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December Astrology Part 2 - Season's Meetings and Greetings

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Season's Greetings!

Continuing Astroair's summary of December's astrological happenings...

Love, peace and harmony planet Venus moves into Aquarius, the sign of friendship and teamwork on December 20. This might not be the sexiest or most affectionate placement for Venus, but it's good for getting together with groups of people during this seasonal time, be that your complicated family or your circle of friends. Venus in Aquarius can seem detached at times, so if you or a loved one comes over a little aloof, just give yourself or them a bit of space and you/they will soon be back to their sociable self.

A Square between Venus and Jupiter on December 21, can only be a good thing, so expect peace, love and harmony to break out all around!

On December 22, the Sun moves into Capricorn. As a December Capricorn myself, I feel bound to defend my much maligned sign. Far from being serious and boring, Capricorns can be a wacky bunch, just check out these quotes from some famous cappies. Far from being slow and patient, Capricorns are dynamic and swift acting once they decide what they want and work out how to get it. However, discovering what they want and being in a position to get it might take some some time. This is because Saturn is trying to teach them the lesson of patience and well earned reward. This might be hard for cappy to swallow at times, but unfortunately there it is!

The Sun's entry into Capricorn marks the Winter Solstice (the Summer Solstice in the southern hemisphere). The chart for the Solstice is commonly used as a predictor for the season to come, at least until the Spring Equinox which marks the Sun's passage into Aries.

In the Solstice Chart the Sun trines Jupiter, presenting us with an opportunity to feel optimistic about the end of this year and the beginning of next, especially as Jupiter turns direct on December 25, after being retrograde since the end of August. Sun square Uranus asks us to brace ourselves for the unexpected, as disruptive and perhaps surprising elements come into play. Without a doubt, change is in the air in the coming months, another indicator of which is Sun conjunct Pluto. This aspect is still quite wide in the Solstice Chart, but becomes exact on December 29, in time for the tail end of the year. Of course, with Pluto being in Capricorn since 2008, every winter solstice chart for the past few years has had Sun conjunct Pluto. This reflects the fact that Pluto’s idea of change is slow, deep, transformation. We cannot doubt that the world is slowly becoming a very different kind of place for so many of us. In this season’s solstice chart, Jupiter opposite Saturn arms us with a sense of purpose to help us tackle any challenge that comes our way. Finally, Moon square Neptune suggests that the general mood will be our collective desire to escape, dream and get away from it all. Indulge if you must, but beware of deceiving yourself about what is real and what is not. Strictly speaking, if something seems too good to be true, it usually is!



December 24 brings a New Moon in Capricorn. I always think of the Capricorn New Moon as the start to the New Year... New Moons are seeding times, when we can ‘plant’ our intentions and watch them grow. Therefore, if you do have any New Year’s resolutions, decide upon them around this New Moon. OK, with the holiday indulgences in full swing, it might not be practical to put them into action until the New Year but setting the intention now can’t hurt, can it? And make a note to check back in on those resolutions around the time of the Aries Equinox in March, a time which marks another new beginning.


Wishing all my readers a happy and peaceful end to the year and a happy and healthy 2012.


Thanks for reading.


With love, Mandi


www.mandilockley.com



Summary of December's Astrology

December 1: Venus conjunct Pluto


December 2: Sun square Mars


December 5: Venus trine Mars


December 9: Uranus turns Direct


December 10: Full Moon Lunar Eclipse in Gemini


December 13: Mercury turns Direct


December 18: Venus squares Saturn


December 20: Venus enters Aquarius


December 21: Venus squares Jupiter
December 22 (December 21 in PST time zones): Sun enters Capricorn


December 22 (December 21 in PST time zones): The Winter Solstice (Summer Solstice in the southern hemisphere)


December 22: Sun trines Jupiter and squares Uranus
December 24: New Moon in Capricorn
December 25: Jupiter stations Direct

December 29: Sun conjunct Pluto




Planetary Retrograde Dates for 2012

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Planetary Retrogrades for 2012

(For an explanation of retrograde and direct, please click here)

Mercury
Mercury turns retrograde on 12 Mar at 6 Aries 49 
Mercury turns direct on 4 April at 23 Pisces 50

Mercury turns retrograde on 15 July at 12 Leo 32
Mercury turns direct on 8 Aug at 1 Leo 25

Mercury turns retrograde on 6 November at 04 Sagittarius 18
Mercury turns direct on 26 November at 18 Scorpio 10 

Venus
Venus turns retrograde on 15 May at 23 Gemini 59
Venus turns direct on 27 June at 07 Gemini 29

Mars
Mars turns retrograde on 24 January at 23 Virgo 05
Mars turns direct on 14 April at 03 Virgo 41

Jupiter
Jupiter turns retrograde on 4 October at 16 Gemini 22 
Jupiter turns direct on 30 January 2013 at 06 Gemini 19 

Saturn
Saturn turns retrograde on 8 February at 29 Libra 30
Saturn turns direct on 25 June at 22 Libra 45

Uranus
Uranus turns retrograde on 13 Jul 2011 at 08 Aries 32
Uranus turns direct on 13 December at 04 Aries 36

Neptune
Neptune turns retrograde on 4 June at 03 Pisces 09
Neptune turns direct on 11 November at 00 Pisces 21

Pluto
Pluto turns retrograde on 10 Apr at 09 Capricorn 33 
Pluto turns direct on 18 Sep at 06 Capricorn 57

Chiron
Chiron turns retrograde on 12 June at 09 Pisces 45
Chirons turns direct on 14 November at 04 Pisces 58

Note: dates are based on European time zones and may vary by a maximum of one day for other time zones.

See also:

Mandi
http://www.mandilockley.com/

Say Hello 2012, Wave Goodbye 2011 (and some handy survival tips)

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Wishing you all a Happy New Year and I hope you enjoyed the celebrations. Of course, we weren't just saying hello to the New Year, we were letting go of the old year.

I celebrated with friends and at midnight, as we stood on the roof of their building watching the fireworks over London, someone shouted, goodbye 2011, you were c**p! Yes, without a doubt, 2011 was a year when many of us were swept up in a tide of change, challenge and difficulty.


This was reflected in the symbolism of the planetary alignments, most notably the applying square of radical, impetuous Uranus in Aries to Pluto in Capricorn, which demands sweeping transformation of our societal structures from the foundations up, including our economic and political structures and leaders. Who would have believed that 2011 would see the end of Mubarak's regime in Egypt, the overthrowing of Tunisia's President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, the assassination of Osama bin Laden,  the humiliating fall of Libya's Muammar Gaddafi and the resignation of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi? Instead, People Power was the way forward, witnessed most dramatically in the Arab Spring uprisings, but also in the riots and protests across Europe and in the worldwide Occupy movement.

Saturn continued through Libra, prompting us to question the boundaries of our relationships and alliances, on a personal level but also on a collective and political level. In the Eurozone crisis for example, relationships amongst EU countries have been strained almost to the limit over questions around who should pay to bailout failing Eurozone countries.

Neptune continued to travel hand in hand with Chiron, as both planets played out their last days in Aquarius and immersed themeselves in watery Pisces (Neptune finally leaves Aquarius behind in February). This suggests a collective (and for some, a personal) need to feel and understand sacrifice at a deep level. We're being told that, even though times are hard and set to get even harder, we're all in this together. Beware though, Neptune can be the great deceiver. Are we really all in this together? The Occupy Movement would say no we're not, the 99% are being asked to pick up the tab for the mistakes of the 1% who continue to 'get away with it'. The romanticism of Neptune in Pisces came out in the fairy tale fantasy that was the royal wedding and we were reminded of the destructive power of water by the devastating tsunami and nucleur crisis in Japan.

What will 2012 bring, more of the same? I believe it will bring the same and more.

