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Talking Astrology with Archie

Posted by on 2/25/12 at 8:41 am

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There are many types of astrology, and one of the most important is called ‘electional’. Electional astrology has nothing to do with voting in elections. Instead it’s about electing the right moment to do something.

I had a client who would frequently change her apartment. Her apartment was important to her, because she worked from home, and she wanted to move into a new apartment when the planets were in the best possible position. I would calculate the best time for moving in, and she wouldn’t argue with me – even if that meant moving in at 3 a.m. on a Sunday morning.

You might mock, but everything has a birth, not just people, and for an enterprise to succeed it should start with the best possible astrological picture. All things being equal.

In the case of Barack Obama, he started his 2008 run for the presidency with the Moon in a terrible position, but still he won. I suppose his birth chart was so well configured that year that nothing could stop him. Nonetheless, one should make sure, if possible, that everything is in the right place.

I remember reading in the newspaper about a couple who were murdered on their honeymoon, and the article mentioned the date of their marriage. Without even knowing the exact time of the wedding, I could tell it was a terrible chart, that in some respects described their imminent death. If they’d consulted an astrologer before tying the knot, they would probably still be alive.

The birth of a newspaper is an important event, and in the UK, on Sunday February 26, ‘The Sun on Sunday’ will be launched.

‘The Sun on Sunday’ will be the sister paper of ‘The Sun’, Britain’s best-selling newspaper, which has been caught up in the phone hacking scandal. Its original sister paper, ‘The News of the World’, which came out every Sunday, was closed down because of the scandal last Summer.

So will ‘The Sun on Sunday’ be a success? Its proprietor, Rupert Murdoch,. who celebrates his eighty-first birthday on March 11, is a canny operator, and I’m sure that he knows what he is doing. However it does seem that he didn’t consult an astrologer when deciding on the launch date.

During the first hours of Sunday, UK time, the Moon is making a stressful, 180-degree aspect to Saturn.

At the same time Mercury, a planet that has a natural association with the press, and with communications, is in Pisces, a sign where it performs very badly.

Furthermore Mars, the planet of aggression, is in Virgo, moving backwards towards an 180-degree aspect with the Sun. Murdoch is confronting his rivals, and by launching ‘The Sun on Sunday’ he is talking a bold initiative. Mars should have been in a better position, and he should have waited until late April or early May, when Mars will be in a much improved state.

It’s quite possible that the sheer weight of money, marketing and advertising will see ‘The Sun on Sunday’ through. However it would have made sense to consult an astrologer – things born under an unlucky star can run into trouble, sooner or later.

Anyway, here’s your forecast for the week starting on Monday February 27…

Aries

March 20 to April 19

This week the Sun and Mars are making a stressful, 180-degree aspect. As a result, things could be difficult. You’ll realise that some people are intent on causing trouble, and they’ll argue for the sake of it. These people are most likely to crop up at work. They’ll make a big fuss about details, and if you’re not careful, they could grind you to a standstill. Yet your own reaction is going to be key. If you get involved in an argument, you could get drawn in deeper and deeper, and end up wasting a huge amount of time. On the other hand if you remain aloof, and you ignore outside provocations, you’ll make steady progress, throughout the week. The Sun-Mars aspect could also have an impact on your health. You’re probably going to be more agitated than usual, and as a result you might act without thinking – leading to the possibility of an accident. So be particularly careful with electricity and fire, and remember that if something might be dangerous it probably is dangerous. On Friday Mercury enters your star sign. All of a sudden you’ve got lots to say – but is that a good thing?

Taurus

April 20 to May 20

At the beginning of the week the Moon is moving through Taurus, where it makes a conjunction to Jupiter. So during the first part of the week you’re going to be on great form, and your enthusiasm, and your positive attitude, will get you noticed. This configuration could also be useful in terms of relationships. You’ll be attractive and charismatic and you’ll know how to make the other person laugh. Furthermore, the sensual side of the Taurean profile will be very obvious, and physical contact will be relatively easy to initiate. However you need to be aware that the Sun is making a difficult aspect to Mars, your relationship ruler. Some of the people you’re dealing with are under pressure, and there’s a possibility that they snap, with little warning. It’s therefore important that you listen to your feelings, and that you carefully observe the body language of friends and partners. Things could be going on, that aren’t immediately obvious. You and someone else have something that each other wants. This could be the basis for a useful and mutually profitable exchange.

