EYE ON THE SKY

As we approach the 2nd of five Saturn/Uranus oppositions on Feb 5th 2009, we can expect more manifestations of the polarity issues, inherent in any opposition aspect (180 degree separation), to emerge in our personal lives and out in the world.

Here's a few examples: opposing viewpoints that actually have more in common than one realises; push and pull of opinions; opportunities to see our Self reflected in others or whatever opposes us, or we are vehemently opposed to: 'should I stay or should I go' ( or act) conflict and indecision scenarios; extreme fluctuations and swings between two poles. etc

Add in the influence of Saturn and Uranus and the themes are usually related to the old (SA) versus the new (UR), traditional (SA) versus quirky ( UR), new information which contradicts old etc. New rules, guidelines, jobs, service standards and contracts, pay deals, bosses...these are also themes of the moment. It also correlates to the known versus the unknown, the individual versus the establishment; containment and control versus freedom and space (or Space); land (SA) versus sky( UR) and 'us down here' looking at (opposition) 'that up there; normal (baseline) versus abnormal/unprecedented, 'extremes of' versus 'lack of' etc.

The lesson is to learn to roll with the natural cycles of life (all cycles have an in-drawing outgoing, up/down, rise/fall phase) and trust that, this too, ( the economic situation, your personal dilemma, indecision or whatever way this opposition is manifesting for you personally) has a higher purpose, even if from your current perspective this is presently difficult to see. Remember too if many companies are falling, then somewhere in the world many will soon be rising.

I believe this current SA/UR 'era', which goes on until 2010, is going to usher in a paradigm shift about some aspect of our physical world and our perspective on reality. We can expect sudden breakthroughs in our ability to understand the true nature of time and space and our laws of energy. These new discoveries could perhaps come about as a result of things that happen up in the sky (UR). Comet Lulin, or things up there we have yet to see, may well have some secrets to reveal. ( See end of post, news just in).

Undoubtedly as Governments, economies and businesses start to lose 'power' we'll see a corresponding loss of power in other areas. For instance GE (General Electric) just returned really bad profits and electrical retailers such as Curry's, Comet and other names associated with power in the form of engines ( cars, planes) are likely to struggle. Power outages are likely to increase BUT the polarity points to the strong likelihood that we will discover new power sources (UR) emanating from the natural world (SA). Plus inventors and scientists (UR) will be spurred on to uncover new information about old, established (SA) mediums, such as Electricity and Magnetism (see my post on Tesla).

I also expect to see a dramatic upsurge in the sale of books about the power of thought, the power of personal magnetism, Clairaudience, Remote Viewing and other psychic phenomena and things of this ilk, so if you're a budding author looking for a subject, that's your topic and now's your time!

If you are an investor my money would be on bottled water, wind up radios and wind up torches, solar power panels and companies who make batteries, plus with all the comets and sky activity we have had lately, home telescopes for kids (and adults) is probably one business that will continue to thrive!

If you are 'down under' investing in companies which make sunscreen products sounds like a no brainer, I hear they are enduring extreme temperatures - another manifestation of the opposition, freezing temps in the northern hemisphere and sweltering in the south AND see this - a planet exhibiting extreme temperatures. As above, so below!

COMET C/2007 N3 LULIN + Eclipse,1549, 2009BD

I can't let this drop - 155 people survived the ditching of Flight US 1549 and I'm not taking anything away from 'Sully's' heroic actions, but the chances that it was a bird strike are now looking more and more remote*. Why is the story of the engine malfunction on the same plane, two days prior to Jan 15th, not making more headlines? Is someone trying to bury this story - which could potentially affect anyone who flies on the Airbus 320 or other aircraft with this engine. Luckily CNN are 'on the case':

Steve Jeffrey of Charlotte, North Carolina, told CNN he was flying in first class Tuesday when, about 20 minutes into the flight, "it sounded like the wing was just snapping off."
"The red lights started going on. A little pandemonium was going on," Jeffrey recalled.
He said the incident occurred over Newark, New Jersey, soon after the plane -- also flying as Flight 1549 -- had taken off from LaGuardia Airport in New York.

John Hodock, another passenger on the Tuesday flight, said in an e-mail to CNN:
"About 20 minutes after take-off, the plane had a series of compressor stalls on the right engine. There were several very loud bangs and fire coming out of the engine. The pilot at first told us that we were going to make an emergency landing, but after about five minutes, continued the flight to Charlotte." Read the full story here

Come on people, make a noise. We deserve to know if they have definitely already found evidence of a bird strike or not, because next time this compressor problem happens, the passengers on an Airbus 320 - and these aircraft make up a huge amount of daily flights with many airlines - may not be quite so lucky.

Remember to read back over my previous posts on US1549 for links to sites already investigating problems with these (Airbus) engines prior to the ditching.

*Update: The Captain has now been clearly heard to say that the aircraft suffered a bird strike and the official investigation will, no doubt, confirm the same. Therefore I was wrong and this previous engine problem was just a coincidence and appears not to have had any bearing on both engines losing thrust.

LULIN
A brightening comet has appeared that is going to be big news. Here's a good article about this space body, which was first sighted in 2007:

Astronomers at the Taipei Astronomical Museum said that the tail of Lulin will become most vivid during that time as it moves closest to the Earth. According to the museum, it took 28.5 million years for Comet Lulin to revolve round the Sun on its own axis.