The new People Power is only just finding its feet. It will continue to gain momentum as Uranus and Pluto make their first and second of seven exact squares in June and September 2012. Five more squares follow in 2013, 14 and 15. Exciting new leaders will begin to emerge, but in the end will they be any better than the leaders they will replace, or just different? Economically, we're set for another recession in 2012, with some even predicting a depression. I think they're correct, all the indications are there. It's a necessary step towards overhauling a system that is no longer working. We have failed to change voluntarily so we must do it the hard way. It's just a pity that this will mean suffering for so many. As for the '1%', as the Uranus and Pluto squares bed in, we will see more and more of them being held accountable for the messes they have created. Expect to see an avalanche of corporate and political heads rolling over the next three years. Again, will their replacements be any better or will the ousted leaders just be sacrificial gestures (Neptune in Pisces) so that the 1% can get back to 'business as usual' as quickly as possible? This is a time when we really can change the world, but also a time where it will be too easy to miss the opportunity if we don't fight hard enough or shout loud enough.

In October 2012, Saturn makes a clean break from Libra and enters Scorpio, where it will remain until 2015. Uneasy alliances and shaky friendships won't survive this transition. The UK coalition government will begin to break down, perhaps acrimoniously and I will be surprised if we don't see more than one country crashing out ot the Euro currency. People and communities, as well as countries, will become more secretive and more concerned about protecting what they've got, less inclined to share or compromise. Law and order, national, local and personal security and immigration will  become hot topics during Saturn's time in Scorpio. See Theodore White's article for more on Saturn in Scorpio.

Neptune in Pisces will be reflected on all levels, all at once. Expect the power of nature to make herself known over and over, but also expect to be heartened by the compassion and empathy of the human race in response to any kind of suffering or hardship. This is where Chiron in Pisces comes in and it will be those who have suffered the most that will have the most to offer others in hardship or despair. Neptune in Pisces will continue to come out through music, fashion, movies and in our spirituality. Expect a fantasy/escapism theme to emerge in all these areas. Fashion will follow film and the Maggie Thatcher look (yes, really), will be the height of glamour, closely followed by styles from The Great Gatsby. New findings into the nature of consciousness and the interconnectedness of all life will be published. Science will more and more come to feel like a religious experience, as discoveries in astrophysics push the boundaries of our comprehension and make us question reality. Lies and trickery will also be the order of Neptune in Pisces and deceptions will be uncovered. The full extent of the phone hacking scandal will emerge, including details of exactly how Piscean Rupert Murdoch played his part.

My survival tips for 2012?

Don't believe all that you see or all that you hear. Seek the answers from within and even then question yourself. In fact, this is a year to question everything,

Fight for your rights (and for the rights of others).

Stand up for who you are and be the unique person you were always meant to be.

Don't blindly follow any kind of leader, especially any kind of guru who claims to have all the answers.

Folllow your own lead.

Be your own boss.

Cut out the weed, cut down on the booze, keep a toe in reality if you're tempted to go on any flight of fantasy.

Create something beautiful.

Let go of the illusion of security and feel safe anyway.

2012 will push many of us to the edge, keeping clean and healthy in mind, body and spirit will help us to appreciate the view without falling off.

Most of all, do it all with love.

Hold on tight, our future is here

With love,
Mandi
www.mandilockley.com

Don't Worry, It's Not the End of the World ~ Debunking 2012

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“The sands of time are running out for the world and not even Indiana Jones can save us now. The astrological alignments and numerological formulae cannot be wrong: on December 21 this year, the apocalypse foretold 5,125 years ago by the ancient Mayans will come to pass and the world will end.”

This is a quote from The Daily Mail newspaper, in an article that went on to debunk the 2012 end of day theories.

Yes, the Mayan calendar comes to an end, apparently, but this does not mean the end of time. What it does mean is a mystery, but nowhere did the Mayans predict a world ending apocalypse, to the best knowledge of archaeologists and anthropologists.

Even if the Mayans did prophesise doom and gloom, we know that prophesies (ancient and modern) are very open to interpretation and rarely if ever come true. Remember Harold Camping who was convinced that the bible predicted the end on October 21 2011? He had to make an embarrassing retreat when sunrise heralded another earth day on October 22. Many of Camping’s followers, as is often the case, were left out of pocket.

As an astrologer, I can tell you there is nothing in the December 21, 2012 chart that predicts the end of the world. I hang my reputation on that and if any astrologer out there can prove to me otherwise, on the basis of the astrological measurements and the common sense application of factual evidence, then I will give up astrology for good!

You see, while planetary alignments suggest the type of energy that will prevail, we cannot accurately predict how that energy will manifest. This is because, as human beings, we have the free will to decide whether to draw upon the energy available and if we do, we have the free will to decide how to use it -  destructively or creatively, for our own good or for the good of others and so on. For example, the disruptive, rebellious, sudden-change inciting energies that accompany the on-going Uranus-Pluto square are there to be tapped into. While many of us will proactively embrace the opportunity for a shake-up of the status quo, still more of us will carry on with business as usual, dealing with change only when we absolutely have to.

Imbedded in the symbolism of every astrological alignment, however challenging it looks on paper, is the opportunity for positive growth and change. It’s up to us, collectively and individually, to make the best of it and to positively learn from the experience.

When ‘sensible’ astrologers make predictions (or forecasts, as I prefer to call them) they are based on our practical knowledge and experience, including our understanding of the symbolism of the planets, our experience of what occurred during previous similar alignments and our knowledge of history and/or current affairs (or personal history and current circumstances in the case of a forecast for an individual person). To that we apply a big dollop of good old fashioned common sense. Only then do we have a set of realistic assumptions on which to make a forecast.

When forecasting the future, headline grabbing sensationalism which taps into people’s fears, should play no part. Neither should astrologers claim to have some kind of special hotline to the gods.


I learnt astrology by taking classes, sitting exams, reading books, studying myself and my friends, sharing with my colleagues and listening to my clients. I am not a chosen one with exclusive access to arcane knowledge and I don’t hear voices in my head. I am not a guru and I don’t need followers. I simply want to help my clients and readers and encourage them to question me and more importantly to question themselves and the world. I would be worried if anyone took my opinions and suggestions as the final and only word on the matter.

An end of the world prediction based on no real evidence, astrological or otherwise, will never come from an astrologer who knows their stuff.


Yes, we can say with some authority that we are going through challenging times and that things could well get tougher. In the years to come, an economic catastrophe to make the 2008 banking crisis look trifling is a possibility, as are environmental disasters, but these events are by no means inevitable.

We should be prepared for anything, but we should not live in fear, for it is fear that the 2012 doom mongers are playing on. Many of them are cashing in nicely. The Daily Mail article mentions an entrepreneur who is selling places in bunkers for $50,000 to those who are wealthy enough and dumb enough to fall for the con. And there are entire websites devoted to selling 2012 survival kits. Anything from gas masks to bullet proof vests. A year’s supply of dehydrated food is there for the ordering if you can afford the thousand-dollar plus price tag.

So let’s be sensible this 2012. It’s wise to plan for potential hardship, but healthy to hope for a better world and responsible to do our bit to try to make that happen.


Instead of running scared and giving your money and energy to gurus and salesmen and other scaremongers, be smart with your time and even smarter with your money. Ask questions, pull your head out of the sand, look around, trust yourself and stay flexible.

We are living through a time of great challenge, but even greater possibility. Are you ready?

An Urgent Post About Saturn in Libra (& Your Personal Saturn Review)

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Saturn in Libra requires our serious consideration over the next few weeks. Mid January, it moved into the final degree of Libra, where it will stay until March 3.

The final degree of any sign, the 29th degree, is known as the Anaretic (or Critical) Degree.  When a planet is at the Anaretic Degree there is a sense of urgency and extremism. Closure is required before the planet can move fully into the energies of the next sign, so issues/themes related to the planet’s outgoing sign placement come to a head. Things can seem as if they’re at the end of their rope with fast action required to find a solution. Issues that have been complacently pushed to one side tend to pop up for urgent resolution. There’s a sense that time is running out. Decisions need to be made quickly.