Gemini

May 21 to June 20

You’re certainly ambitious, and there are lots of things you want to achieve. You’ve got the energy and the talent, and on paper everything’s fine. However this week there is an aspect between the Sun and Mars, which crosses the home-career axis of your solar chart. So it’s possible that there are serious disruptions, coming from the direction of your home and family. Perhaps members of your family will be unusually demanding? Or there could be things happening in your home which require your immediate attention. You might then find that it’s difficult if not impossible to concentrate on the task in hand, and you end up getting nothing accomplished. The problem will be particularly intense if you work at home, of if your work involves real estate, mining or minerals. Probably the best way of dealing with the situation is to confront an issue the moment it crops up. Get to the bottom of the matter, and once things are sorted out your life will return to normal. On Tuesday or Wednesday the Moon enters your star sign. You become more emotionally attuned to your environment, and dealing with other people and their peculiarities will become easier.

Cancer

June 21 to July 21

Arguably the best part of the week is the beginning – the Moon is moving through a sociable sector of your solar chart, where is makes a conjunction to Jupiter. Your social skills are going to be on great form, and when you’re surrounded by other people you can adopt a leadership role. And when you mix with other people, you’ll have the personal touch – even if you hardly know someone, you’ll give the impression of being their best friend. It’s therefore a great time, at the beginning of the week, to reach out, to new social scenes. You’ll be accepted very quickly, and as your network grows so will your prospects. On a different note, the Sun is aspecting Pluto. This aspect is fortunate, but perhaps challenging. You’ll be meeting a person who could have a significant impact on you. Their ideas, and philosophy, will be very different from your own, but if you’re ready to learn from them then you could really benefit. So ask yourself how attached you are to your principles and beliefs. Can you compromise? Can you go further, and actually transform? Every relationship has a consequence, and it’s never what you expect.

Leo

July 22 to August 22

From a career perspective it’s probably best to concentrate your energies on the beginning of the week, when there is a conjunction between the Moon and Jupiter in the career sector of your solar chart. Your career prospects are going to be excellent, and you’ll be able to make a good impression on your employers and workmates. And what will matter isn’t just creativity and flair, but also your reliability and sense of duty. Sometimes it’s enough to be awake and present, and genius is an optional extra. As the week progresses the situation becomes more complicated. The Sun, your ruler, is starting to make a stressful aspect to Mars, which becomes exact over the weekend. Mars can be an aggressive influence, and you might find yourself becoming seriously agitated, perhaps on account of money. You might, for example, feel that you’re being blocked, that someone’s selfish actions are damaging your financial outlook. However in reality you’re dealing with a bit of local difficulty, and if you can stick it out, without losing your temper, things should turn out just fine. Especially as you have an information advantage over your rivals and competitors.

Virgo

August 23 to September 22

Other people mustn’t be underestimated. They might seem harmless, but they’re capable of exerting great power. It’s the kind of power that isn’t immediately obvious, and very often the person who says the least is the person with the most influence. Now this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Power can be used in many different ways, and under certain circumstances it can be a force for good. If something is wrong it can be fixed, if someone has a problem it can be solved. So perhaps you should give people a chance to show what they can do. However there is a stressful aspect between the Sun and Mars, which crosses the main axis of your solar chart. It could be a very difficult influence, and one-to-one situations could be more trouble that they’re worth. Indeed you should avoid working closely with any one person, unless you know them very well, and romantic activities should be treated with great caution. Yes, romance can be fun, it can also be dangerous, and if your partner is of an argumentative or risk-taking disposition then you should probably stay out of their way.

Libra

September 23 to October 22

This week you need to be a psychologist. It’s going to be difficult to figure out what other people are thinking and feeling, but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t try. As a Libran you regard other people as being important, and you should have the right understanding of them – because if you adopt the wrong approach, things could go badly wrong, especially this week. So make sure that you listen to your feelings, and don’t rush to conclusions. Yet if you take your time, and you balance your heart with your head, you’ll be guided to the right conclusions. In terms of close relationships, it seems that partners are keeping something to themselves, and perhaps they are brooding. Getting them to open up is going to be hard work, and you might decide that your best strategy is to leave them to their own devices. Yet through the right choice of words you can get them to open up, and in a sense you’ll be turning the magic key. Single Librans should follow their intuition – if a person feels right, they probably are right.