Comet Lulin was initially described as an asteroidal object when found by Ye Quanzhi at the Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, China.Three images were obtained by Lin Chi-sheng of the Graduate Institute of Astronomy, National Central University at Zhongli in Taiwan on July 11, 2007.

The comet is presently moving between the constellations Scorpio and Libra, and is expected to run towards Leo at an accelerating pace in late February, according to the museum.Comet Lulin will pass 0.41 AU (Astronomical Unit) from earth and reach the closest distance to Earth on Feb. 24 -- about 14.5 times the distance between Earth and the Moon. One AU is the distance between Earth and the Sun.

The comet's maximum magnitude in late February is expected to reach magnitude 6 and will be seen with the naked eye. Astronomers advised star gazers to make use of the upcoming long Chinese Lunar New Year holiday to appreciate the comet. It can be seen low in the sky in the east-southeast direction before dawn.

Please note that, due to precession, the constellations do not align with the Zodiac any longer. For those of you who want to convert astronomical positions to zodiacal here is an ephemeris of its astronomical positions

* Update. The comet will align in the sky with Saturn in Mid Feb. Saturn is in the astrological sign of Virgo.

There are lots of rocks (SA) in the sky (UR) at the moment as we also have an alert on this:

Newly-discovered asteroid 2009 BD is passing by Earth today only 400,000 miles away. The small 10m-wide space rock poses no threat, but it merits attention anyway. The orbit of 2009 BD appears to be almost identical to the orbit of Earth. 2009 BD may be a rare co-orbital asteroid, circling the sun in near-tandem with our planet. Extrapolating the motion of 2009 BD into the future, we see that it remains in the vicinity of Earth for many months to come, never receding farther than 0.1 AU (9.3 million miles) until Nov. 2010. Future observations may reveal the nature of this strange asteroid; stay tuned! http://www.spaceweather.com/

On that same page you will see details of tomorrow's 'Ring of Fire' eclipse too - see picture at top

It's all kicking off out there!

VOID OF COURSE WORKS! - 2nd Oath for Obama

It's official - when the Moon is Void of Course you need to take note. Before I discuss that though, first more on US 1549. Further to my post entitled- 'What Caused It?' I have been sent lots of videos and intriguing information. This video, kindly sent by Tricia, is possibly the best as it shows the precise timing of the crash at 15.31:03 and the rescue at 15.35. That was four minutes, soaking wet, in the freezing cold, for the one poor chap who slid off the wing and then is helped back on. Brrrrr!. Anyway, watch carefully, he's one of the first out onto the starboard (right) wing. Let the video roll on as it zooms in after a while and you can see the first ferry steaming in to rescue them at 15.35. Astrologers need precise times, so this is perfect.

I still can't get over what a miracle this ditching and rescue was. However, I'm afraid my antennae remains raised about the transparency of the investigation. After you have watched this incredible video, please click on the link below the video to read a bulletin from the Associated Press. This surfaced a few days ago but appears to have been 'buried' in the midst of Inauguration mania by many newspapers. Certainly, this news onthe engine malfunction has made very few stand alone headlines in the UK. (You'll need to go back and read my post, for background into why this interests me). Here's the video:

Here's the link: Records Show Plane Had Previous Malfunction on 13 Jan. Hmmm. Coincidence???

Three things cannot be long hidden: the Sun, the Moon, and the Truth.

- Buddha

* * * * *

And now to Obama and Void of Course Moons. It was tear- jerking stuff on Tuesday and, for my sins, I happened to be watching Celebrity Big Brother last night and caught rapper Coolio (the big, macho man in the programme) crying his eyes out after they replayed the Inauguration Ceremony and Obama's speech for the contestants.

There wasn't a dry eye in my house at 12.05 EST on 20 Jan, and I have yet to meet anyone who isn't profoundly moved by this man and his achievement. The reign of King Obama really has begun - facilitated by the 'Age of Technology'! If we were to believe that a second coming was prophesied, this surely has to be it/him - maybe that's why his Moon is in the dual sign of Gemini ;-)

From now on, for the sceptics out there whose first question to me is often "Does astrology work?" my answer is going to be "By Chri"... sorry, "By Obama it does!"

When the Moon is Void of Course - which means it makes no further Ptolemaic aspect to another planet before changing signs - it is said nothing will come of the matter in hand. This belief is what caused astrologers to be so uptight about the ceremony being held at 12.05. Everyone with an ephemeris knew the Moon was Void until 12.30. I heard that some astrologers even wrote to officials in the Democratic party, after Barack had been elected, begging them, and him, to move the timing of the oath to anytime after 12.30.

I was sceptical that the Moon being void would impact his Presidency in some way and saw it as symbolic of the end of one phase and the handing over of another (see previous post) but, hey, what do I know? The Divine Law is obviously unswerving; Obama and the Chief Justice fluffed their lines and Barack had to be officially sworn in for a second time. So it's true, nothing 'official' did come of his being inaugurated at that time and the Void Moon disrupted the normal course of events!

Here's what I wrote about VOC Moons in my Winter 2007 Newsletter

The correlation is therefore – and this has been proved to work time and time again – that the outcome will be ‘wayward’. For example, if you set out to call someone when the moon is VOC either they probably will not be in. If they are, you may arrange or agree something that WILL NOT COME TO PASS either at all, or as originally intended..

and

..no astrologer would ever advise anyone to get married under a VOC Moon. Likewise starting any venture under the VOC Moon would be foolhardy. Launching a new product or business under a VOC Moon could potentially be financial suicide......

