Aspects for the week beginning 22 January 2012
At the time the Costa Concordia ran aground, Uranus was squaring Italy’s Mercury in the 8th House in Cancer (a shock to its coastline). Italy suffered a double shock that day, because on the same day, Italy’s credit rating was downgraded by Standard & Poor (the 8th House also represents financial dealings with others). When Silvio Berlusconi departed from office last November, Uranus (extreme change) was also squaring Italy’s Mercury (a challenge to its mindset). The Costa Concordia was originally ordered on 19 January 2004, under a Moon conjunct Pluto trine Mars, which might have raised some Health and Safety issues. Be careful what aspects you order a sailing vessel under, such as a Royal Yacht. But ours is still at the discussion stage, I believe, so no astrological chart to be drawn just yet. On the night that the Costa Concordia ran aground, Venus was on the cusp of Aquarius and Pisces, conjunct with Neptune. Mercury was also conjunct Pluto – both conjunctions of the deep. There is a sense of fatefulness when the chart of the disaster is compared to the chart of the ordering of the sea vessel: Pluto was opposing the ship’s Saturn (destruction by grounding). What of the role of the Captain, Francesco Schettino? Schettino was born three days before Jonathan Ross in the same year. Ross has now relaunched himself, after a cavalier prank in 2008. It could be the role of their Pluto conjunct the North Node to live on the edge. Of Schettino’s relationship to Italy, his Neptune (carelessness) squares Italy’s Pluto, but it is quite a price to pay for carelessness. Perhaps we will find out more about his state of mind in due course.
The Sun sextiles Uranus today: A bright start to a bright day. Maybe you slept unexpectedly, contrary to your usual insomnia pattern, and feel re-aligned. The Sun also squares Jupiter, so there is a possibility of overreaching yourself in enthusiastic efforts, e.g. pruning the bushes in the garden. Just know your own boundaries, and those of your neighbours. Tomorrow the New Moon occurs in the sign of Aquarius at 2 degrees – Another bright start to another bright day. A time to launch or relaunch social initiatives, and look at life in a new, and perhaps whackier, way. Group consciousness is favoured, and mind-melding. Subsequently, Mercury trines Mars and an energetic trek or fitness drive may be supported by the Universe. If you have strident words to say, you may find clear but inoffensive ways to say them. This time you can set things precisely right, if you have been awkward in your past efforts. On Tuesday (24th) Mars is stationary prior to turning retrograde – having taken two steps forward this week, plans may begin to stall, leaving you only one step forward. The expert on retrogrades Erin Sullivan says of Mars retrograde: “When transiting Mars stations and turns retrograde, all externalized drive and focused energy reverses its direction. The daily progress of which one normally takes no note suddenly becomes filled with effort.” As if to illustrate this, Friday (27th) brings a square between Mercury and Saturn, which could bring beaurocratic delays to your documentation, rather like a retrograde Mercury action or non-action, but shorter and sharper and more embodied in a particular event. Plans may take a step backwards but remember if you made the most of the headway early in the week, you are still one step forward from where you were at the beginning of the week, the snakes are now behind you and there are a couple of ladders in sight! Mercury then goes into Aquarius in the early evening of Friday, bringing a fresher mental outlook, and stimulating discussion if you are socializing. If you are spending a quiet Friday night in, it is a good time to actively start a new project, rather than sit mesmerized in front of the television (I hope I will be able to walk my talk). Mentally you can turn things around now, because another boost arrives on Saturday (28th) in the shape of Mercury sextile Uranus. Again it’s at tea-time in the U.K., so again more socializing is on the cards, and some of it could be quite electrifying. If you are having a traditional tea, it won’t be sedate! If you are having a housewarming party there could be some welcome surprises. And if you are attending a reunion, mentally you will be reeling. Estrangements may be healed.
In your Dancing on Ice update for this week, the stand out surprisingly wonderful performers of last week (Chico and Matthew Wolferton) have proved elusive in the search for birth dates. Maybe these will emerge as the series continues. Jennifer Ellison, who skated first last Sunday, won the culinary challenge Hell’s Kitchen a few years back in 2004, when Uranus was exactly square to her Uranus. With Sun/Mars (high energy) opposite natal Jupiter/Uranus, she relishes a challenge and is a risk taker. She has made a good start, and should do well.