Scorpio

October 23 to November 21

The week kicks off with a conjunction between the Moon and Jupiter, in Taurus, your opposite sign. As a result of this aspect, you can greatly benefit from other people. They’ll be happy to do you a favour, so if there’s something you want, don’t be afraid to ask for it. In terms of relationships, the Moon-Jupiter conjunction allows you and your partner to get super close to each other, especially on a physical level. Though romance aside, don’t be surprised if other people are more tactile than usual – sometimes touch is a more effective way of communicating than speech. Having said that, your words can be surprisingly powerful. You’ll enjoy playing word games, and it’s a great time for jokes and puns. In fact the right joke at the right time can put you in a very strong position, and it’s all about breaking the ice, and helping people to relax. As the week progresses, the overall situation becomes more complicated, because the Sun, your career ruler, is moving towards a stressful aspect with Mars. If you’re going into work, you might find that your workmates are being difficult, that their sense of humour and general approach isn’t to your liking. For your part, you shouldn’t get annoyed – instead let the situation run its course.

Sagittarius

November 22 to December 2

As you start a new week, it’s a good idea to think about money. There are many different ways in which you can organise your finances, and you can now see which way is the best way. And you’ll perhaps realise that it’s not a time to be daring and original. By following a traditional plan you can steer a path towards security. Though of course it’s important that you think long-term, and that’s something that Sagittarians often find difficult. Later in the week, as the Moon moves into Gemini, you become preoccupied with relationships. You and other people have a lot to do with each other, and your likes and dislikes will be plain to see. It might then be a good idea if you stay away from people who you have recently had arguments with, especially at work. There won’t be much room for diplomacy, and an argument about something silly could very soon turn into World War III. When dealing with your family you have to be particularly careful, especially at the end of the week. There are plenty of irritating influences, and family events are unlikely to go to plan. If in doubt, stick to your own company!

Capricorn

December 22 to January 19

It’s time to show the world what you can do, especially on a creative level. You have got a great deal to offer, and with the Sun aspecting Pluto you have the possibility of transforming your environment. You can do this through the power of words – sometimes a couple of words, said at the right time and the right place, can change everything. However once you start something you must be ready to finish it. This is an important point. The beginning is the easy part – once the ball starts rolling, things get increasingly complicated. Also, the work gets harder and the responsibility gets heavier. So don’t plunge in, unless you’ve considered the consequences. On a different note, this week it’s important to keep in touch with your family. Not because anything bad is going to happen, but because important messages could get routed through family sources. And when you’re at home it’s important that you read your letters and answer the phone. Finally, you should avoid travelling this week – particularly over long distances. It’s likely that you’ll get annoyed and it’s unlikely that you’ll accomplish very much.

Aquarius

January 20 to February 18

It’s a week when you’re probably in a weaker position than other people. In general they hold most of the cards and if you’re involved in negotiations the other party will run rings around you. So competitive situations should be avoided, unless you’re a good loser. On a more positive note, you can benefit from other people’s strength. When you’re in a partnership, or some other type of small group, and you’re all working towards the same goal, things can happen quickly, and your own weaknesses won’t be noticed. As to what your weaknesses might be, it’s possible that you don’t have enough passion, and if there’s a struggle, with winners and losers, you just won’t be bothered to assert yourself. From a romantic point of view partners and lovers are very clear about their likes and dislikes, and it’s therefore important that you know what makes them tick. Also, you need to do things their way. You might not like it, but in the short-term you don’t have have an option – unless you enjoy losing arguments.

Pisces

February 19 to March 19

It’s easy to underestimate yourself. You go where the the tide goes, you follow other people’s lead because there’s nothing better to do. However Pisceans can be very powerful, because they’re plugged into the collective vibe, and they have a pretty good idea about what’s going to happen next. And this week you benefit from a favourable aspect between the Sun and Pluto. There’ll be something about you that’s impossible not to notice, and once you start speaking you’ll get an immediate audience. This will be most apparent in your social life. Your friends will think you’re wonderful, and they’ll take what you say very seriously. Though also in your career you can make a big impact. You can capture the imagination of your colleagues and work-mates, and the things you talk about will sound seriously exciting. As the week progresses the overall situation gets more complicated, because of a stressful aspect between the Sun and Mars, across the main axis of your solar chart. Relationships are going to be tense, and it’ll be difficult to predict your partner’s next move. Indeed the smallest thing could make them angry. Tread carefully!