For Saturn in Libra, this is an especially tense visit to the Anaretic Degree. It will stay there longer than it usually would due to its slow movement as it prepares to station Retrograde at 29 Libra on February 8 (see data at the end). The Retrograde (apparent backward movement) of Saturn makes it doubly likely that old issues will come up over the next few weeks.

Saturn Retrograde in the final degree of Libra is a time to review your progress over the last couple of years. Tie up loose ends, clear up unresolved issues, reflect upon losses one last time, allow yourself to enjoy the rewards of your achievements, make some (perhaps difficult) decisions, restore your sense of balance and prepare to let go so you can move on.

How this will affect you depends on which house Saturn in Libra is transiting in your chart and which natal planets it’s transiting, if any. The house Saturn has been moving through reflects the area of your life where you have been facing Saturn’s tests, delays, obstacles and challenges, where you have had to take responsibility, meet obligations and learn lessons.

In particular, Saturn in Libra has brought lessons and tests around diplomacy, compromise and fairness. It’s asked you to take relationships more seriously, to set healthy boundaries and to get the give-take balance right. Any kind of relationship could have felt like a heavy responsibility under this transit. Solid relationships have become more committed, but others may have broken down. We have learnt lessons around communicating and relating to others. We’ve been urged to play by the rules, stop competing and learn to cooperate and negotiate. Disputes, arguments and claims may have arisen. Some have been settled, but others remain to be resolved. Under Saturn in Libra peace and harmony has been more than possible, but you will have discovered that achieving it requires hard work, patience and constant compromise.

Your Personal Saturn in Libra Review

Back in 2010, Astroair Astrology wrote about the themes of Saturn in Libra through the Houses, including handy tips. Use these themes and tips as your starting point for your own Saturn in Libra Review.

Here are the links:

In case you’re quite new to astrology, both links explain how to quickly and easily work out what house Saturn in Libra is moving through.

Here are a a few questions to start you off (relate these to the area of life represented by the house Saturn has been transiting):

What have I learnt?
What obstacles have I overcome?
What new responsibilities have I taken on? Are they still relevant going forwards?
Where have I been held back/held myself back?
What have I achieved?
How has the way I have related to others improved?
Where in my life (or in the life of others), have I helped to create harmony and good relating?
What loose ends do I need to tie up?
What compromises have I had to make? Has it been worth it?
What do I need to let go of?
What decisions need to be made now?

I hope things come together for you over the next few weeks. Certainly, having a personal review now can only help, especially if things come to an urgent head and you need to act quickly or make a difficult decision. Let me know how you get on.

With love,
Mandi

Data
  • January 15, 2012: Saturn enters 29 Libra 00 (enters the Anaretic Degree)
  • February 8, 2012: Saturn stations Retrograde 29 Libra 30
  • March 3, 2012: Saturn enters 28 Libra 59 (leaves the Anaretic Degree)
    June 25, 2012: Saturn turns direct on 25 June at 22 Libra 45
  • September 28, 2012: Saturn enters 29 Libra 00 (re-enters the Anaretic Degree)
  • October 6, 2012: Saturn enters Scorpio

Astrology for February ~ Neptune swims into Pisces & Saturn in Libra's on the turn

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February is upon us and with it has come some pretty chilly weather across parts of Europe. But what about the astrological weather this month?

February brings two big events, Neptune enters Pisces on February 4th and Saturn in Libra turns Retrograde on February 7th.

Neptune dipped its trident into Pisces back in April last year, before re-entering Aquarius in August. Now it settles in Pisces until 2026.

Neptune is the planet of illusion, dissolution, the dissolving of barriers and boundaries, meltdowns, glamour, scandals and collective emotional undercurrents. Pisces is the sign of compassion, imagination, spirituality, merging, yielding and the victim-saviour-martyr complex. Put them together and the possibilities are endless, indefinable, unfathomable.

See A Neptune in Pisces Miscellanea for more themes associated with Neptune in Pisces, based on its last stay there. It looks at fashion, compassion, watery technology and how we all need to be more sensitive to the feelings of others…

No doubt there’ll be more to come on Neptune in Pisces in the following weeks…

When Saturn turns retrograde in Libra on February 7th, take some time to consider how you came to be where you are right now. This could be an important step in the process of negotiating a way forward, even if it means taking a temporary step back.

To find out more about why this Saturn retrograde is an important one and how to do you your own personal Saturn review, see An Urgent Post about Saturn in Libra

See also Saturn in Libra through the Houses to find out which areas of life Saturn is prompting you to review.
February 7th also brings a Full Moon in Leo. New facts come to light under a Full Moon and emotions come to a head. We feel more sociable and keener to put ourselves under the spotlight.

Full Moons ask us to consider the issues of the opposing signs the Sun and Moon fall in. Together, Leo and Aquarius symbolize the need to balance the individual need for personal gain and acclaim with the need to help, support and be equal to everyone else. Aquarius shouldn’t deny Leo’s right to be king, but needs to insist that the king serves with integrity and honesty. Teamwork and delegation of authority is everything to Aquarius. Selfish greed is not acceptable. Aquarius teaches that it is through serving the group, the community, the team, our friends, that we gain the honour and significance that is so crucial to Leo. Conversely, Leo teaches Aquarius that sometimes you have to take the lead if the cause is important enough. Somebody has to stand up for the masses, rebel against the status quo and shake the system up if there is to be any chance of a lasting change for the better. An important message for our current times, I feel.

Later in February – on the 19th - the Sun moves into Pisces, immediately joining up with Neptune for what promises to be an emotionally sensitive few days, especially as this segues with the Pisces New Moon– the dark of the Moon – on February 21st.

By the time the New Moon comes around, we’ll feel the need for a bit of R&R and TLC. Slow down, sleep, dream, listen to your intuition, send out healing thoughts, sing, dance, create something beautiful. Go with the flow. The time to act on plans will be after this New Moon, but bear in mind that both Saturn and Mars are retrograde so it might take a little longer to put your plan into action or to see the results of your efforts.

For more insights into Pisces see: Pisces Quotes: Woundrous Words of Feelings and Pisceans In Their Own Words
For dates and details of all the Moon’s phases this month, see The Moon Pages at Astroair Astrology.

Here, you will also find February’s Void of Course Moon Times. The basic premise is that if you attempt to do something important under a Void of Course Moon nothing will come of it. It’s not a theory to plan every little detail of your life by, but I’ve found it a useful tool for planning important events and making crucial decisions. Find out more here. The Void of Course Moon chart also shows when the Moon changes signs (which happens approximately every two and a half days).

Enjoy February, which this year – being a Leap Year – gives us an extra bonus day!

With love

Mandi

http://www.mandilockley.com/ 

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Why Self-Help Doesn't Always Help ~ by William Bloom

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I recently came across the following article by author William Bloom. I thought it worth sharing with my readers here because it provides important food for thought for all of us who are following a path of personal development, including those of us who use astrology as our tool.


WHY SELF-HELP DOESN’T ALWAYS HELP
Have you ever wondered why self-help and healing strategies do not always work — even when practised diligently and even by their own teachers? This has often bothered me, especially when I have seen close friends work hard at these techniques and then not achieve the new life or health they want. Sometimes my friends have been not only disappointed but have also, tragically, even felt stung and ashamed by their lack of success. These negative feelings and thoughts arise, I want to suggest, because people do not have the full picture of what is going on when they strive to fulfil their potential and use these self-help strategies. They do not see what is beneath the surface — the unseen realities.
So let me create a couple of fables to help explain.

