you apply them? I have learned about synchronicity, and moderation in meditation, and deepened my interest in the scope of the human mind.

The week in bullet points:

• Today – housekeeping
• Tomorrow – examining your own Achilles heel
• Wednesday – spiritual reorientation
• Thursday – balancing; healing initiatives
• Friday – interesting numerology; getting down to things
• Saturday – the square peg in the round hole

(Apologies for the slightly altered blog format this week – you can put it down to Neptune)

Aries

This week could turn your head around.  All week Mercury will be chasing Venus but never quite catches her.  Why is Mercury trying to catch Venus?  He wants to have a dialogue with her.  Why does he want to have a dialogue with her?  The mind wants to swap notes with the heart, to co-ordinate the new-found wisdom. Many of us have experienced evolutionary shifts recently, and need to upgrade our everyday practices to match this incoming energy.  You may be finding that the new energy doesn’t sit well with your old circumstances.  Uranus this week from your sign harmonizes with the near conjunction, so you may find your words sprinkled with stardust.

Taurus

Mercury and Venus are like brother and sister in the family of planets around the Sun, and when they do meet they can catch up with family news, and you can take stock of issues in your personality development, such as the role of your ego.  How is your ego looking?  What is the state of your self-esteem?   Taureans have a tendency towards modesty and playing the supporting act, but you need now to find balance along your ego/self-esteem spectrum.  With Mercury sticking close to your natal planet all week, you will be buzzing with ideas.

Gemini

You may literally need a conflab with a sibling, or with someone who acts as a sibling for you this week.  A neighbour may pop their head over the fence at just the right moment, for instance, to lend an ear.  What happens when your ruler Mercury and Venus meet is that writing and articulation of the arts can take place.  Although Mercury spends several days trying to catch up with Venus he doesn’t actually make it.  The journey is the goal, and the thrill is in the chase.  You may need to accept that.

Cancer

This week snatches of poetry can be written,  a chapter or two of a novel,  a few brushstrokes on a canvas, and short tete a tetes snatched in cafes overlooking riverbanks;  contributions towards the major oeuvre – remember that Cancer is a literary sign.  Not a week to achieve earth shattering stuff, but stuff that makes ordinary life pleasant and harmonious, and cosy in the way Cancerians like it.  Your ruler the Moon runs the gamut of Sagittarius to Pisces this week, via Capricorn and Aquarius.  So you will start out adventurous, then draw in your claws conservatively.  In the second half of the week you’ll be networking, and then end towards the end of the week retreat into shyness and sensitivity.  Try to plan events accordingly.

Leo

Your sign is creative, and your natural art form is drama.  So you may question, in this week where writing is emphasized, whether we still have a use for poetry as an artform in this modern world?  It may yet be the best expression for the soul, I wager, and some of the best dramatists have been poets too.  Of course not everyone is even inclined to the Arts – you may have an Ascendant which contrasts with your Sunsign,  and which inclines you to have a different lifestyle and work as an Accountant say, a Scientist or an Engineer.  If so, it could be a week when the Arts could impinge on your lifestyle, and reclaim you.  Or you may have ideas that benefit the planet, and combine scientific expertise with ecological devices.   Untypically for you, you may stay out of the limelight this week and play a supportive role, like a benevolent uncle.

Virgo

Tomorrow it’s Happy Halloween, and many will favour or even seek out the scary vibe.  Any poetry written early in the week could appear uncharacteristically fanciful.  You could just let it out uncritically, in the manner of Julia Cameron (whose books include “The Artist’s Way”, “The Right to Write”),  writing for writing’s sake.  Let go of the perfectionism you are known for, and see what happens.  Writing for you tends to be a studious affair, but your sign has undeniable ability in this craft.  With Venus close to your natal planet all week, you will be involved in some warm exchanges.

Libra

A full blooded Halloween would ideally have a square from Pluto, but tomorrow’s square between Venus and Neptune can do paranoid at least.  So a paranoid Halloween to those who would like a bit of scaremongering.  For on Tuesday (1^st November) Monday’s emotional paranoia gives way to mental paranoia resulting from Mercury’s square to Neptune, or mental evaluation of the previous day’s emotional paranoia.  You know you love it.  Sometimes we just have to go through and examine the paranoia, before we can progress.  Paranoia and scaremongering are out of the natural comfort zone of Libran pleasantness, but Neptune’s square to your ruler can bring a little edge to your normal way of being.  Let out some tension.

Scorpio

The Sun is still in your sign, and you may have the other zodiac signs riveted with fascination.  They may be trying to work out how you function.  What they may not be able to connect with is that deep underground watery well of emotion, unless they have a strong Plutonian streak or another way of resonating with your nature.  You may prefer to be silent this week, not to write or perform, but just to observe life, and keep on collecting your reservoir of wisdom.