Veteran fitness guru Rosemary Conley (my age bracket) according to the commentator performed a tortilla wrap (I could manage one in the kitchen). Natally she has Venus conjunct Jupiter, a very sociable feature, and called Dancing on Ice: “The Most Wonderful Show on Earth”, which is a superlative befitting her Venus/Jupiter enthusiasm. If you’ve ever wondered where she gets her inexhaustible energy from – it’s directly from the Centre of the Galaxy where she has her Sun (she’s a rare creature, and I wish her well in the competition!). Like Jennifer Ellison and Heidi Range, she has the high energy conjunction between Mars and the Sun (it is not that common!).
Holywood actor Corey Feldman was lagging behind in training – making 2 films at the same time – and appeared in the skate off, possibly not for the first time. He has a sensitive chart, with Sun in Cancer square Chiron, and Jupiter conjunct Neptune. His partner Brooke Castile has Moon conjunct Jupiter and the Sun, Chiron and Mercury in Gemini. The pair have their Venuses conjunct, plus his Uranus trines her Sun. Uranus currently trines Corey’s Neptune, so he may be learning personal and impersonal lessons of sensitivity through his participation in the show, whilst multitasking in his film ventures, Uranus stimulating his ability to take on complexity (Neptune) which may not enable him to stay long in the competition. It’s a spinning plate he may not be able to maintain.
Sebastien Foucan, a French runner specializing in freerunning and parkour, is someone I was unaware of, not being of a sporty disposition. But he seems to have taken the contest by storm, with an unusual twist in that his fierce independence (natally Mercury/South Node trine Uranus) created distance between him and his skating partner Brianne Delcourt. He performed well, and it is intriguing to see whether he takes note of his partner in his next performance. Philip Schofield said he brought passion to the contest, and this may be his Venus/Chiron conjunction in Aries, but in many ways he has a private chart. Incidentally, he is a Gemini, and running is the sport most associated with Gemini. I associate ice dancing with Pisces.
The Week in Bullet Points:
- Today – Bright and enthusiastic (up the ladder)
- Tomorrow – New ventures and energy (up the ladder)
- Tuesday – Take stock (down the snake)
- Friday – Slow down and assess things carefully early on (down the snake) but later offers a fresher mental outlook (you could have a cat nap in between). Up the ladder again
- Saturday – Electrifying! (definitely up the social ladder)
January 22nd, 2012 at 5:22 pm
A bit of a mercurial week ahead by the sound of it. That might suit me, but I will watch out for slippery snakes. Juggling a car that needs mending and flagging finances has occupied my thoughts, especially for Monday. That’s off to garage day, assuming I get there. However, I will look for deeper processes, thanking you Lana for such detailed aspects. An electrifying Saturday teatime may occur, I’ll keep you posted. Sadly, no Ice Dancing for me, I just can’t watch it, (but get a good update here), love Sarah
January 22nd, 2012 at 11:16 pm
Dear Sarah
Thanks very much for commenting…
Seems like Dancing on Ice is like marmite for people, because I know some who are watching it avidly, and some avoiding it.
Good luck for your week ahead, and especially for your car!
Love
Lana
January 23rd, 2012 at 5:59 am
Lana –
I’m unexpectedly facing a dog in heat that we think will be bred this week. So I came here for a look at the week ahead (she can be taught!). So far little Phoenix has been have lacklustre progesterone reports – not the sudden up swelling that we might expect, however, her numbers started climbing Saturday and, if they continued to climb, she should be ready to go meet her new boyfriend tomorrow or Tuesday.
If we can get her there – which depends on Bear’s work schedule.
Wish us luck – hopefully in a few weeks I’ll be writing to share good future-puppy news.
It RAINED here yesterday (how dare it act like winter here?) otherwise a nice quiet week. Looks like we’ll need to be mindful of communications this week – I’ll have to think on that metaphor for my patients . . .