The first is about a young beech tree. This beautiful young tree was very happy to be part of his small forest, growing with his friends and family, passing through the seasons, providing a home for small creatures. Then one day he began to develop some self-awareness.
‘I’m not just part of the forest,’ he thought, ‘I am also a unique me, a unique tree.’
That autumn he decided that he did not want to lose his leaves like the rest of his beech tree family. ‘I have my own unique consciousness. I decide my own fate. I shall keep my leaves green and vibrant through the winter.’ He focused and focused and willed himself, using mantra and affirmations, to retain his foliage. I am green and vibrant. I am green and vibrant.
But he lost his leaves. They turned golden and fell to the ground.
The next year he decided that he wanted to be the tallest tree in his forest and carry the most beechnuts. He concentrated hard to deepen his roots and extend his branches and stretch his DNA. He indeed grew an extra few feet but still there were older beech trees far taller and the giant douglas fir dwarfed them all.
Then the following year the weather system blew in some polluting acid rain from northern industrial Europe. Along with all other trees in his forest, unable to avoid the environmental realities, he suffered the burning effects of the pollution and took some years to recover.
For all his willpower he could not avoid the realities of nature.

The second fable turns our attention to Antarctica and to a beautiful young penguin who was sitting on top of a small and icy mound. She was a proud and haughty penguin and felt that she too was a unique individual. She had hatched on an ice shelf along with several thousand others in her colony and had slid and slithered with all her cousins down to the ocean, but she knew deep down that she was special and had a unique destiny.
‘I will create my own life,’ she knew. ‘I will not only swim. I will fly!’
Bravely she left her colony and set off on her own. She was determined and wilful and waddled for many miles, finally reaching a small mountain. This, she knew, she felt it in her bones, was the magic place! If she could only reach the peak she would then be able to fly. After more days of gruelling struggle, she reached the mountaintop.
‘Now I shall fly!’
She put her all her will and intention into her desire to become airborne. Nothing happened. She remained earth-bound. Dismayed she collapsed on to the ground and fell into a fitful sleep from which she was awoken by terrible cracking and grinding noises. The earth and ice beneath her were moving.
‘If I cannot fly, I will use my will to stop the earth moving,’ she thought. But her thoughts were, sadly, useless. She looked around. To her dismay she saw that she was, in fact, sitting on the peak of an enormous iceberg floating off into the ocean, leaving behind the landmass and her fellow creatures.
‘Stop! Stop!’ she cried. But the iceberg floated away to its own inevitable destiny.
Penguins cannot fly and the major mass of an iceberg is beneath the surface.

Returning now to self-help strategies for achieving perfect health and wealth. The insights are clear. The unseen problem with these strategies is that they rarely look at the deeper realities and conditions. In fact, many unseen forces influence our physical health and our material conditions.

How many of us are like a tiny penguin sitting on an iceberg, trying to alter our situation, but unaware that the most important realities are below our conscious awareness? 

Beneath our desire for a healthier and happier life is a massive substratum of powerful forces: personal karma, family karma, collective karma, unconscious emotions, feelings and histories. All of these cannot just be transformed by, for example, the repetition of an affirmation no matter how diligently or purely it is repeated. Even when we commit fully to deep transformation and do the hard work of personal growth, we will almost always meet the forces of our past.

How many of us are also like the beech tree, wanting the impossible and trying to escape the rhythms and waves of nature and the forces of our environment?

When we focus on our health we cannot for example avoid the reality that we belong to the vast interdependent collective of humanity, nature and cosmos. The actual atoms and molecules of our bodies, for example, do not belong individually to us, but belong to the Earth. This means that, regardless of our unique individual identities, our bodies share the collective conditions of all carbon-based creatures. So illnesses like cancer may arise simply from the contact of our bodies with the toxins of our surroundings. Or epidemics may overwhelm us. Just as beech trees shed their leaves in Autumn, so we too are embedded in nature and our environment.

Of course, there are also miracles, growth and development that transcend these collective realities. But in general penguins do not fly!

The real miracle, glory and majesty of being human is that we are also spiritual beings. This means that we have real control over and are sovereigns of our own consciousness and hearts. Regardless of our circumstances or health, we have the absolute freedom to develop spiritually: to grow our love, our awareness, our compassion.

So even when we are not succeeding at self-help strategies to improve our material conditions, we can still develop our spirituality. More compassion, more consciousness. True healing, development and fulfilment.

The wise beech tree and the contented penguin.

All my love
William
williambloom.com

I won't add too much commentary, except to say that if you have Sun in Cancer and Moon in Virgo, it's unlikely you'll make much personal progress if you believe you must try and live your life as if you have Sun in Aquarius and Moon in Leo. So here's to the wonderful, unique person you are and here's to the joys and challenges of the journey to discover who that is.

Willliam Bloom is a British author and spiritual teacher. His books include The Power of Modern Spirituality, Feeling Safe and The Endorphin Effect

Drought and Drink ~ Neptune in Pisces

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I recently disovered a wonderful post about Neptune in Pisces, over at Genevieve Vierling's Blue Light Lady Blog. Here's the Link.  Genevieve’s article set me thinking about more ways that Neptune in Pisces is manifesting. Here are a few quick thoughts...

Drought
Parts of Eastern England are officially experiencing drought conditions, following a prolonged dry spell. While it's common to experience mild drought in the summer, it is very, very rare for it to happen this early in the year.
Water is of course a major theme for Neptune in Pisces. More and more we are being forced to realise that we are wasting and polluting this most precious and essential of life’s building blocks. Click here for water saving tips.

Booze  
The issue of alcohol is never off the political/media agenda lately.
In the UK we traditionally have a very liberal approach to alcohol. Lately, while scores of struggling pubs close each week, alcohol consumption is going up. This is put down to cheap supermarket booze. Over the last few decades we have slowly adopted the more relaxed style of drinking common to continental Europe. A glass or two of wine with dinner every evening. Trouble is, we haven’t dropped our binge drinking habit. The young in particular are still going out on Friday or Saturday night, with the intention of ‘getting hammered’. It’s the worst of both worlds. We’re told we’re sitting on a liver disease time-bomb if we don’t allow ourselves at least two booze-free days a week.

Calls to significantly raise the cost of booze are becoming louder. It’s only a matter of time. Others are lobbying to have the legal drinking age raised from 18 to 21 or even 25.

A recent BBC documentary The Rules of Drinkinglooked into the history of drinking in Britain. A revelatory insight for me was that, far from drinking more than ever, we have simply slipped back to the levels of drinking of the Victorian times. Guess what? It was the Victorian times when Neptune was last in Pisces. The war years following the Victorian era led to limited licensing hours, reduced consumption and a more conservative attitude to over consumption. We're over that now and alcohol is available 24 hours in many places.

Escapism is a Neptune thing, especially with Neptune in Pisces, but I would say that alcohol consumption is not simply about escaping from ourselves, it's subtler than that. Given the times we are in, it's ever harder to escape the harsher realities of life. Booze has become a cheap and legal way of anaesthetising ourselves, a quick way of taking the edge off in a difficult world. But there's usually a price to pay and anybody who thinks they may have a problem with drinking, should seek advice from a professional.

Expect alcohol to be an evener hotter topic in the coming years.

With love,
Mandi

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March Update

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A quickie post with a few tips and astro-links for March.

Void of Course Moon Times for March are up on my website. These are a useful timing tool. The basic rule is not to schedule anything important when the Moon is Void. Full data and explanation here.

Moon Phases for March are up. Following the Phases of the Moon is a good way of tuning into the prevailing energies. Is this a time for rest or a time for action? Find out here.

Mercury is Retrograde from March 12 until April 4. Mercury retrograde is a time to review, regroup and redo. Expect things to go awry with regards to communication, travel and the technology we rely upon day to day. Have a back up plan in place. Avoid signing any important contracts or making any big decisions, wait until Mercury is moving forwards if possible. Because Mercury turns Retrograde in fiery Aries, be careful what you say during this period, impulsive remarks could get you into trouble and you can't take back the spoken word. Mercury slips back into Pisces on March 23, which is a good time to rest and release negative thinking patterns.