Sagittarius

Any poetry written on Tuesday (1^st November) could be incomprehensible to your fellow man or woman, very Joycian (James Joyce had Sun/Venus square Neptune).  You know that book they say is residing in each of us?  This may be the week that it almost surfaces.  Keep your pen poised, and notebook handy.  Hold off actual writing ideally until Wednesday (2^nd), when it is safe to write and the muse could come out of the closet, with Venus entering your adventurous sign.  The Sun’s opposition with your ruler Jupiter may have recently brought a power struggle and you may have lost a battle, but Pluto’s recent trine to Jupiter supports an enduring victory.

Capricorn

Are you a soft centre with a hard shell, or the reverse?  You can start to pursue a romantic ideal this week, or a love of the outdoors.  Fashion note: deerstalker hat, country brogues and Burberry jacket (unless, like me, you never wear them).  The morning activity of Wednesday 2nd will maintain a profound quality, with Mercury still in Scorpio, and those born at the end of Capricorn will be especially mentally acute.  You put judgementalism on the back burner this week.

Aquarius

In the afternoon of Wednesday 2^nd, Mercury enters Sagittarius, spicing up your taste for adventure – both for inner journeying and outward bound travel.  At close of play on Wednesday, Venus squares Chiron, so someone may criticize your fashion sense as being just too out there.  A brief healing crisis could result, but remember who you are – the original rebel!  On Thursday (3^rd) you may actualize some poetry, novel  writing or painting and surprise even yourself in the process with a fever pitch of ingenuity , for Venus and Mercury trine your natal ruler Uranus.  These aspects are also good for relationships and inventions, and higher orders of thought, while also taking in scientific invention and design.  It could be your week.

Pisces

Mercury squares Chiron on Thursday (3^rd November), so there could be some nervous tension and self-questioning, or nail-biting.  Some meditation would be advised in order to tap into the universal consciousness, and your connection with it.  If plaudits are what you seek, the Booker prize is spoken for this year, having gone to Julian Barnes…He does not have Mercury conjunct Venus, but J.K. Rowling does have.  She started writing in cafes, and so may you this week.  You may start the week confused, with your ruler Neptune playing up, but feel yourself becoming clearer as the week goes on.  Spookily, as I finished writing this blog, highlighting this week’s connection with poetry, I learned that a Poet had just become the new President of Ireland…

(Back to normal next week, including the bullet points)

Scorpio New Moon Mandala painted by Sarah Berry
Line Mandala from Mandala Colouring Book by Barry Stevens
available at http://www.mandalas.freeserve.co.uk/colouringinbook.html

This is the second of an occasional series written about the expertise of each Sun Sign. I am still looking for the Libran who can write a guide to Relationships. The articles will be found under the category “Zodiac Masterclass” so that eventually there will be 12 such articles, e.g. “The Sagittarian Guide to Trusting the Universe”, “The Cancerian Guide to Parenting”, the Taurean Guide to the Inner Artist” etc. Each article will be written by someone who has the Sun Sign in question.

Here guest blogger Jeanne Essex writes about accentuating the positive, which I think is a rebranding of Scorpio, my favourite Sun sign by the way. A word about the mandala: Sarah painted it on the last Scorpio New Moon, and it seems quite gentle and soothing in waves of green. Maybe it’s an antidote to lull those who find Scorpio energy difficult.

I have known Jeanne since University days, when she was reading English at Nottingham University, and she is an experienced writer. Her Scorpio credentials take in a square from Pluto to her Sun in her natal chart. In my life, I have always learned from Jeanne, who has taken life’s rites of passage before me and dealt with them so well.

The Scorpio Guide to: Accentuating the Positive

by Jeanne Essex

You want me to talk about being a Scorpio?

Hang on. Let me just put down my riding crop, come up from the dungeon and slip out of this black leather corset and these high-heeled thigh boots.

Relax, everybody! Just teasing. I simply cannot cope with the high heels any more at my time of life and with my arthritis. In addition that plus-size corset absolutely kills me nowadays.

Seriously though, it often seems to Scorpios that astrology unfairly concentrates on our dark side. How we envy those lucky Librans, of whom the worst that is ever said is that they tend to sit on the fence about issues. I mean would you rather be thought of as merely wishy-washy and indecisive or a potential sadistic serial killer, likely to have a torture chamber in the cellar?

We poor Scorpios often feel misunderstood and that does bring out our undeniable dark side, because, it is true that we can be jealous, obsessive, suspicious and resentful, but we are like that because we feel so passionately and deeply about everything. We just don’t do ‘casual’ in relationships or life in general. We are really, really deep. Okay?