As always, Lana, thank you so much for your wise and helpful words –
Dia
January 23rd, 2012 at 9:19 pm
Dear Dia
Thank you for your contribution! I trust that the right moment will arrive for Phoenix.
I am not very experienced with this sort of Astrology, but when I was a regular commuter, and we used to watch the pigs by the railway line, one of the commuters gave me a very reliable conception time which I added to all the other charts I was gathering regarding the life cycles of the pigs…
Love and best wishes for the success of this week’s ventures,
Lana
January 25th, 2012 at 2:51 am
So again I’m shaking my head and saying “Well THAT happened”. My office was burgled.
Sometime since Saturday evening (but before this morning at 10:30), someone with the key to my office and my inner office got into my desk, took the key to my cash drawer, unlocked the drawer, took out the bills (left the coins), RELOCKED the drawer, put the keys back, relocked my office and relocked the main office. Talk about snakes (or ladders?).
Anyway, I found myself remarkably not upset about the loss (about $100 – a not-to-be-sneezed-at amount) but more disappointed that anyone I trusted (and that includes employees of the building as well as the janitorial service) would have abused my trust in this manner.
OBVIOUSLY I’ve taken steps to ensure the cash drawer key is locked away out of prying eyes. Unfortunately also out of easy reach of my office manager but she’s much more comfortable having it locked away. (Poor thing, she’s fretting that she should have be able to do something to prevent this. Seriously? If someone is this determined to do mischief they’re going to do it).
I keep reiterating that I hope whomever took it has a best possible outcome from their theft, but that I want them to never try that again and to leave my office in peace. The building manager was actually a little surprised by how calm I was when he came by to talk to me & see what had happened.
On the dog front, Bear had a nice drive but Miss Phoenix said “H&ll no” to her new beau. She & I will try tomorrow. Wish us luck!
I came here just to re-read the blog but here I am pouring my angst out to y’all. Thank you for this very needed sacred space, Lana.
*hugs*
Dia
January 25th, 2012 at 4:00 pm
Hi Dia, what a shame about the burglary, but more as you say about the trust issue. Your reaction is a brilliant example of the emotions I am working with currently, as in turning seemingly horrid situations into positive outcomes. A 2012 transformative task I think. When I manage, it works fantastically, but I don’t think I have been as challenged as you. On the Phoenix front, how brave of you to embark on the patter of little paw prints. Good luck to you, but perhaps to the, hopefully, new mum to be more. Love Sarah
January 25th, 2012 at 6:05 pm
Hello Lana,
Thanks for your Super Blog.
I love Dancing on Ice, I’m always amazed at the amount of progress each Celebrity makes.
Tonight the Masterchef Contestants are competing in my favourite place, “BATH”.
Preparing Lunch for 100 Patrons of the Jane Austen Festival.
So I’ll be engrossed watching that programme.
Also, we’ve been following Celebrity Big Brother each evening.
As you can see we’ve been watching quite a lot of TV lately.
That may come to an end soon, as we’ve just bought some paint to decorate the Computer/Craft room (a mammoth task)!!!!
It’s so full of possessions, a time to declutter I think.
January is flying by, roll on Spring!
Hope you week is going well, bye for now, Love Shirley.
January 26th, 2012 at 11:08 am
Hi Dia!
Sorry to hear about your events on the Mars Retrograde. Joyce Mason has published a blog about Mars Retrograde (see my Contacts page for the link).
Admiration for the way you handled it, and your processes around it, so thank you for sharing.
I associate burglary with Pluto on the I.C. of a chart. Do you remember when you took over the Office? And have you ever been burgled before?
Good luck of course for the Phoenix situation, and I hope you will keep us posted! A girl’s got to be a bit choosy…
Love and Light,
Lana
January 26th, 2012 at 11:11 am
Dear Sarah
Thank you for adding your light to Dia’s predicaments, especially as I was out of bounds yesterday!
I trust that you are having a good week dogwise and carwise,
Love
Lana
January 26th, 2012 at 11:15 am
Dear Shirley
Thank goodness you understand why I am blogging about Dancing on Ice!