The Sun is in Pisces until 20th March, then it moves into Aries. The Aries ingress of the Sun marks the Spring Equinox (Autumn Equinox in the Southern Hemisphere). This is an important date, marking the astrological and pagan new year. The Equinox chart is a good pointer for the following months to come. A post on this coming soon.

The Sun sign quotes here at Astroair continue to be very popular. Here are some famous quotes for Pisces and Aries.

The Top Posts section has just been updated at my website. Click on the link to catch up on some great articles you may have missed first time around.

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Pluto and the Language of Astrology

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I’ve read a few comments lately from people anticipating their Pluto transit or discussing transits they’ve had. Some speak positively of the growth and change opportunities that come with the transit and others speak of the transit more fearfully. What most of them have in common, though, is that they speak about what Pluto has caused, what Pluto is bringing.

I have to say that I don’t think Pluto actually does anything to us. After all, it’s just a small, cold, dwarf planet with a scary name, in the far reaches of our solar system. Right? How can its incredibly slow movements possibly cause psychological stress or momentous change in our personal lives? That just doesn’t make any logical sense. Frankly it’s a ridiculous notion.

But still, Pluto transits tend to bring Plutonic themes into our lives, themes which carry their own signature, a certain vibration. As we experience and share what occurs during these transits, our collective astrological knowledge builds up. This takes us away from the physical rock in the sky and into the realms of the symbolic. On this level, astrology works. So, while that might seem a contradiction of my statement above that Pluto (along with all the other planets) doesn’t actually make anything happen to us, it’s actually not. I believe that people commenting about what Pluto is doing to them are not imagining things. Their Pluto transit is undoubtedly affecting them, it’s just that it’s not physical Pluto, it’s symbolic Pluto, ‘astrological’ Pluto. Of course, astrological Pluto is energetically linked to the movements of physical Pluto, but it’s not the same thing.

So instead of saying Pluto is doing this or that (which implies physical Pluto), it might be better so say that Pluto transits reflect times in our lives when our experiences resonate with the symbolic and mythic meanings that astrology has ascribed to Pluto. This is a longwinded way of expressing it of course. It’s hard to find the words to put it more simply. In the end, it’s usually easier to simply say that Pluto is doing this to me, even though, if we understand astrology, we don’t really mean it that literally.


As for why astrological Pluto affects us, I don’t know.  Astrology is not, and shouldn’t, be logical. We can accurately predict where the planets will be located on any given date, but we can’t predict exactly how the astrological, symbolic themes of the planets will be reflected here on earth in our lives. Astrology is still such a mystery to us, but I believe that symbols have power and that that power becomes more tangible, more alive and more meaningful as we interact with it.

Hades picture from http://taekwondonj.deviantart.com/art/Hades-55351038?offset=10

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What's the World Coming To?

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While Astroair has been ‘resting’  her colleagues have been busy analysing the current world trends, as we steer our way through these critical times. Here’s my pick:


From Jude Cowell’s political astrology blog, Stars Over Washington:


“This reluctant astrologer is keeping a close watch on the June 5/6, 2012 Venus Transit as a timing mechanism relating to an unusual forming or break-up of association....”Read More...


***

ASTROTABLETALK posted a piece asking how the current astro-political climate is reflected in our subconscious:



“That, apparently, is how Jung saw World War II coming, during the last Uranus-Pluto square: from his patients dreams. When the collective is intensely activated, as it is now, it will push its way into our dreams.”Read More...


See also:

***

Mundane Forecast May/June/July 2012



Theodore White continues his close analysis of the current world events. His latest article includes mundane advice for May-July 2012, predictions for the May 20th Solar Eclipse, geophysical forecasts and his take on the upcoming rare Venus Transit.


“According to my mundane calculations, the next three months - May, June and July 2012 yield unfavorable world transits straight into the summer season in the northern hemisphere. We are about to hear, see and experience a series of unbelievable anomalous events that will be most unexpected and sudden for many people.”  Read More...


***


Written in 2011, Roy Gillett's article looks forward to 2012:

“Whatever is done through the last part of 2011 is unlikely to be enough. More speculation and funding will be increasingly forced upon governments and institutions in the first half of 2012 at a time they are likely to be less willing and able to meet such demands.”  Read More...



***
The Future of the Euro 

More on the Euro crisis in Adrian Duncan's 2012 predictions:

“In the coming years governments will fall one by one because of the coming social upheaval, like they have already done in Greece, Italy and Spain. And will do in 2012 in France, and in 2013 in Germany and England. The big question today is whether the Euro will survive this process. And if it does not, what the global consequences will be.”Read More...


***

And finally, click here to see Chris Brennan’s predictions for Hillary Clinton on Fox & Friends

***

With love, Mandi
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Everything you need to know about June 2012

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June is upon us, bringing three significant and exciting astro-events.

Big(ish) Event Number One

Firstly, there’s a Partial Lunar Eclipse on June 4. It falls at 14 degrees-14 minutes of Sagittarius and Gemini. If you have planets or points at 13-15 degrees of the mutable signs - Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius or Pisces - this Eclipse will touch your chart.

You can get your chart for free at http://www.astro.com/ or http://www.alabe.com/ and also see my article Working with Eclipses for tips on how to interpret Eclipses.

Big Event Number Two

June 5/6 brings a rare transit, when Venus, planet of love, money and values, passes directly between the Sun and the Earth and is visible as a small dark disk passing across the Sun’s face.

Significantly, Venus falls in the same degree as the Eclipse the day before, 15 degrees-44 minutes of Gemini, so if you have 15 degrees of the mutable signs highlighted in your chart, this is an event well worth following.

But what is a Transit of Venus exactly? What does it mean? The links below should help...

As usual, NASA is the first port of call for all things astronomical. Their special site includes explanation, history and a live webcast of the event on June 5/6: http://venustransit.nasa.gov/transitofvenus/

Everything you need to know, including advice on viewing it safely (you should never look directly at the Sun) at: http://www.transitofvenus.org/

A couple of good articles from the ever reliable TMA:
http://mountainastrologer.com/tma/venus-transit-the-message-is-love
http://mountainastrologer.com/tma/astrology-as-if-the-sky-matters-venus-retrograde

Finally, this excellent post discusses events that coincided with previous Venus Transits. What will this transit bring as Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her Diamond Jubilee and mega-movie Prometheus is released? http://copycateffect.blogspot.mx/2012/05/venus-transits-sol.html

Click on image to enlarge
Big Event Number Three

June 24 sees the first exact square of Uranus in Aries to Pluto in Capricorn. On the big picture level, this aspect has been playing out a while, but now it’s exact it will reach its highest intensity, with six further exact squares coming September 2012 through March 2015.

Here’s what it signifies, in a nutshell:

Since 2007 an exciting, powerful and incredibly disruptive planetary alignment has been forming. Rebellious Uranus has been squaring up to Pluto in Capricorn. Uranus’ energies have been compared to those of the mythical Prometheus, who stole the fire from the gods and gave it to man. Combined with Pluto, Uranus ignites revolutionary impulses and upsets the status quo. This planetary combination has been associated with mass rebellion against the establishment, revolutions, civil rights movements and radical social and political change.

The above is from Uranus-Pluto and Our Changing World. The article includes a fascinating look back at historical Uranus-Pluto alignments. Read more here....

How are Astroair’s 2012 predictions playing out? Find out here...

Over the next three years the Uranus-Pluto squares occur between 6 and 15 degrees of Aries and Capricorn, so if these degrees are highlighted in your chart (and also 6-15 degrees of Cancer and Libra), then these squares will form a significant transit to your chart. A time of change is on the horizon for you, that's for sure.

Moon News

Moon Phases and Void of Course Moon Times for June are up on my website. See http://www.mandilockley.com/ for details.

With love,
Mandi

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After Your Transit (& Some Good News)

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So, you survived your big transit. Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and/or Pluto has finished its conjunction, square or opposition to your natal planet.