The intensity of our feelings may frighten people of a nervous disposition; hell, it even scares us at times. However, because of this intensity, we are extremely loyal friends and lovers, but never, ever betray our trust, because we will never forgive or forget. Once lost, our trust is impossible to regain and we have such long memories that elephants come to us to check on what they were doing twenty years ago. This is the way that disputes tend to go in our house:

Me : “You said, in the summer of 1973 – it was a Sunday afternoon and raining at the time, I had on that pale blue dress and we were having strawberries and cream for tea – ….”.

My poor, bemused husband: “Er…Well if you say so.”

After over 40 years of this stuff, he can only ever concede the point, because he can’t even remember what I said half an hour ago. Hah! (Did I mention that another of our faults is that we need to win?)

In addition to a prodigious memory and the inability to forget a slight or betrayal, we are armed with the ability to flay with the tongue and wound with cutting sarcasm. This form of attacking defence is known in our family as ‘Scorping’ somebody and I plead guilty to having used it in the past and would like several hundred cases to be taken into consideration, although I try hard to curb it nowadays.

Some of us bear grudges to the extent that we will go so far as to try actively to get revenge, which is a very scary prospect for anybody in the path of an avenging Scorpio. This is an aspect of the Scorpio in which I have never allowed myself to indulge, but I shamefully admit to the love of a bit of poetic justice and schadenfreude about my enemies’ mishaps, when they occur in the rough and tumble of life.

Evolving

I firmly believe that the key to being an ‘evolved’ Scorpio is working hard to control the negative aspects of our character. (Ah, control! That’s another trait dear to the Scorpio heart.) For every negative there is a related positive, which Scorpios need to develop. When channelled, that famous passion can be a formidable force for good. We can get involved in causes and contribute to making real changes in society. There is never an issue that we don’t care about and we can love very deeply and faithfully.

Those negative qualities of never forgetting a supposed betrayal also have a positive side, because we also never forget a little act of kindness or thoughtful gesture and we will continue to repay for ever. Once you have our love, trust and respect, we will never let you down.

We are said to be manipulative and to set about seducing people, but those talents can be utilized positively in aid of good causes and are handy in recruiting helpers and fund raising. Because we like to win and secretly fear failure, we tend to set realistic and achievable goals and we are very flexible in our approach and willing to change direction, to adapt and overcome. Add to these qualities our resourcefulness and dynamism and we are very useful people to have on your team.

That secrecy we are famous for means that you can also trust us with your own secrets and you can tell us pretty much anything, secure in the knowledge that you cannot shock us. One good thing about being aware of one’s dark side is that a Scorpio can accept the less palatable side of human behaviour in others. Nobody knows as well as a Scorpio that given the right circumstances we are all capable of anything.

We have an ability to face up to the hard things in life and because we are in tune with the cycles of birth and death, those transitional times hold little fear for us. These qualities can be helpful in supporting other people, through bereavement counselling, for example.

To sum up, I have come to learn that I cannot stop myself from feeling twinges of jealously and suspicion, of resentment and bitterness, but I can own them and refuse to let them dominate my life or affect my behaviour. I have spent my adult life learning to let go of things, ‘accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative’, as the song goes.

In my own case, it is probable that all that intense Scorpio energy is tempered by my fluffy Cancer ascendant, but having the Cancer influence sure as hell doesn’t curb any of the emotionalism and reinforces the ability to care deeply and love unconditionally.

It does mean that after a tough session in the dungeon you are likely to get a nice cup of tea and a cuddle, though.

Sadly, Jeanne passed away on 6th November 2013

Before looking at what is a busy week for aspects, I will take a look at the serious news item of last week Libya, and a lighthearted survey of some of the Strictly Come Dancing acts, for balance. Gaddafi met his end last week.  Muammar started out thinking of himself as a liberator.  As the Guardian Obituary tells us: “With Nasser as his idol – he too later titled himself colonel – the 14 year old Gaddafi was caught up in the surging pan-Arab emotions of the time, in the ideals of Arab renaissance…Expelled from school for his political activities, he continued his secondary education at Misrata, on the coast, and there, with some of his classmates, he decided to join the army as a means of overthrowing the monarchy”.  Without knowing his birth time, it seems that Uranus (revolution) has played a strong role in shaping his life (e.g. it may be on one of the angles of his chart), for at the time of his coup in 1969, which created the Republic of Libya, Uranus was trine his Uranus.  At his demise, Uranus in Aries (the spirit of the Arab Spring) is exactly sextile with his personal Uranus (which has played itself out).  It is the Uranus opposition of the Republic, the Counter-Revolution.  The original 1951 chart of Libya (pre-Gaddafi) is the beneficiary, both on the day of his demise, and as the foundation for its future, with a treasury of aspects:  Uranus squares Libya’s Sun (extreme change), Neptune trines its Moon (aspirations for the people), the North Node trines its Mercury (a new constitution karmically demanded), the North Node sextile its Mars (a change of military focus, again brought about karmically), Pluto squares its Jupiter (a dramatic transfer of power, out of control), Saturn conjuncts its Neptune (traumatic stress to be worked through), Saturn sextiles its Pluto, and North Node squares its Ascendant (a completely new karmic order).  Though the future seems uncertain, astrological indications are that this could actually be the liberation of Libya, but with a lot to be worked through in the future, and no magic wand.