I did watch Masterchef last night, and occasionally watch Big Brother. I was torn though because I also like “One Born Every Minute”. All reality shows sadly.
I read an interview in our local paper with a local vicar this morning. He stated that Astrology was nonsense, that he did not like any reality TV, and that he wanted to give Richard Dawkins a piece of his mind.
It does take all sorts to make a world.
Love
Lana
January 26th, 2012 at 5:10 pm
Sarah – Thank you for your sympathy & supportive words, much appreciated! (Sadly, it appears there will be no little paws pattering around, Phoenix is not receptive . . . ah well, we’re going to try one more time tomorrow). Look for similar scrabbling posts from us next November/December/January when Ms. Phi deigns to go back into heat.
Lana – I took possession of the suite 10-1-2007 but my business was incorporated 8-27-2007. I’ve never been burgled before.
The whole mercury retrograde thing seems to be affecting Phoenix’s ability to communicate her heat-ness (or lack thereof) to us.
Again, thanks for your insights.
*hugs*
Dia
January 26th, 2012 at 5:16 pm
Lana,
As to the vicar, well, it DOES take all kinds. Too bad he’s not watching the shows and exploring other avenues of thought. It would give him new ways to reach his parishioners. (with very little effort almost anything can be turned into a teaching opportunity)
Luckily for us, we have you to help us understand the “nonsense”. Bear & I are hooked on cooking competitions and something called Storage Wars – which keeps us away from some of the other reality shows. Although we’re big time watchers of the Amazing Race.
*more hugs*
Dia
January 27th, 2012 at 8:38 am
Dear Dia
Thanks for the info, and for all you bring here.
I get confused with the U.S. dates: is that 1-10 or 10-1 (I presume the former)? The other date, when you took possession of the Office, is very significant because the burglary date shows Pluto exactly squaring its Sun and Uranus exactly squaring its Mars, both signs of forced entry.
The retrograde motion is in regard to Mars, not Mercury, and Mars is about passion and heat, so very fitting what transpired this week for your doggie. So now we need regular updates on Phoenix, and your Office, for continuing astrological research (no pressure).
Thank you for your understanding and advice about the local religious teachings! It is reported this morning that a U.K. Philosopher Alain de Botton, is proposing to build an Atheist tower in London, as a constructive riposte to the more destructive atheist approach of Richard Dawkins.
We live in interesting times…
Love
Lana
January 28th, 2012 at 11:33 am
Had quite a week, and Friday was very up and down, and snake-like, HOwever, I hope not too much Uranus for the housewarming party at 6.00 this evening. Thanks for great blogs
Sinhagupta
January 28th, 2012 at 11:53 am
All the best to you, Sinhagupta!
May your housewarming be also heartwarming, with just the right sprinkling of Uranian dust,
Love
Lana
January 28th, 2012 at 3:21 pm
Hello Lana,
Well here I am sitting amongst a load of chaos.
Hubby is painting away!
Hopefully we’ll have the room sorted out soon.
Not much socializing for us tonight.
I did fancy a night at the Cinema though, some interesting movies around at the moment.
Love Shirley.
January 28th, 2012 at 3:42 pm
Dear Shirley
Thanks for your bulletin.
I hope you have an exciting evening, and that you do get to the cinema.
I would like to see the new film “A Dangerous Method” which is about the relationship between Freud and Jung. I probably won’t manage to see it until it comes out on DVD though!
Love
Lana
January 29th, 2012 at 12:54 am
Dear Lana –
Sorry about the date confusion – it was August 27th and October 1st, both 2007.
Phoenix is a happy girl now that she’s being dragged up the coast (and to the vet) daily.
The office has settled down, although speculations about the identity of the perpetrators is sparking much conversation amongst everyone in the building.
Can’t WAIT to see what next week holds –
*hugs*
Dia
January 30th, 2012 at 10:04 am
Dear Dia
Thanks for the clarification about the U.S. dating for your Office. The other date seems to be the most valid, so will use that if you are reporting further news about your Office. Let us know if the mystery is solved.
Love
Lana