A big sigh of relief all round.
If you follow your transits, you were probably anticipating it long before it came and as it inched ever closer to its target, you watched carefully for signs of its influence. Perhaps your transit reflected major life changes, challenges, losses or new opportunities? Maybe years of hard work started to pay off or conversely, you had to face the consequences of unwise decisions made in the past? Possibly, the shift was more internal as you chose to (or were forced to) confront deep-rooted psychological baggage, heal old wounds, grieve, move on, let go.  

Now what?
If your transit brought any kind of loss, shock, major change or disruption, chances are, now it’s over, you’re seeking to replace those losses and reverse the changes, to try to return things to how they were. It’s human nature.

Here are a couple of scenarios.

A relationship breaks up under a Uranus transit. After a while, you’re ready for romance again. You’re attracted to your new partner because he’s just your type. Consciously or unconsciously, something about him reminds you of your old flame. Your new partner pays you constant attention, says you belong together forever and shows you off to his friends. This is all so so flattering and is just how your former relationship started. The nice part, before the possessiveness and the jealousy kicked in. Your new beau doesn’t seem to approve of your best friend and you start to see less of her because he’s taking up all your time. At parties, you chat and flirt your way around the room because that’s the way you are, but your partner doesn’t like it.

The old pattern could be recurring, but this is your opportunity to put the lessons of that Uranus transit to good use.
Do you (1) run a mile, but feel miserable alone and then either repeat the pattern down the line with someone else, or stay lonely; (2) leave the relationship, but work on your own issues, through therapy, self help, through your chosen spiritual practice, or simply by giving yourself proper time to reflect and heal; (3) stay in the relationship, but confront the issues early on and do your best to set healthy boundaries, remaining prepared to move on if it doesn’t work; or (4) stay in the relationship, do nothing and hope for the best? 

There’s no right or wrong answer, this is not a quiz, nor is it an advice column. Options (1) and (4) seem to be the least likely to lead to growth and learning. But then, none of the options are without risk and all of them, except (4) involve change.
Scenario two.

You lost your job under a Saturn transit, so you look for a new one. You would love to do something completely different, but you also have to think about the practical issues and the bills that need to be paid, especially in these straightened times. Conscious that you might be missing an opportunity to fulfil a dream, you give yourself the best odds by going for roles similar to your last one. The dream might be on hold, but using the ‘be realistic and patient’ lesson of your Saturn transit, you realise that there are things you can do to make things better in your next job.
For example, you think carefully about what you liked and disliked in previous roles; you target companies which better reflect your personal values; in interviews, you don’t just ask about what the job itself entails, you ask also about the company culture, the atmosphere in the office, the personalities of the team you’d be working with. On your resume, you emphasise the skills that you most like to use, making less of those you don’t. Perhaps you consider temping, freelancing, part time or contract work. It might lack the security of a permanent role, but it can provide an income and buy you some time to find something you truly want to do.

Overall, you remain realistic and you’re prepared to be flexible. You’re patient and hopeful and you don’t give up. You’ve absorbed the lesson of your Saturn transit.
You’ve Got To Have A Dream



Maybe you’re one of the lucky or brave ones, who really can follow your dream. If you’re not, never lose hope. As the old song goes, if you don’t have a dream, how’re you going have a dream come true? It’s wise though to reassess our dreams on occasion and particularly after a life changing transit. We age, we grow, our priorities change, the world changes around us, unexpected spanners fall into the works.
Think about that dream of old. What does it boil down to? What’s its essence? Why did you want to be a painter/cosmonaut/vet/photographer? Were you following an innate talent or a personal interest? Were you trying to please a parent or conform to a social stereotype of success? Was it for the money, the power, the recognition, to fit in? Did it stem from a need to express yourself creatively, to help others, to give something back to the world? 

If you look at it from this angle you can see more easily where you need to let go of old dreams and also when to hold onto dreams that are still valid, but need to be adapted so they better suit who and where you are now. You may even find that you have already made your dream come true, but didn’t realise it because it manifested differently to your fixed expectation.
As Within, So Without: What We Can Learn From World Events



This post explores how, so often after a difficult transit, it’s too easy to carry on repeating the mistakes of the past, when instead we could use the wisdom our transit brought to break unhealthy, outdated patterns of behaviour.
I think the current world situation is a lesson to us all of the dangers of not learning the lessons of the past, of blindly trying to tread a path that just doesn’t work for us anymore. Since the banking crisis of 2008 (when Pluto moved into Capricorn and Saturn squared Pluto and opposed Uranus) most of the energy and resources have been directed towards restoring the old ways of doing things. The capitalist model based on constant growth which benefited so many of us while Pluto was in Sagittarius simply doesn’t work under Pluto in Capricorn. Somehow, we need to find another way of doing things that suits the world as it is now, while at the same holding those people and entities who contributed to the crisis to account. Seven upcoming hits of Uranus to Pluto will see to it that major change does occur, but collectively we need to choose wisely, in keeping with the symbolic themes of Pluto in Capricorn.  Let’s hope we make the right choice.

Some Very Exciting News!

You may have noticed less posts from Astroair Astrology, so I wanted to let you know why. The good news is that I am working on my first book. The subject is a secret for now, but I will be publishing some teasers and excerpts in the weeks to come. All being well, it will be published as an e-book in late September this year and can be downloaded from here, amongst other places.

In the meantime, thanks sooooooooooo much for continuing to support Astroair Astrology

Click on this link for July's Moon Signs and Void of Course Moon Signs
Click on this link for July's Moon Phases

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With love, Mandi
www.mandilockley.com

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A Big Announcement + London 2012

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A Special Announcement

I’ve been dropping a few hints here and there, but I can now reveal (drum roll, please) that my first book will be published at the end of September.
It’s all about Saturn in Scorpio and will be your comprehensive guide to Saturn’s journey through the sign of the scorpion from early October 2012 through to late 2015.

Running to over 60 pages, it covers all the themes of this transit in great depth, both from your very personal perspective and from the point of view of the collective, including how Saturn in Scorpio fits in with the Uranus-Pluto squares and other key alignments.
The themes, opportunities and challenges of Saturn in Scorpio’s transit through your birth chart are covered in much detail, with chapters on Saturn in Scorpio through the houses and on Saturn’s aspects to your natal planets. This is information you can’t get anywhere else. Yes, there’s plenty written about Saturn transits, but this material is very specific to Saturn in Scorpio.

The book will be available for download from this blog and from www.mandilockley.com in PDF format. I am also exploring Kindle and other ebook formats.
More information and exclusive excerpts are coming in the following weeks.

Subscribe to this blog (below) to get the latest updates or register your interest by emailing mandi@mandilockley.com (your details won’t be passed on to any third parties).
London 2012



I hope you are enjoying the season.

London, my adopted home, is abuzz with the 2012 Olympics and despite Mercury Retrograde our clunking transport network is holding its own, at least for now.
The Opening Ceremony was a triumph.

The chart (set for 9pm, 27.7.12, London) has unconventional Aquarius on the Ascendant, reflecting the bonkers humour and irreverence that marked the occasion. Even The Queen made delightful fun of herself in a James Bond sketch, perfectly reflecting the playful, regal Sun in Leo squaring the Aquarius Ascendant. 007 himself is a great manifestation of the Moon in Scorpio - the secret agent protecting his motherland. That Moon also came out in a fantastic sequence where all the scary monsters of children’s literature came out to haunt the kids in their dreams.

The most memorable and surprising sequence was the lighting of the Olympic Cauldron, with a flame for ever competing nation coming together into one spectacular whole. It’s what you would expect with an event chart featuring a Fire Grand Trine of theatrical Sun Conjunct Mercury in Leo, quirky Uranus in Aries and international Sagittarius on the midheaven. Even a retrograde Mercury less than two degrees close to the Sun (an affliction in traditional astrology) was not enough to dampen the flames. 

You can see a video of the lighting of the cauldron here http://www.businessinsider.com/video-of-the-olympic-cauldron-lighting-in-london-2012-7 

Now let the gold rush begin (come on Team GB)!