Continuing my survey of the lighter side of life: The still-new Strictly Come Dancing series seems to have thrown up some real talents this year: one of which is Holly Valance.  Like Anita Dobson, who is also doing well, she is a Taurean trooper.  She has the North Node (karmic mission) a few degrees away from the Gemini Sun of partner Artem Chigvintsev, and more significantly, her South Node in Sagittarius is almost exactly conjunct his Neptune (planet of dance) indicating they may have danced together in past lives, especially Latino ones.  Meanwhile, Latina Nancy dell’Olio is at the other end of the leader board, and may not survive tonight’s results programme.  As far as I know, Nancy has not revealed her birth date to the world, but we know that she is Cancerian, and Anton has 3 skilful planets spread out in the sign of Cancer to cover any of her moods.  It was not enough to control her feather boa in her first dance though, and now that Edwina Currie has gone, it does leave her vulnerable with the viewing vote.

This week begins with the entry of the Sun into Scorpio at tea-time in the U.K.  If you are reading this before 6.30 p.m. you are in the last throes of the Sun in Libra – take advantage of any last minute opportunities for diplomacy and negotiation, any olive branches coming your way and any fly pasts by doves.  At 6.30 p.m. you will need to be more on your mettle, more alert to what is going on in your life, and less dreamy and idealistic.  If you feel you need to bring out your inner warrior, assemble your tools: your pet scorpion, your hypnotic laser eyes, and your will to overcome any obstacles.  I am hoping to post the second Zodiac Masterclass around that time, which has been written by a real Scorpio with real life experience (not just a theoretical Scorpio), if you feel you don’t have enough Plutonian energy to rise to the occasion.  The Sun trines Chiron tomorrow, and to the new Scorpio influx of energy are added the healing rays of Chiron.  This is an excellent aspect for regeneration, and coming back from a difficult situation or health issue.  Wednesday (26^th) is the most eventful day, starting with a sextile between Mars and Saturn, representing controlled and steady action, the precision of the surgeon, at the start of the day, which sets a helpful tone.  A New Moon in Scorpio comes along later in the day, which again represents the regeneration of life force, and a new understanding for us in terms of the mysteries of life and the life cycle.  Finally that day Mars squares Venus, so if you are at a party in the evening you might need to watch for inappropriate social behaviour, the inappropriately intimate pinch, or leer…!  It seems to me it happens all the time on Strictly.  On Friday (28^th) Mars squares Mercury and there could be all-round general irritability, and carelessness, especially in relation to Geminis and Virgos.  Drivers be extra vigilant when parking.  The biggest aspect of the week, Jupiter trine Pluto, also takes place on this day, so there is an important balancing of power, and one which may have been an on-off feature for you this year.  People will need to take accounts of rights and wrongs, and they will need to form a group to evaluate the situation, as this is not an aspect where one person can act alone without consequences.  But within yourself, you may come to a special place of integrity, where you know that your actions will be right when you carry them out into the world.  The next day, Saturday 29^th, that integrity can be carried through with others as the Sun joins this trine, opposing Jupiter and trining Pluto.  Others may be interested in your projects, and the only drawback may be overconfidence or over-enthusiasm – you need some boundaries or even structure, because Rome was not built in a day.