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Talking Astrology with Archie

Posted by on 2/19/12 at 4:53 pm

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There’s a ceramic fruit bowl in my mother’s house. It belonged to my grandmother, and as a child I can remember that it always had pride of place on the dining room table. Originally there were two, but one got broken.The fruit bowl is meant to look as if it’s full of fruit, but they are all ceramic, glazed in different colours. I took the presence of this family heir loom for granted, and never gave it any thought. Then a few years ago I was playing around with a geiger counter. I was measuring the radiation given off by plates on a mantelpiece, and as expected they were slightly higher than background; it’s because ceramics, such as plates and tiles, often contain small amounts of natural uranium, which is why the bathroom is usually the most radioactive room in the house. Certainly nothing to worry about – if the background was 40 counts per minute, the plates might have been giving off 100 to 150.

Yet the radiation levels were climbing fast, as the geiger counter got closer to the fruit bowl. 200, 300, 400… I realised that there was something going on with the fruit bowl, and put it on the floor for further examination. It was actually giving off radiation levels of 1000 counts per minute, and there was an apple, with a dark purple glaze, that was actually giving off 5000 counts per minute – in other words a hundred times background level.

However there was no need to panic. The geiger counter had to be right up close to the fruit bowl to register high readings, and the radiation was almost entirely blocked by my hand. So the radiation didn’t have much power – it couldn’t go any real distance, and it couldn’t penetrate one’s body. Therefore there were no problems, unless you smashed the fruit bowl and inhaled the dust.

At this stage I have a confession to make. I’m obsessed by radioactivity, which is why I spent a large amount of money on a geiger counter. Anything radioactive grabs my attention.

Earlier today I was reading about Karen Silkwood, the nuclear power worker who blew the whistle on her employers in the early 1970s. She was heavily contaminated with plutonium and was killed in a mysterious car accident. Some say it really was an accident, but there is evidence that she was forced off the road, by parties unknown.

Then I remembered that today is her birthday – she was born on February 19 1946, making her a Pisces. Arguably she martyred herself for a cause, Pisces being a sign strongly associated with martyrdom.

Also, she died on her Saturn return, which happens for the first time at about the age of 29, when Saturn returns to the place it was at birth.

When Karen Silkwood was born Saturn was at 18 degrees and 40 minutes Cancer. When she died, on November 13 1974, a few months before her twenty-ninth birthday, it was at 18 degrees and 45 minutes Cancer. That’s pretty much as close as it gets.

Saturn is the planet of Karma and responsibility. Karen Silkwood, in her short life, did what she had to do, and because she died exactly on her Saturn Return we can probably say ‘mission accomplished’

If you haven’t heard of Karen Silkwood, watch the film about her, <i>Silkwood</i>, where Meryl Streep played the title role.

Anyway, here’s your forecast for the week starting on Monday February 20…

Aries

March 20 to April 19

It’s a time when you need to get off the wheel. It’s spinning too fast, and you’re on the rim, going this way and that, without having a clue what’s going on. OK, you might pretend that you’re up to speed with current events, but you’re probably kidding yourself. And the more activity around you, the worse it will get. However once you start distancing yourself from other people and their craziness things will get a whole lot better. I do understand that such an approach might not be to your liking – your star sign is often very sociable, and it can often be great fun being part of a crowd. Yet being alone is not the same as being lonely, and when the noise has quietened down you’ll have a chance to think. At the same time, you can make some important changes, the kind of changes that won’t be immediately obvious. On a different note, secrecy is going to be very important over the next few weeks. Information mustn’t be divulged, and other people’s confidences must be respected. A private conversation has major implications, as you’ll soon discover.

Taurus

April 20 to May 20

There is a New Moon, in Pisces. This New Moon is going to impact on your hopes and wishes. If you’re typical of your sign, then in many cases you want the same thing, year after year. If you get it you’re happy, if you don’t get it you’re miserable. Of course there are basic needs, which can’t be avoided, but there are other, more subtle needs, and their importance ebbs and flows like the tide. And when you think about it, you realise that the usual pleasures have lost some of their appeal. You’ll want something different, that relates to meaning and purpose rather than short-term satisfaction. This could have implications for your job. Money and status won’t be enough – you’ll want to be sure that you’re making the world a better place. As far as your social life is concerned, you might be looking at your friends in a different way. You’ll be asking yourself how they can support you in terms of your future progress, and you might decide that they’re holding you back. So don’t be surprised if a couple of your friendships start coming to an end – in a natural and organic way. Very often a change of friends brings a change of luck.