Touch the Moon

August’s Moon Phases are updated at http://www.mandilockley.com/moon_phases.html

August’s Void of Course Moon times are updated at http://www.mandilockley.com/moonpages.html (an explanation of Void of Course and how to use it is included)

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Olympic Inspiration in the Stars

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The 2012 Olympics are over and didn’t London put on a spectacular Games? With the Paralympics to come, the talk now is of legacy and of inspiring the next generation.

So, if you’re feeling motivated to take up a new sport, look to your Sun sign for inspiration. Just for fun, here are a few suggestions.

Aries
It’s got to be the sprint. Fast off the mark and over in seconds, you’re bound to cross the finishing line in first place. Boxing is another good option for burning up all that Mars energy and aggression.
Taurus
Slow to start, but with enviable endurance, Taurus is best suited to the long races, like the Marathon or the 10,000 metres. If you can be bothered to get out of bed to train!
Gemini
Any racket sport that requires good hand-eye coordination is good for Gemini. Tennis, Badminton, Table Tennis. Because you’re the sign of the twins, the doubles matches might be your best bet. Then again, Handball might suit. How are you ever going to make a decision?

Cancer
You like to ensure you’re heavily defended at all times, so any sport that involved wearing protective armour is good for you. Why not give Fencing or Taekwondo a try? If ball sports are more your thing, you could try Football. In a defensive position, natch.
Leo
You’re ruled by the Sun, that big gold disc in the sky. Because of this, you don’t care what sport you do, so long as you get the gold medal at the end of it. You’d rather just have the medal and not do the sport. No pain, no gain, Leo!
Virgo
You’re the master of the little things, so Table Tennis is for you. Dinky bat, tiny ball and a small table. Perfection!
Libra
For the chance to show off your grace and beauty, it’s got to be the Synchronised Swimming or the Artistic Gymnastics. And you get to compete wearing full make up and a pretty sparkly costume.
Scorpio
Because your co-ruler is Mars then the martial arts are great for you, so why not give Judo or Taekwondo a go? More than just competitive sports, they are about control, mastery and self-defence, three things Scorpio naturally excels at.
Sagittarius
Your symbol is half-man half-horse with a bow in its hand, so it can’t be anything other than Archery or Equestrian for you. Or, because you’re a forward thinking soul, why not try the Modern Pentathlon. It includes both arrows and horses and more besides.
Capricorn
You’re used to working through obstacles, so why not give the 400m Hurdles a try? Failing that, how about weightlifting? You already carry the weight of the world on your shoulders, so what difference will a few more kilos make?
Aquarius
Team sports are the most obvious choice for you. How about Basketball, which will also have you flying through the air? If you prefer something more individual (and a bit weird) then the Pole Vault is also a bit like flying!
Pisces
You’re the fish of the zodiac, so take your pick of anything in the water. Swimming, Diving, Rowing, Sailing, Canoeing, Water Polo. Give them all a go, water baby.

www.mandilockley.com
All pictures from wikimedia commons. Gymnast pic by Tomtheobald, Hurdles pic from by Thomas Faivre-Duboz.

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Saturn in Scorpio: Your Guide Through The Dark

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I'm very excited about my upcoming book:
Saturn in Scorpio: Your Guide Through The Dark
Saturn’s upcoming ingress into Scorpio may feel a little worrying, but this new guide has been put together to help you successfully navigate the cold and deep waters of this transit.
The major themes of Saturn in Scorpio are explored in depth including issues of safety, fear and control; sex and intimacy; the power of love; rejection, anger, vengeance and forgiveness; the power of the unconscious and money, debt and taxes.
Find out how these themes and more may be relevant to you personally, but also discover how they will be reflected in the collective.
Concerned about how Saturn in Scorpio will affect your own birth chart?  Its transit through your natal houses and to your planets is also covered in great detail.
This unique guide also examines how Saturn in Scorpio fits into other current and upcoming major planetary alignments including the Uranus-Pluto Squares; the Jupiter-Saturn-Pluto Yod of December 2012; the Jupiter-Saturn-Neptune water Grand Trine of 2013 and much more.

There's even a bonus chapter on the Secondary Progressed Moon cycle.
Coming in one week in e-book format! Subscribe now to receive full details in your inbox.
Don't miss out, subscribe to Astroair Astrology below; 'Like' Astroair Astrology on Facebook or Follow @Astroair on Twitter
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With love, Mandi www.mandilockley.com 

Saturn in Scorpio: Your Guide Through The Dark

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Astroair Astrology is thrilled to announce the publication of Saturn in Scorpio: Your Guide Through The Dark.

Find out how you and your loved ones may be affected by Saturn in Scorpio.


Saturn entering the intense, inscrutable and controlled sign of Scorpio on October 5 may feel worrying, especially given the disruptive and unsettling changes the world and many individuals are facing.

This new book from Mandi Lockley - Saturn in Scorpio: Your Guide Through The Dark - is designed to help you successfully navigate the cold and deep waters of this transit and tap into its healing and transformative potential.

The major themes of Saturn in Scorpio are explored in-depth including issues of safety, fear and control; sex and intimacy; the power of love; rejection, anger, vengeance and forgiveness; the power of the unconscious and money, debt and taxes.

Discover how these themes and more may be relevant to you personally and how best to cope with them, but also discover how they will be reflected in the wider world.

Anxious about your Saturn transit? Saturn in Scorpio’s transit to your own birth chart is covered in detail, including its transit to your natal houses and planets and there's an extended section on those all-important Saturn to Saturn transits. Many books and websites deal with astrological Saturn in general and Saturn transits in particular, but this book is specifically tailored to the unique experience of Saturn in Scorpio.


This comprehensive astrological guide also examines how Saturn in Scorpio fits into other current and upcoming major planetary alignments including the ongoing revolutionary and disruptive Uranus-Pluto Squares and the Jupiter-Saturn-Neptune Grand Trine of 2013. Find out how we might see these energies manifest in the world around us.

Saturn in Scorpio: Your Guide Through The Dark also includes a bonus chapter on the Secondary Progressed Moon cycle - an important and very personal cycle of emotional maturity - and explains how it links with your personal Saturn cycle.

This book is suitable for all levels of astrological knowledge. Whether you are a beginner to astrology, a serious student, or a consulting astrologer working with clients, Saturn in Scorpio: Your Guide Through The Dark will be a valuable resource to help you through this challenging transit.

For the beginner, the book has instructions on how to calculate your Saturn transit and includes a Saturn in Scorpio ephemeris, for quick and easy calculation.

For excerpts of the book see here and here. For a review, see here (thanks to Donna Cunningham and Auntie Moon).

Saturn in Scorpio: Your Guide Through The Dark is available for download at Amazon now at a special introductory price of £3.80 (UK), $6.17 (US) and equivalent prices in other currencies (see your local Amazon site for details).


The book is in Kindle format. If you don’t have a Kindle device you can download free Kindle reader apps from Amazon for PC; Mac; iPad; iPhone; iPod Touch; and all other major smartphones and tablets. Just search for Kindle in the app store on your device.



If you would prefer a PDF copy, this is available at a cost of £7.00. Click on the ‘Buy Now’ button to pay. Once your order has been processed, your PDF will be delivered to your inbox.

Please note, all PDF orders are sent out manually. We endeavour to send out all PDFs within an hour or two, but sometimes it might take a little longer due to time zone differences.

With love,
Mandi
www.mandilockley.com

What I'm Reading

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With Saturn just in Scorpio, dark themes are to the fore so we may as well embrace them. Here is some recommended reading:

Auntie Moon unwraps the Saturn themes in Lars von Trier's Melancholia:
 
"If you watched the movie Melancholia by Lars von Trier and made it through the excruciating wedding scene that makes up the first half of the film, you saw a masterful representation of what transiting Saturn’s approaching conjunction to a natal planet feels like..."
 