The week in bullet points:

• Today – switchover from mild manners to more gutsy ones
• Monday – healing processes can begin
• Wednesday – precision, regeneration and flirtation
• Friday – nerves on edge, but getting it right in the bigger picture
• Saturday – working with others on the bigger picture

“We can change the future, but…
…we must perceive it first”

So says Dr. Bruce Goldberg at the frontispiece of his book “Past Lives  Future Lives”.  This time last week I was completing the Future Life Progression practitioner training course with the leading edge future life teacher Anne Jirsch, which you can imagine was amazing. What you can also imagine are the debates I had when I got home to my scientist hubby. “Well” he said “I can see how you can travel back to the past” (I have been a past life therapist for 21 years) “But I can’t see how you can travel to the future”. To me, it’s equally logical.  Great fun! And time will tell, but from where I stand now future life progression looks to be life-changing, and a wonderful tool for problem solving and raising consciousness, needed now as much as ever.   More soon, but…back to the present.  In the U.K., Defence Minister Liam Fox left us dangling this week as to when he would resign, over the enigma of aide Adam Werrity’s role in political life.  Fox himself has a very interesting birth chart, with Venus conjunct Uranus hinting that he has unusual relationships.  There is a lot that he’s balancing in this lifetime, with Mercury conjunct Mars in Libra (excellent for defence and diplomacy work) squaring Jupiter conjunct Saturn (checks and balances).  He is a follower of Margaret Thatcher, and the relationship is shown in their charts by Thatcher’s Neptune (inspiration) sextile Fox’s Mercury (ideology).  When he took his appointment as Secretary of State for Defence, there were three oppositional transits to his chart: Uranus opposite his Sun, and Neptune opposite his  Venus and Uranus.  This might suggest it was not an easy balancing of interests.  At the time of his resignation of Friday, Neptune had returned to the same position in relation to his Venus-Uranus, reinforcing his personal difficulties and the spectre of scandal which was undetected for a considerable time.  Adam Werrity’s Saturn lies on Liam Fox’s Venus, and this can mean loyalty in a relationship, but can certainly in this case be seen to have brought about Fox’s downfall.  Both were thoughtless about the consequences of their political and personal arrangements.  In Fox’s case personal need was involved (Venus/Uranus) and in Werrity’s status (Saturn) was a consideration.  Could Future Life Progression have saved them?  Common sense or the intervention of a helpful friend would have easily nipped the problem in the bud.  But certainly Future Life Progression would have picked it up.  What problems this week can be nipped in the bud with a little foresight from the knowledge of planetary aspects?  We only have three, and they are reasonable ones to work with.  Today Mercury sextiles Pluto, so it is a good day to look at issues from a deeper perspective, and talk them over.  If you are working this weekend, much can be accomplished, and determination and focus will be intense, and one of the keys to success.  Tomorrow Mercury is opposed by Jupiter, and minds will be more scattered, and you may need to travel to communicate your interests.  This aspect is not too problematic, but holds the tendency of overstretching resources.  Geminis and Sagittarians may find their interests opposed, with Geminis recognizing the need to focus and Sagittarians wanting to diversify.  If they can resolve this, they’re in business!  And, lastly, just before midnight on Friday (21^st) the week concludes with a trine between the Sun (at the end of Libra) and Neptune (at the end of Aquarius).  This is a fine aspect for realizing dreams and wishes, and firming up your ideals.  It’s also creatively and artistically inspired.  If you’re having lunch with friends, talk about your hopes – they may be eavesdropped by light beings helping you create your future.

Bullet points for Busy people:

• Today – Accomplishment
• Monday – Mental and physical travel
• Friday and Saturday – You’ve got to have a dream

I am not a Mac user, but some of my best friends are.

This is only the second astrological appreciation I have felt called to do, despite the worthiness of all those who have passed since my little piece on Anita Roddick in 2007. Strangely enough, they are both entrepreneurs, with their Jupiter close in the third decanate of Cancer.  I will try to make this a small tribute as well.

Steve jobs was a Sunsign Piscean genius with the Jupiter-Uranus conjunction I call “The Entrepreneur” which incorporates risk-taking, so one for the astrology textbooks. With the Part of Fortune at the beginning of his 2nd House squaring his Jupiter-Uranus, he had a zest for making money and invention.  His Virgo ascendant gave him the eye for detail, sense of service, and relentless perfectionism of his formidable reputation.  His Ascendant was trine his Venus on the cusp of his 5th house, which showed his love of beauty in design and talent for creativity. Jupiter exactly trine his Saturn gave him the balance and strength of character which he needed to accomplish all he did. He was a Buddhist and believed in alternative medicine, and though his Chiron was not strong, it was situated in his 5th house of creativity, so his creations were actually healing.  Mercury also in his 5th house in Aquarius describes the nature of his technical and communication-based creations. Mars trine Pluto in fire signs gave him phenomenal creative energy.

He was at peace with himself spiritually at his leavetaking, as evinced by Neptune trine his natal Neptune.  Uranus, the planet of information technology, was exactly square his nodal axis, time for pastures new.

It is only in recent years that I came to a personal appreciation of Jobs’ worth…  But when I am away from home, my iPhone and Apps provide great solace.