You can read my article about what to do and what not do, on VOC Moons here, and I highly recommend that you purchase a calendar or download a page showing the dates and times of the VOC Moon, in your time zone, and take heed of them.

If anyone has the precise timing of the second swearing in I would be most grateful. Here's the Video link

UPDATE: Data received. The chart is now up at top of page, click to enlarge. Jan 21 at 19.35pm in the Map Room of The White House. The fixed star Algol on the MC is a little alarming but Sun conjoined to Jupiter is the hallmark of a leader with regal bearing, a fine moral compass and in aspect to Uranus, luck, spirituality and a progressive attitude. One who will try and liberate others and uphold the values of freedom and equality. This chart does, however, show that his presidency will not only be marked by significant changes to the legal and financial institutions of the US but full of suprises and twists and turns on many levels. This chart is now symbolic of the USA for the length of his time in office so I will study it in greater detail and post on this at some other juncture.

SUN INTO AQUARIUS + the reign of King Obama

The Sun moves into Aquarius tomorrow, therefore, the planetary emphasis shifts from being Capricornian - ruled by Saturn - to predominantly Aquarian, ruled by Uranus. The old gives way to the new and, as above, so below; an old regime is giving way to a new one with the inauguration of a new President.

Personally I see the fact that the Moon will probably be void (it's void until 12.30 EST) as Obama takes his oath of office, as highly symbolic. It's the end of the sign and the end of an era for the public. The White House (Moon) is losing a very martian/warlike/scorpionic type family (The male Bush dynasty and their 'If it doesn't like us, shoot at it' mentality) and is just about to welcome a very Sag - 'sage' one! I see the fact that the Moon moves into the fire sign of Sagittarius in the first moments of his Presidency as an indication of the arrival of hope, positivity, wisdom (Sag- JU) and the necessary stimulus (fire sign) to get things done. As long as Obama doesn't scatter himself too widely and take on more than he can possibly manage, he should be able to target (Sag) exactly what needs to be addressed first.

Mercury is retrograde, giving cause for concern to many astrologers about his ability to move forward with plans. Again I see this as perfect symbolism for someone who will have to go and clean up all the mess his predecessor has left behind. Being so close to the Sun maybe some facts are yet to be revealed that will also have a bearing on what action he takes or has said he will take. What we do know is that the entire administration and the way the Government (SA) interacts with the people (UR) patently needs a thorough review ( the marker of retrogrades) because, at the moment, the two are at odds (opposition).

The mirror in the sky also reveals that with the Moon out of bounds, the public are going to be wildly excited ( for good or bad) about this Presidency. Obama is going to drive home the message about individual (UR) responsibility (SA) throughout his term, and we can only hope that people are not just listening to what he says - but hearing it too. There's a crucial difference.

The upcoming Jupiter/Neptune cycle speaks strongly of him bringing a new spirituality - the cult of Obama - to the nation, if not the planet. It must be said though that it is the aspect of huge disappointment too. However this will only come about through people's expectations being too high, I think he knows the reality he faces in this economic (and moral) collapse and can - and will - rise (JU/NE) to the challenge.

You will be able to read extensive analysis of the inauguration from the astrological point of view on many sites tomorrow. Here's one about the inauguration chart from someone I admire

More of the best astrological/metaphysical ones can be found by scrolling through the Astro-dispatch widget in my sidebar.

What I want to concentrate on is this shift to Aquarian energy.

We already have Mercury and Jupiter in Aquarius, but now the Sun moving into the same sign heralds the appearance of things and events of the nature of the sign. Aquarius is associated on the mundane level with deviation from the norm ( so watch out for any changes to the established inauguration ceremony of old, although having the first black President already covers it). Aquarius is also concerned with shaping the future and technology, electricity, electronics and automation, the population as a collective, assemblies, syndicates and conglomerations, conferences, legislation, TV companies/stations, independence, unification, astrologers, astronomers and those who probe into many branches of science such as quantum physics. It correlates to mavericks, Genius minds, social forces, revolutions and surprises ( by the way, as an aside it is linked to pilots, birds, aircraft and floating objects!).

With a Solar Eclipse fast approaching in this sign it may also be timely to remind you that it is also associated with sudden reversals and change, unexpected news and events - it is the sign of the thunderbolt, the lightning strike, strokes of luck ( and strokes) the seismic shift, heretics and people who stand up and shout Wake Up!. It's the time of the year when new movements are started and these usually encourage us ( in some way) to be roused from our metaphorical slumber and see the light!

As the Aquarian division of the 360 circle is the 2nd house from the 10th, it is strongly allied to the money we earn from our job. As 8th from the 4th, the house market situation remains unstable. - but some could suddenly find a sale or purchase collapses or is revived ( anything unexpected is the keyword). As 6th from the 6th it can disrupt our normal daily routines and as 5th from the 7th it can speak of the love affairs of our committed partner. As Aquarian energy is all about the need to be free - even if it as the unconscious level - affairs, separations and divorces are associated with Aquarian/Uranian energy BUT so too it is connected to the ability to find our creativity and what brings us true joy.

Any separation from a job, person or circumstances, free's the person up to allow them to learn about independence and individual purpose. As usual, nothing is ever bad, wrong or disastrous in life but simply part of a perfect unfolding order which seeks to bring us to know our Self, so that we can best fulfill the role that we came here to play.