***
Fixed star Algol, Taurus: The Sexual, Emotional, & Psychological Drives of Heterosexual Men with Algol
 
Abella "Jucy" Arthur explores the psychology of men with fixed star Algol strong in their charts:
"The object of the Algol male’s desire has intense sexual power over him that he fears yet is tremendously excited about. But he also feels he may be inadequate — can he live up to her and her desires? If he senses the woman might emasculate or leave him, he may begin to automatically and unconsciously behave in ways that are considered mean, destructive, evil, and ruthless...."
***
I'm only halfway through Neal's groundbreaking new book about Orcus, but would very much recommend it. If you don't want to take my word for it, here's what renowned astrologer Steven Forrest has to say:
"Jeremy Neal's masterwork about Orcus is a major contribution to the advancement of astrology. Facing the real significance of these newly-discovered trans-Neptunian bodies is not work for the faint-hearted. This is a courageous book that carries the reader into the heart of darkness. Fortunately, it also carries us out again! Neal faces painful subjects unflinchingly, and yet never loses sight of the higher ground. I enthusiastically welcome his voice to the conversation."
With love, Mandi
Mandi Lockley's new e-book, Saturn in Scorpio: Your Guide To TheDark is now available from Amazon on Kindle or direct from Astroair Astrology in PDF format. Click here for details.


Saturn in Scorpio ~ Dealing with Intimacy Issues

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Building and maintaining intimate relationships is very important to our emotional health, yet so many of us have fears and issues which can get in the way of feeling close to others. Saturn in Scorpio* presents us with an opportunity to acknowledge the defensive barriers we put up which get in the way of true intimacy and work to improve our most important relationships.

Here’s an excerpt from Saturn in Scorpio: Your GuideThrough The Dark, which explores this subject:

It is universally agreed that emotional intimacy plays a central role in our life experience.  We seek it out because we need it. Those we are emotionally intimate with (not just lovers, but family and friends) provide us with our tribe and fill us with a sense of belonging and the feeling of being loved and cared for. Intimate bonds are formed when we share our secret thoughts and expose our hidden desires and when that sharing and exposure is reciprocated. This self-disclosure leaves both parties vulnerable, but it is, or should be, a healthy vulnerability, based on mutual respect. 

With Saturn in Scorpio, it is a good time to explore intimacy more deeply. Do we truly have intimate relationships? If not, what barriers have we have put up that prevent us becoming intimate with others? Why do we have those barriers? What happened in our early life to make us defend ourselves so strongly against letting others get too close? Were we betrayed, hurt or rejected in the past and is this preventing us from forming new bonds? These are big questions indeed.



What kind of intimate relationships do we have?  Saturn in Libra’s lesson was around creating and maintaining healthy boundaries in our relationships. It was about finding the right balance of give and take. We learned that a healthy intimate relationship is one where there is a strong emotional attachment, a feeling of closeness, but at the same time an awareness of separateness, where both parties are good for each other without being totally dependent on each other.



When the balance of emotional sharing isn’t right between two people, the relationship can easily become unhealthy. The person who dumps all their emotions on the other is felt as needy and smothering. Conversely, the person who holds back comes across as cold and controlling. Jealousy and possessiveness also gets in the way of an intimate relationship.

Saturn in Scorpio is our guide through these more shadowy aspects of intimate relationships. We have defined intimacy as a relationship where both parties disclose ‘secrets’ that could make them vulnerable. A partnership or friendship quickly becomes problematic if one or both parties use those vulnerabilities to control or manipulate the other, or to cause emotional pain. When this occurs the relationship cannot sustain itself and the intimacy quickly breaks down. Even if the couple stays together physically, emotionally the bond is damaged.



Problems can also occur when one person opens up a lot more than the other, leading to an unbalanced relationship, one that is not truly intimate. This can be down to a number of reasons. Perhaps one person opens up too quickly, before the other is ready or sure that they want a close relationship. The wary partner is easily frightened away at this tender stage which can leave the person who has opened up feeling hurt and rejected. It takes a fair amount of emotional intelligence and awareness to read this type of situation correctly. Intuition and experience need to be used to make a judgement on whether to persevere, pull back and slow down or whether to simply lick one’s wounds, let go and move on. It’s hard not to take it very personally when we feel rejected and it’s easy to take that feeling of rejection forward to the next relationship.

Perhaps the other person doesn’t open up because, consciously or unconsciously, they can’t face it? Becoming intimate with someone means that we expose our shadow. This puts us in danger of being rejected if our physical desires or emotional needs are exposed as too dark or too extreme by our partner. For some, Saturn in Scorpio will bring a need to face your fears around releasing control, sharing your feelings and letting yourself trust someone enough to expose your true desire nature.



Strategic relationships also belong in the realm of Saturn in Scorpio. This is where one person gets close to someone else because they want something from them. Marrying for money or status is the most obvious example. Sometimes one partner isn’t aware of the strategy and comes away feeling used. Often, the using is mutual, even if it is not openly acknowledged. In these kinds of partnerships both stand to benefit in some way. The danger is that these relationships tend to be fragile and easily break down if there is a disagreement or misunderstanding, or if one partner loses the thing (be that money, looks, youth or power) that the other wants or needs.

Finding true intimacy requires us to be willing to let down our emotional barriers before fulfilling bonds can be formed and sustained. We need to be empathetic, compassionate and understanding, with ourself as well as with our partner. On the path to intimacy Saturn in Scorpio can be a harsh teacher, often making us experience that which is not genuine intimacy so that we can better recognise the real thing when it comes along.



*Saturn moved into Scorpio on 5 October 2012. On 23 December 2014 Saturn enters Sagittarius. Then, on 15 June 2015 Saturn in retrograde re-enters Scorpio, before finally settling in Sagittarius on 18 September 2015 (all dates use GMT time zones).

An excerpt on Keeping Safe, another theme of Saturn in Scorpio, is available to read at Donna Cunningham’s Skywriter Blog here>

Saturn in Scorpio: Your Guide Through the Dark is available at Amazon on Kindle or direct from Astroair Astrology in PDF format. Click on this link to find out more about what’s in the book, plus details about to purchase. 

Pluto in Capricorn Encapsulated

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Sometimes it's those who are non-conversant in the language of astrology who unwittingly say it best.

The following is an excerpt from yesterday's London Evening Standard, which neatly encapsulates the effects and the themes of Pluto in Capricorn:

We live in an era of  institutional fragility. Parliament [in the UK] has been rocked by the expenses scandal, the press by the hacking controversy and Leveson Inquiry, and the financial sector by the crash, the bailing out of the banks and the loss of faith in capitalism. These experiences have been traumatic, and not only for those under investigation.

A society's institutions are its guard-rails, the bodies that enshrine its values and continuities. To shine a bright light on their flaws, decay and outright dilapidation is intrinsically unnerving. But it has to be done. If those institutions are to heal and renew themselves for the future. The stables have to be cleaned.*

The article the quote above comes from, talks about the crisis at the BBC (another great British institution), brought on by the Jimmy Savile sex abuse scandal.

More on this scandal and how it pertains to the ingress of Saturn into Scorpio and Saturn's mutual reception with Pluto in Capricorn in an upcoming post.

Mandi Lockley's new e-book, Saturn in Scorpio: Your Guide Through The Dark is available now and covers all the major themes of Saturn in Scorpio, along with detailed sections on Saturn in Scorpio through your natal and houses and to your natal planets.

To read excerpts of the book see here and here. For a review, see here.

It is available to download at Amazon now at £3.80 (UK), $6.17 (US) and equivalent prices in other currencies (see your local Amazon site for details). A PDF version is available direct from Astroair Astrology at £7. To buy, click on the Buy Now button to the right.Please note, PDF orders are sent out manually. We endeavour to send out all PDFs within an hour or two, but sometimes it might take a little longer due to time zone differences.

*Article by Matthew d'Ancona 24.10.12 

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With love, Mandi www.mandilockley.com 
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