The new line up in the current series of Strictly Come Dancing looks promising!  In particular, Jason Donovan and Anita Dobson seemed to shine initially.  Jason has his Venus, Sun and Mars in Gemini, the sign of Neighbours, but does not have a traditional dancer’s chart.  So I was pleasantly surprised.  Anita is a Taurean through and through, with a flashy outer covering of Leo.  But what is really interesting about her chart is her conjunction of the Midheaven (Careerpoint) and North Node (karmic mission) which means her outer career and spiritual purpose are united.  That gives her a special ability to focus in all that she does.  Lulu – I expected her to be much more co-ordinated than she appeared in her first dance, and maybe she was just having an off-day (or really doesn’t have good chemistry with Brendan Cole and isn’t just pretending?).  What makes Brendan the naughty boy of Strictly?  Answer – Mars square to Venus.  Spiritually, they are in tune, with their Neptunes in trine with each other.  But the spark between them is Brendan’s Uranus conjunct Lulu’s South Node, a liaison which could go back to Atlantis.  The good news is that Lulu’s aspects are set to improve, at least for the next week or so – I hope to monitor all the contestants from time to time throughout the series.  The piece de resistance was Russell Grant, every bit as delightful in his debut as I had hoped!   He may not have as much time as usual to look up his own stars at the moment, but natally he has 3 planets (Venus, Mars and Jupiter) in Pisces making him an inspirational figure (to some).    Pisces is the sign of dance, and he also has his North Node there, so it may be his karmic mission to entertain us on the dance floor…His first career, Astrology, is shown by Uranus, the planet of Astrology, at the top of his chart.  Delicious!  Now feelings are running deep, as Venus enters Scorpio on Sunday. You may have been exchanging social pleasantries on Saturday while Venus was still in Libra, then realize on Sunday that you find yourself in deeper waters. Venus also trines Chiron on that day, so the deeper waters have a healing purpose, and no doubt that’s about recognizing what needs healing and feeling on an emotional level. On Wednesday (12th) the emotional focus turns away from relationship, and others, and needs to focus on the self, with a full moon in Aries. There’s no compromise to be had, no matter how convincing the case put forward by the other half , as represented by the sun in Libra. You must do what is right for you. Full Moons can work better if both parties focus on a cause outside themselves, or on a solution where all parties can win.  Neptune trines Mercury later on Wednesday morning.  If you suffered confusion the week beginning 4 September when Mercury was opposite Neptune, now you may find the mental harmony and balance between the rational and the spiritual, the two reflecting each other like a skyscape on water.  It could all make much more sense now. Record this sensibility in your diary or in a poem, so that you can consult your own inner truth when Mercury next makes a wobbly aspect with Neptune.  The next day ( Thursday 13th) Venus sextiles Pluto and more balancing is set to occur, more deep feelings are acknowledged and revealed and shared, and more emotional healing is possible, early in the morning.  However, a few aspects jostle for influence on that day, so later on in the morning you may sense a change with Mercury entering Scorpio.  While fine words may have been oiling the wheels nicely when Mercury was in Libra, they may not butter any parsnips after 10.52 am (U.K. time).   A light salad lunch would be more appropriate than a heavy roast, lest the accompanying conversation may be unpalatable or indigestible. You may find that you hear words which are more profound and more truthful than expected though. Maintain your stamina on Thursday for a further two aspects: next up,  is Sun conjunct Saturn. Despite good  intentions to avoid negative emotions, you may have taken to heart another’s  comment earlier in the day ( hope it’s not a comment on this blog!).  The conjunction takes place in Libra, so relationships could take the brunt of remarks made:  romances could be disillusioned;  a dear one may shut off emotionally in order to work on their own inner process.  Finally, Mercury trines Chiron, bringing the mental illumination needed to make a whole out of all the perplexities of the day.  You may remember the word which eluded you earlier, and accept that minor memory lapse is just part of growing up!  It’s a good day for the healing of the nervous system.  Congratulations for getting through to Friday, when you will be greeted by an opposition between Venus and Jupiter.  Not too much to fear: a social gaffe or two, or a playful  tug of love.  After an intense but rewarding week, you can handle that.

The week in bullet points:

• Sunday – depth and healing
• Wednesday – self-serving, and mental clarity
• Thursday – deep feelings, deep thinking, withdrawal, and mental healing
• Friday – silliness

The fiscal crisis rumbles on, with no end in sight.  What is going on? The world wonders.  What is it all leading up to…?  Obama looks to Europe to solve the crisis, and the situation in Europe is no further forward from last week.

Last week I wrote about how the current aspects are affecting the charts of the main financial characters.  Let’s see if anything has changed this week:

IMF:  Pluto is conjunct the Sun of the International Monetary Fund chart.  Aspects don’t get tougher than this.