The release of Wayne Dyer's movie, Ambition To Meaning ( see top left sidebar) is perfectly timed. Ambition is Saturn ruled and 10th house associated and giving meaning to life comes under the 'rule' of it's adjacent house and sign Aquarius and the 11th.

US1549 - WHAT CAUSED IT? Chart of pilot

In January 2008 a miraculous incident took place when everyone survived the crash of a British Airways aircraft, inbound from China. I wrote about this incident here.

The aircraft suddenly lost all power, and in that post I was looking at the symbolism of 'loss of power' and what it might foretell for Anglo-Chinese relations in the year(s) ahead.

12 months on, we all know just how much 'power' was indeed lost in 2008/9 as a result of the economic collapse, so it was prescient. However, in view of this weeks miraculous ditching of US1549 I'm now wondering if these incidents are symbolic of the perilous state of the aerospace industry - dominated by Boeing and Airbus - and that, as we'll see, also has connections to China.

Before I begin what I am going to write I want to make it quite clear. I do not subscribe to outlandish conspiracy theories. One that is doing the rounds already is that George W. Bush engineered the crash of US1549 to try and blame it on terrorism, but his plan went awry.

I guess, when all is revealed, it's always an outside possibility that this flight was tampered with but I don't for one minute go along with US government involvement. What I do weigh up in my mind however, is the need for favourable press and public relations in any industry that employs hundreds of thousands of people. If this US1549 incident was another in a long line of problems with planes from the Airbus hangars, would we be told?

To my mind it may not be morally correct, but it is perfectly understandable, if the head(s) of any large company or consortium chose to seek to subtly bury news that may further jeopardise their business, orders and profits. However, what those bosses should know is that astrological symbolism dictates honesty is the only policy in this present climate.

I say this because of the current Saturn/Uranus opposition and Pluto's entry into Capricorn. The big companies want to keep the status quo (SA) and try and restore normality and bank balances as soon as possible, while the average man on the street - as evidenced by the rise of the conspiracy theory forums and other activists - are in a revolutionary (UR) frame of mind. They demand complete transparency and will react badly to any whiff of scandal, cover up, corruption, suppression of information (PL in Cap). Lack of clarity will only further erode trust between leaders (SA) and the 'common people' (UR).

I'm bringing this to your attention because back in June 1988 at the exact time when this current SA/UR cycle began, a long term controversy began over the crash of an Airbus 320 in France, where it was alleged that the black box had been tampered with Airbus were quick to defend their aircraft's reputation and apparently sued for libel.

Now we are at the exact opposition of this cycle and again an Airbus is involved and their are many precise links between the charts of the two events See the charts above and click to enlarge. Asc trine Pluto. Moon square SA/UR. MC square Mercury. Uranus and MC on Mars/Node etc etc

Just a few days before the crash of US1549 it was announced that Boeing and Airbus, as well as the companies such as Rolls Royce and GE who make engine and aircraft parts, are suffering badly due to a whole slew of cancelled orders for aircraft. Airbus in particular has invested a lot of money in Far Eastern markets in a belief that orders from China and Asia would be on the rise, but are now having to contend with an unprecedented downturn.

Furthermore in this article of just January 7, 2009 it says:

After nine sudden engine-stalls on Airbus aircraft since last April, U.S. and European aviation regulators are working with engine-maker CFM International SA to develop new safety measures for approximately 1,500 workhorse Airbus jetliners used around the world.

The effort was accelerated by an alarming incident last month, when both engines of an Air France Airbus A321 stalled briefly after takeoff from an airport in Tunisia, according to regulators and industry officials.

Like most of the previous incidents, high-pressure compressors on the engines stopped working when the pilots eased back takeoff power and set the throttles to climb away from the runway.

So was US1549 a bird strike or mechanical/computer electronic failure? With thousands of Airbus ( now owned by EADS) aircraft in the skies every day, I think we, the travelling public, deserve to know as soon as possible. Yes, the employees of this and other aerospace industries may be more than keen to ensure that no rumour or erroneous theories jeopardise current and future orders but, if any of them are reading this let me ask this question: Would you want your bosses to put the considerations about reputation and profit before the safety of your family - if the cause of this crash can't be proved to be a bird strike?

If it was a bird strike - and all reports so far, point to that - then another interpretation of the symbolism is perhaps required. One that springs to mind; is an outbreak of Bird Flu about to travel across the water and bring us down, or will we, like those lucky passengers, miraculously be spared?

* * * * *

If you have come straight to this page, please also see my previous post on The Flight US1549 Miracle for ACG maps etc

* * * * *

Oh fabulous - someone just sent me the pilots birth details - see top of post. Here is his chart and the transits of the crash. Lucky Jupiter, bang on his Sun. Who says astrology is a load of bunkum now? Let me study this for further insight. Watch this space.

THE FLIGHT US 1549 MIRACLE

Okay - what did I say a few posts ago .

"With so much emphasis on a small number of signs though, the focus will remain on politicians, businesses, in particular airlines, telecommunications, technology and electronics companies and we'll hear of many more mergers, alliances and collaborations. The House of Commons and the U.N. will also be much in the news as will Switzerland and Swiss Banks.

Jupiter in Aquarius is the one to watch this year as it correlates to a Jupiter/Uranus conjunction and this is one of the most unpredictable, life-changing mergers in the astrological pantheon. It's the placement of the extraordinary, the radical, the revolutionary, the miraculous and the unbelievable - in both the positive and negative sense of the words".

The words incredible, amazing, unbelievable are certainly in order here. As ex cabin crew I know exactly how miraculous it is that all passengers and crew (155 souls, as we call them in the profession) of US 1549 appear to have survived this crash into the Hudson River. Praise The Lord residents of New York!

So was it a bird strike, ice or something more nefarious?? Losing both engines to a bird strike has to be unusual but let's wait and see. These things can happen and all pilots are trained and drilled all the time to ditch their aircraft - always with gear up. In fact all signs are this was a text book ditching procedure.

SPECULATION
Evidence of cyclical activity echoing back to 2001 is apparent. Mars on Sep 11th was at the exact position as Pluto is today and the Moon at the time of today's crash was again at the 28 degrees point of a mutable sign, as on Sep 11th 2001. However, all this indicates is that situations involving planes crashing in New York may 'resonate' to these two degree points in the 360 circle. The Mars/Uranus midpoint at 1 degree of the cardinals and many midpoints involving 28 mutables were also activated in the Nov 12th 2001 plane crash involving an American Airlines flight coming down in Queens, NY.

For those interested in even more technical detail of astrological cycles, 27 years ago on 13 January 1982 at 16.01 EST a plane came down in the Potomac River. The MC/IC for that incident was the degree of the current Saturn/Uranus opposition - 19-21 mutables. Sadly many people lost their lives in that disaster which was attributed to weather and pilot error.

AstroCartoGraphy of 15.20 EST today

Venus/Uranus (lucky aircraft!) midpoint on the MC closing in on NY by 15.23
Neptune/Poseidon and Chiron/Poseidon midpoints setting and Pluto setting too, exactly through Washington DC but still within orb of NYC. Click to enlarge. Pluto right over Washington is so apt. Not only must it have spooked those in corridors of power when the news came in but again memories of that awful day in 1982 would have caused a lot of pain to the friends and families, who still live in the area, of those who died.

UPDATE 16 Jan 2009 - Crash time now confusion died down is reported as 15.31 putting Uranus almost bang on MC in NYC

PSYCHICS ARE NOT ASTROLOGERS

I see that Jupiter's recent move into Aquarius is already having the anticipated effect of bringing astrology (AQ) to more prominence in the news (JU). A double page spread in the Daily Mail today sings the praises of the psychological (JU) value of astrology( AQ) and gives astrologer Deb McBride a great write up.

I haven't heard of Deb before but I love the clean, clear layout and content of her website and blog. My only gripe is that, yet again, the article throws psychics and astrologers into the same bag, when as we all know the two are completely different methods of tapping into the Universal consciousness. Okay so you can be psychic/intuitive and an astrologer - indeed it helps - but astrology is not about psychic phenomena.

Having been involved in media astrology for many a moon, I know how easy it is to commit to appearing in an article, only to find that the finished version either portrays astrology in a bad light, or, worst case, ridicules it all together. So a word of advice for anyone looking to embark on a career involving being interviewed by the media; always ask for some measure of editorial control from the publication, or if that is denied check beforehand what the main thrust of the piece will be - ask lots of questions of the interviewer or commissioning editor before agreeing to have your name appear.

This particular article ended up being a great advertisement for Deb and for astrology but it is still very mixed up with an article on 'fortune telling'. An address for the Psychic Society appeared but not one for a serious astrological body such as the AA or FAS. If we are going to bring 'proper' astrology to the attention of the public and assist it in gaining more gravitas, every astrologer has to take responsibility for ensuring it is properly promoted and the distinction between being psychic and being an astrologer is made clear.

* * * * * *

Here's another poem from Ella Wheeler Wilcox. This time on astrology. To my mind she hits the nail on the head with the words; There is no puny planet, Sun or Moon, Or zodiacal sign which can control, The God in us! If we bring that to bear, Upon events, we mold them to our wish. Which is why I am such a staunch advocate of using the Universal Laws, such as the Law of Attraction, to mold our fate (or to set our sails, as mentioned in my previous post) using visualisation and intention techniques, whilst working with our natural' bent' - which is described by the planets and their position in our natal chart.

Nay, seer, I do not doubt thy mystic lore,

Nor question that the tenor of my life,

Past, present and the future is revealed

There in thy horoscope: I do believe

That yon dead Moon compels the haughty
seas

To ebb and flow, and that my natal star

Stands like a stern-browed sentinel in space

And challenges events; nor lets one grief

Or joy, or favor, or success pass on

To mar or bless my earthly lot, until

It proves its fated right to come to me

All this I grant; but more than this I know:

Before the Solar Systems were conceived,

When nothing was but the unnameable,

My spirit lived, an atom of the Cause.

Through countless ages, and in many forms

It has existed, ere it entered in

This human form to serve its little day

Upon the Earth; the deathless Me of me

The spark from that all-creative fire

Is part of that eternal source called GOD,

And Mightier than the universe. Why he

Who knows, and knowing never once forgets

The pedigree divine of his soul,

Can conquer, shape and govern destiny

And use vast space as 'twere a board for chess

With stars for pawns; can change his
horoscope

to suit his will; turn failure to success,

And from preordained sorrow harvest hoy.