Christine Lagarde: Neptune still opposes her Pluto (an extreme test of her skills) and squares her Saturn.  No change there.  Still way too much pressure.

Barack Obama: Uranus trines his natal Mercury and squares his Venus, while Jupiter opposes his Neptune.  Mentally he is in good shape, emotionally he is a little volatile, and spiritually he is a little florid.  That doesn’t explain the Wall Street protests, so hopping over to the U.S. chart…

…U.S. Chart:  Transitting Mars conjuncts its North Node (forcing a karmic issue) and sextiles its Uranus.  This signifies an awakening of energy, and specifically rebellion, and Uranus is in its 6^th House of the workers.

Angela Merkel:  Jupiter still currently sextiles her Mercury, and Pluto trines her Venus, both excellent aspects for her.

George Osborne:  Jupiter squares his Mars, and Uranus trines his Jupiter, and this week Jupiter squares Mars generally, so overconfidence is increased.

George Papandreou:  Pluto (the slowest moving planet) is still opposing his Mercury (mental strain), and Mars sextiles his Saturn (a cosmic urge to action), plus Saturn is conjunct his Neptune adding to his problems.

As you can see, watching transits can sometimes be like watching paint dry, but watch this space if that appeals to you.

We have three aspects this week.  Tomorrow Mars squares Jupiter, an aspect which can encourage fieriness and over-the-top enthusiasm.   Mars squaring Jupiter often results in high-flying balloon emotions, but with Jupiter (the expansive one) currently in Taurus, it could be a little more grounded, so that something more tangible can grow from the roots of ideas born this day, or week.  The Robert Browning line comes to mind here:  “Ah, but a man’s reach should exceed his grasp, Or what’s a heaven for?”  So if your ideas are high falutin’, check that you are equally grounded.

On Thursday (6^th) Mercury is conjunct Saturn, so people mean business.  But communications may be delayed, traffic jams could occur to popular venues, such as protest sites or if the warm weather continues here, beaches.  But it’s not a holiday atmosphere, and a serious intent is going to be at the heart of things.  If you are studying, it may be a good day to get down to work.  If you are seeking to escape work, you may be pinned down.

The best aspect of the week occurs on Friday (7^th), in the shape of Venus trine Neptune.  Artistic and spiritual endeavours are highlighted, dance and fashion could be inspired.  Victoria Beckham’s heels could get higher…Those seeking to take their art and their life that bit further beyond, but still retaining elegance and style, will be rewarded.  This contrasting with Monday and Thursday’s aspects which will be more tricky in terms of satisfactory results.  Though excellence can be achieved on Friday, it may go unnoticed or be too subtle for its intended audiences.  But if everyone raises their consciousness on that day, everyone will be able to admire everyone else’s achievements as well as preening on their own.  It’s an appropriate aspect for World Smile Day, and there could be a lot behind the smile of the passerby…

Please Note: My Chief Commentator Sarah, who like 20% of the population, receives less than a minimum wage for her services, is out of action due to computer problems.  Regular readers will know that she has struggled for 4 years with her computer.  At the risk of giving out too much information, the dogs knocked over her router at 5.30 pm on Friday (with Uranus squaring her Mercury) and forced the issue.  She is now wrangling to leave one internet provider and begin anew with broadband.  Another friend recently tried to do the same, and I overheard her on the phone having to repeat 20 times to the outgoing provider that she wanted to discontinue their services.  So Sarah may be a while…

The week in bullet points:

• Monday – High flying
• Thursday – Applying yourself
• Friday – Inspiration

I can no longer avoid blogging about the world economy this week.  Every week the noises about being on the brink of meltdown become louder, so that now I can’t hear myself think.  The big figures on the financial stage seem to be Christine Lagarde, Barack Obama, Angela Merkel and George Osborne, but the general impression seems to be indecisiveness and the question leveled being “Who’s in Charge”?  Astrologically the question seems very complex, and the general consensus is that the crisis is due to the square between Uranus and Pluto.  Where is the decisiveness and leadership in the Astrological community in terms of economic wisdom?   I would say that it lies with Raymond Merriman, on his website “The Merriman Market Analyst” subtitled “The Leader in Market Timing Services & Products”  Accordingly, the link to his website is permanently fixed on my Contact page.  What is he saying about this week?: “The main geocosmic configuration in effect this week will be the new moon (with Mercury) on Tuesday, September 27, forming a cardinal T-square to the Uranus-Pluto square. This powerful configuration portends yet one more round of huge price swings and extreme volatility.”  I decided I would take a look at how the current aspects are affecting the charts of the main financial characters, plus the Greek politicians, at the most dire end of the situation.  Christine Lagarde, newly appointed to the head of the International Monetary Fund on paper occupies the leadership position: Neptune opposes her Pluto (an extreme test of her skills) and squares her Saturn (her responsibilities oversee the most complex of operations, hence her very subtly worded pronouncements, including that the global economy was at a critical junction but was that it was a matter of “pushing through to get to the other side”).  For Barack Obama, President of the United States, Uranus trines his Mercury, Saturn trines his Ascendant, and the North Node sextiles his Ascendant.  Astrologically, he is not having such a bad week – leaving the Eurozone crisis to take centre stage, and joining Bill Clinton for a round of golf to talk about the economy (give him a break, he has been working hard recently).  For German Chancellor Angela Merkel , Jupiter currently sextiles her Mercury, and Pluto trines her Venus, both excellent aspects for her to be holding the financial balances of Europe – she needs these aspects to keep her buoyant in the face of public hostility about bailing out the Greeks.  For U.K. Chancellor George Osborne, Jupiter squares his Mars now, so he may be overconfident.  While for Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou, Pluto in Capricorn opposes his natal Mercury, so he does have the worst position of the lot, a real headache in fact.  Apologies to those I have missed out.  And on to the week ahead.:  Mercury enters Libra today, making it a good day to review your documentation, particularly regarding legal matters.  Where you may have been in a quandary, not being able to see the wood for the trees, your mental outlook can become more balanced.  In relationships, the role of dialogue is strengthened.  The Sun opposes Uranus tomorrow, and indeed if you sensed the underlying currents between Venus-Uranus-Pluto last week, you may sense them in a slightly different way this week, with less focus on relationships and with more focus on the whole problem.  This is because the Sun substitutes for Venus in this triangle this week, so power issues are more to the fore.  It is likely that the indecisiveness and lack of leadership in political and financial arenas will continue this week therefore.  The Sun opposing Uranus will make the unexpected the determining factor, the loophole will decide, the spanner the key to the works.  On Tuesday (27^th) Mercury also opposes Uranus accompanying the Sun this week, joining this complex line-up.  There will be words, and the words will be contentious or outrageous.  These may be said in haste, or carelessly, and possibly regretted, but revealing the true or unconscious thoughts of the speaker.  The good news is that there is a New Moon in Libra that day (4 degrees) but the not-so-good-news is that it is squared by Pluto, and that if you are starting a new venture you need to look for the seeds of destruction.  The questions you need to ask are “Are all the contributers entirely trustworthy?”  “Is this really a good time to start a new venture at all?” “What does this tell me about myself and my deepest motives?” “Have I got the patience to wait until I feel clear of this mental maelstrom?”  On Wednesday (28^th) things are no easier, with Pluto exactly squaring the Sun, and revealing the crisis in more black and white terms.  It is not a good day for authorities, who will wonder if they have authority.  This aspect is followed by Mercury squaring Pluto, so the misgivings and uncertainties will have to be relayed by someone to others, by email or blackberry.  Text may be too lightweight – surely there are some things you just can’t do by text, even in this day and age?  Wednesday may be the height of the week’s crisis, for on Thursday (29^th) there is a lighter note at the beginning of the day: Mercury sextiles Mars, and maybe people take their news more courageously than the bearers of the news might have thought.  It’s a good day for getting things done, briskly – zipping along on yer bike, for instance, going to work on an egg, that sort of thing.  But sadly, by the evening a conjunct between Venus and Saturn forms at 18 degrees Libra, and the emotional cost of the week begins to be counted.  Could you afford to offend a friend, sack an employee, neglect your family or spouse?  In the effort to soldier on, you may have buried your feelings temporarily.  What can you do – it is hard trying to be superhuman and attend to everything and everyone.  You’ll have more energy for this attempt the next day, Friday (30^th) with the Sun sextile Mars.  New (yang in particular) energy rises to the fore, and new attempts to put the outside world back together, especially if you can let go of the emotional issues for the time being.  David Cameron declared us a “broken Britain” at the time of the riots, and now wants us to be proud of our greatness.  Friday is the sort of day to accentuate the positive.  Perhaps read my new blog “Future Lives – A Literary trail” posted yesterday, in the spirit of creating a better future.

The week in bullet points:

• Today – you can sort it out
• Tomorrow – the cat’s among the pigeons
• Tuesday – out of the mouths of babes…; new ventures get off to a tricky start
• Wednesday – take a good look at what is going on, then attempt to express it in words
• Thursday – new energy springs up in the morning; emotions fall flat in the evening (not to mention finances)
• Friday – pick yourself up again