There is no puny planet, Sun or Moon

Or zodiacal sign which can control

The God in us! If we bring that to bear

Upon events, we mold them to our wish;

'Tis when the Infinite 'neath the finite gropes

That men are governed by their horoscopes.

- Ella Wheeler Wilcox

* * * * *

I see Revolutionary Road won a few awards at The Golden Globes. perfect symbolism for another approaching Saturn/Uranus aspect. I expect it to do well at The Oscars.

* * * * *

This months Full Moon ACG chart ( see below) pinpointed areas that have subsequently hit the headlines - like Indonesia. Interestingly Gaza is not exactly highlighted although there is a Pluto rise line if we use a Zodiacal view. Obviously the Gaza situation is ongoing, (although I did note a short ceasefire occurred when helio Pluto had passed its conjunction with Mars) so we have to look to earlier, and cycle, maps. I would relate this latest trouble to a few different cycles but if Saturn/Uranus turns out to be the trigger, this terrible situation could remain a defiant one and continue on into 2010.

Jupiter into Aquarius does suggest a large scale humanitarian crisis and a heavy workload for the UN this year.

I also pointed out Switzerland as a location that will be much in the news. This is because the Saturn Uranus lines meet in this area and all points north and south of the country. Maybe it's just because I am looking for it but I have noticed an increase in news stories from there recently. As we move towards the next SA/UR opposition on Feb 5th expect news over Swiss banks and the re-start of the LHC later this year. With heavy snowfall coming very early in the year, it may be a bad avalanche season, with new (UR) snow on old (SA) so take care if skiing in the Alps this year. We also have the upcoming World Economic Forum in Davos later in January, so that's one to watch too.

The first map is the Jan 11th Full Moon Map - In Mundo. the second is the Full Moon at Gaza - in Zodiacal mode. In the first ( in mundo) Pluto ASC is actually way off the coast if one zooms in. Click to enlarge maps

FATE OR FREEWILL?

'Tis the set of your sails!

Use the coming 11 Jan 2009 Full Moon to change tack in matters ruled by Capricorn over the next 2 weeks. I say this because the Full Moon in Cancer finds Mars on the midpoint of Sun and Pluto in Capricorn. So, just as we are going to see a change of leader in America, with the inauguration of Barack Obama, so there will be much change in many careers (and by polarity, in matters over home and land ownership) but you can 'lead' the way you want to go from now on. So assume command and catch yourself a favourable wind, don't let the economic gales dash you on the rocks of despair or futility!

One ship drives east and another drives west
With the self-same winds that blow.
'Tis the set of the sails
And not the gales
Which tells the way to go.

Like the winds of the sea are the ways of fate,
As we voyage along through life:
'Tis the set of a soul
That decides its goal,
And not the calm or the strife.

- Ella Wheeler Wilcox

* * * * * *

I can be what I will to be - Charles Haanel

PRAISE THE G.O.D.

A few weeks ago on this page - and in my Winter Newsletter - I wrote about Alexandra Burke, latest winner of the TV show The X- factor. The winners song for this programme was the Leonard Cohen song Hallelujah and not only has this now become the fastest selling record by a female solo artist, but it has revived sales of the original song and other cover versions of the single - notably those by the song's writer Leonard Cohen and the singer Jeff Buckley ( pictured).

I'd like to say that there is some perfect correspondence with the release a song with a title which translates to Praise the Lord just before Jupiter enters the sign of Aquarius, (which, as I said in my previous post relates to the Jupiter/Uranus aspect) because JU/UR is known in astrological circles as the Thank or Praise the Lord aspect. However, the single was released before Jupiter entered Aquarius today, so it is stretching things slightly. What is more perfect correspondence is that Leonard Cohen ( 21 Sep 1934) has a natal Jupiter Uranus aspect. His art mirrors his intrinsic natal energies!

What has really caught my attention though, and what I want to point out today, is that we are currently in the opposition phase of Saturn and Uranus and, as I have repeatedly mused, major life events always seem to occur with the unfolding of our natal outer planetary aspects. So for example I have a Mars/Saturn opposition and major events always tend to occur for me whenever Mars and Saturn come to conjunction, opposition, square or to some extent any of the 8th harmonic i.e the hard aspects. I have found this 'rule' plays out for almost everyone.

Alexandra Burke was born with a Saturn/Uranus conjunction and here she has been propelled to sudden, stratospheric (Ur) fame in her career (Sa) at one of the major 8th harmonic phases - the 180 opposition, but what is even more 'proof', if proof be needed is that Jeff Buckley (17 Nov 1966) has the Saturn Uranus opposition too.

I say has the opposition but, as many of you may know Jeff drowned in 1997* so we maybe should say that he had the opposition. Actually though, this is a very unexplored area of astrology but for some reason your chart will live on after you. In other words it continues to respond to events that happen after physical life has ended. This opens up the question; Does one's birthchart inform us of all previous lives and future lives - assuming reincarnation?

I've noticed this phenomenon over the years with people like Princess Diana. Whenever a big news story was released, or a new book, or even her husband's subsequent remarriage, it has been possible to look at her chart and see the relevant transits to her natal planets, exactly as one would when looking at a chart with any person still alive.

With Jeff Buckley, whose albums are now being restocked, we find this is happening not only at the Saturn/Uranus phase but as Saturn comes to his Mars/Uranus, an aspect associated with surprising revival (although obviously, sadly, not of him physically). Additionally tr Uranus is at the 18/19 Pisces and Pluto in Cap that occurred earlier in 2008 when his recording of Hallelujah was repeatedly downloaded and topped the digital charts after being sung by Jason Castro on American Idol. To complete the interweaving, Jason also has a Saturn/Uranus conjunction and tr Saturn at 21 Virgo is presently squaring this natal 21 Sag Saturn - conjunct Uranus.

In Leonard Cohen's chart Saturn is now at the midpoint of his Sun and Venus.

So what does all this tell us? Well not a lot more than we metaphysicians already knew really, and that is that we are in a system that connects everything without the barriers of time and space. Or as the book I read over Christmas calls it, it is all part of - G.O.D. A Guiding. Organising. Designing process!

If you are interested in G.O.D., please read on to the post below.

* * * * * *

* Of course it is also interesting that Jupiter was last in Aquarius in 1997

TALES OF ANGELS & SYNCHRONICITY

This post is a follow on from the one above entitled Praise the G.O.D.

I love reading stories about synchronicities. There's fabulous one in the back of the book The G.O.D. Experiments by Gary Schwartz but it's too long to recount here, so you'll just have to buy or borrow the book. My own life has been punctuated by some incredible synchronicities. Of the two most recent, the first is perhaps more proof of the way the Universe rallies to help us when we ask for help, than of pure synchronicity, but the second one is certainly not.

The first story occurred when I was driving to the airport before Christmas. I had drunk a couple of cups of tea before leaving and as I neared the airport perimeter, nature was calling. I decided to bypass the airport hotels feeling sure there would be facilities in the NCP car park I was headed to. Unfortunately it took longer than expected to get to the NCP and the first one I tried was shut for maintenance work so the situation became urgent, if not agonising.

After failing to find a car parking space on the first two floors I literally cried out 'Please help me, I don't know what to do'. This may sound a bit weird to the average observer but I regularly ask for help in my head, but have found that saying it out loud brings quicker results. Almost as soon as saying this I almost drove over a car park attendant so I stopped and said "Can you point me in the direction of the loos?" - fully intending to drive to them, such was my pain. He said "I'm sorry there are none in here, you have to go to the terminal" and pointed to a building that I could see was a fair distance away ( B'ham airport) and I hadn't even parked yet. I expressed my horror but thanked him then drove off in sheer desperation, still unable to find a space.

Then on the next floor this same man suddenly appeared again and beckoned me to follow him. He guided me into a spare parking space in a remote corner and then helped us (my daughter and I) with our suitcases, personally dragging the two large, heavy ones to the lifts. Once in the busy lift, as the doors closed and I said thanks but when the doors opened, there he was outside.

For one terrible moment I thought the lift had returned to the same floor, then I realised he had run down 3 flights of stairs to meet us again. He then pulled our bags out and speedily led us on a complicated route into the terminal (one which I would never have thought to have taken myself in my agitated state). Once in the terminal I ran ahead of him to the beckoning 'Ladies' sign and my ordeal was over.

Such was my physical and mental relief that I pulled money out of my bag, intending to give it to him as a thank you - I was even planning to give him a hug. However upon stepping outside, my daughter was sitting on the bags and she said he had left as soon as they got there. I looked around but couldn't find him.

So, was this luck? Was it divine intervention? A response to my request? I don't know. What I do know is that it is very rare in the UK to find anyone who is doing one job to spontaneously do another (he became a porter) yet alone to put themselves out to that extent, and all out of the kindness of their heart. So, thank you to my Christmas angel whoever you were!

The second story is pure synchronicity and defies all explanation.

I use Tibetan medicine and in the past have seen a Doctor who only visits London from Dharamsala a few times each year. Between Christmas and New Year I happened across a webpage saying that he would be in London in early January and to book your appointments before 23 December. The way I happened across the page was unusual in itself but I'll leave that for now. Anyway, although I haven't seen this Doctor in many years I decided to ring to see if there were any free appointments but got a machine saying that they wouldn't be back in the office until early January, so I left a message to call me. They did so and offered me an appointment on the 7th around 3pm which I was unable to make, so I said have you anything earlier in the day, to which he replied just one on the 8th at 12.15. "Perfect" I said, and took that.

A few minutes later I called a friend (who I haven't spoken to since mid November) and said, on her answer machine, that I had an appointment in London, would she like to come with me and we could catch up, do a bit of lunch and shopping in the London sales. She called back only to tell me that she had a 12 pm appointment with the same Doctor on the same day i.e., the appointment before mine and she had just been worrying about how she was going to get there as her car was playing up!

So, one may say that it is highly likely that someone who also uses Tibetan medicine would have arranged to see this renowned Doctor on this visit, but out of 4 days of appointments at 15 minute intervals we had booked adjoining ones ( she had booked in December). Plus, something had prompted me to call her (and no one else) after all these weeks to ask her to accompany me, just when she was worrying about how to get there. Now that is some G.O.D. Guiding, Organising, Design process at work!

2009 BEGINS, BUT NOT THE YEAR

This may be a tad late for those of you reading 'down under' but it's still 'day one' for some in the West so may I just convey my good wishes for a very Happy New Year.

January 1st is the first day of the calendar year but not of the natural year. The former marks linear time but the latter informs us about the Solar/Earth cyclical relationship which begins when the Sun crosses the plane of Earth's equator passing from the southern to the northern hemisphere on 20 March 2009. So, just as those of us in the northern hemisphere have a few months to wait before we observe a profusion of plant growth and new shoots pushing their way up towards the increasing light, we human beings will have to wait to feel any natural, unforced impetus to push forward with new projects and goals.

This is good news for those of you who may have been feeling societal pressure to have formulated resolutions and plans in time for today; resolutions such as where you are going this year and what you aim to achieve. Normally I am a staunch advocate of setting firm intentions- as I know that what the mind can envision and believe, you can achieve, however, at this particular juncture the cosmos is urging us all to become far less rule, resolution and restriction bound this year and to learn to go with the flow. Hang loose and see which way the wind is blowing and take decisions from a place of inspiration and not fear! We are perhaps being asked to cultivate more trust in a natural order and rhythm.

The next two months are going to be action packed. We have two early eclipses on 26 Jan and 9 February. Mars and Pluto have recently moved into Capricorn (and are conjoined heliocentrically until 6th Jan which is why we are hearing of so many terrible fires and there is still such tension in Gaza). Venus moves into Pisces on Saturday and Jupiter moves into Aquarius on 5th January and will remain there for the entire year. Mercury turns retrograde on 11th Jan and Venus meets Uranus on the 24th.

Changing planetary positions always denote changing conditions. Oppositions mean fluctuations between two extremes and conjunctions mean new starts. As above, so below. With so much emphasis on a small number of signs though, the focus will remain on politicians, businesses, in particular airlines, telecommunications, technology and electronics companies and we'll hear of many more mergers, alliances and collaborations. The House of Commons and the U.N. will also be much in the news as will Switzerland and Swiss Banks.

Jupiter in Aquarius is the one to watch this year as it correlates to a Jupiter/Uranus conjunction and this is one of the most unpredictable, life-changing mergers in the astrological pantheon. It's the placement of the extraordinary, the radical, the revolutionary, the miraculous and the unbelievable - in both the positive and negative sense of the words.

The last time Jupiter was in Aquarius we saw all these adjectives put to use. The year was 1997 and it was simply unbelievable that Diana, Princess of Wales should be killed in a car crash; so totally unexpected a fate at that time in her life that we were all left reeling. A mass (AQ) outpouring of grief at her death (JU) united people across the globe. We were also shocked by the shooting of Gianni Versace in Miami.

It was in 1997 that Tony Blair stormed into power with his 'New Labour'. This was an extraordinary defeat for the Conservatives and changed the face of Britain overnight. Meanwhile in the White House the words 'unbelievable' and 'I'm shocked' were undoubtedly being well used as rumours were swirling about the inappropriate relationship of the President, Bill Clinton with an intern called Monica Lewinsky*.

The Internet began its meteoric rise to world dominance and technology in general followed suit in '97. It's hard to believe that it is only in the last 12 year Jupiter cycle that surfing the World Wide Web has become such an integral part of our lives.

Aquarius is the sign of the masses and Jupiter relates to Space and 'the beyond'. Billions of people were transfixed by the sight of Comet Hale-Bopp in the heavens in 1997 and in Phoenix, Arizona the Phoenix Lights phenomena reminded us that 'the truth could still be out there'! The list goes on but the point is that 1997 was a pivotal year of extraordinary happenings and 2009 is likely to have a similarly radical impact on our culture and, for many of us with Leo, Scorpio and Taurus planets, in our personal lives too.

Those of you who have followed my musings over the years will already know why 1997 was an extraordinary year for me. Instead of waiting for the March new solar year, I started out in January '97 with all sorts of intentions and resolutions but by February they were all turned on their head when, after giving up on ever having a baby, I was shocked to discover I was pregnant.

However it wasn't that but the events that followed which marked the year out as miraculous when, with only the assistance of spiritual healers and my own unswerving faith in the power of 'Mind', the rare disorder that was discovered in my unborn child at my 20 week scan literally disappeared, confounding the Doctors and causing them to mutter the words like 'unbelievable' and incredible under their breath!. You can read that story here but, as Jupiter returns to Aquarius, that in essence is what 2009 is going to be all about - having faith in something larger than ourselves. Some organising power is at work and learning how to tap into that consciousness can change the course of events at the individual level and each time that happens it has ramifications for the collective, just like someone new joining the network of the Web adds another fibre optic pathway.

In other words, 2009 is the year where we can start to truly understand our connectivity with each other and our Universe in ways that would once have been deemed unbelievable.That's not to say that bad things won't happen this year but one person can view a job loss as a tragedy and another person can see it as the freedom to pursue a new career that aligns them more closely with their true purpose. Like it says in the serenity prayer we have to accept the things we cannot change; have the courage to change the things we can and ask for the wisdom to know the difference.

For those of you who are really worried by all that's happening in the world and the economy, I'll leave you with some favourite words of mine from the love of my life, Wayne Dyer!:

"Affirm this: What I desire is on its way. It will arrive precisely on God's timetable, not on mine. Everything that I am experiencing now is disguised as a problem, but I know that it's a blessing. What I desire is on its way and it's coming to me in amounts even greater than I can imagine. This is my vision and I'll hold on to it in a state of gratitude, no matter what".

Happy New Year.


*Fall 1997: Tripp to begin taping conversations in which Lewinsky details her alleged affair with the president.
I'd also like to point you towards a link to a fascinating page of information about January 1st and New Years Day
Read about Old Father Time/Saturn, here