Gemini

May 21 to June 20

It’s an important time of year for Geminis. The Sun moves into Pisces, a sign which is right at the apex of your solar chart. As a result your career and status are going to become very important, especially as there is a New Moon this week. Whatever the difficulties you’ve faced – and many Geminis have had more than their fair share over the last few months – there’s an opportunity for a new beginning, for the mistakes from the past to be swept away. In some cases this might mean a brand new career. This is not as drastic as it sounds, and there’s no need to give up your job, assuming you have one. Instead it’s about beginning the process. You gather information about the kind of job you want to do, and you make discrete enquiries. If it takes months, or even years, before you’re actually doing the job, then so be it. Yet if you don’t want to leave your job, there could still be a change. Perhaps you’ll be given new responsibilities? Or you’ll be doing your work in a different way? If you’re a single Gemini then there could be an up-tick in your love life, that might be related to your place of work.

Cancer

June 21 to July 21

I’m optimistic about your week ahead, and you should see improvements in many areas of your life. It won’t just be about objective events, it’ll also be about the way you feel. The heaviness of the recent past will start to lift, and you’ll be aware of opportunities rather than restrictions. So if there is something that you want to do, that in the past had been a closed book, you can now give it another try. You can therefore think of the many ways in which you can expand your horizons. Do you feel a need to travel? If so, then now is a good time to plan your journey – let your imagination be your guide! On the other hand some Cancerians might feel that there is a knowledge gap, that needs to be filled. You might then feel that the time has come to do some extra studying, either independently or by enrolling at a school or a college. Though whatever you’re doing, it’s important to be patient, because this week there is a New Moon, and things that start on a New Moon often take a long time to develop.

Leo

July 22 to August 2

Under normal circumstances the Sun moving into Pisces isn’t great news for Leos. It’s a time of year that can be difficult, especially when dealing with other people and their financial demands. However this week the Sun, your ruler, is moving towards a favourable aspect with Jupiter. This aspect is going to make you luckier than average, and just about whatever you’re doing, you’ll make a good impression. As far as your career is concerned, the situation looks good. You’ll have a powerful understanding of other people and their motivations, and if you’re in a competitive situation you’re chances of winning are very good. But you can’t expect it all to be plain sailing. You’ll have to negotiate some serious complications, and surface appearances will count for little. So it’s important that you keep asking questions, and that you don’t trust people unless it’s really necessary.

Virgo

August 23 to September 22

Things are looking up for Virgos. The Sun is now in Pisces, your opposite sign, where it moves towards an aspect with Jupiter. As a result of this, you’re going to be luckier than average, and whatever you try your hand at, it’s likely to be successful. You’ll be helped by other people. In most cases they’ll be willing to lend a hand, and if you need any advice you just have to ask. However to make the most of everything that’s available, it’s important that you’re open to new experiences. The old ways are all well and good, but there are limits to how far they’ll take you. And if you’re prepared to try something new, you’ll be amazed at what happens. In the process listen carefully to what other people are saying, and remember that if you disagree with them it doesn’t mean that they’re wrong. You’ll be pleased to hear that your romantic prospects are fast improving, and if you’re single, or looking for someone new, there’s every chance that you’ll hit the jackpot. A person who has vision, but who also has a good understanding of money, could make your perfect partner.

Libra

September 23 to October 22

A New Moon brings new possibilities, but how can you take advantage of them? In some respects you’re very disorganised, and your efforts to make progress could get bogged down in chaos. However it’s a situation that you can do something about. If you’re ready to bite the bullet, and tidy up everything around you, then you’ll be giving yourself a secure base for future success. It’s a task that won’t be easy, and it may take a few weeks . Paperwork going back a year and more will have to properly filed, and at the same time you might realise that your physical environment is in need of repair. So if you find that something is broken, make sure that you get it fixed, especially if it’s a safety-critical matter. On a different note, there might be a new focus on your health, and I mean this in a favourable sense. You’ll start to understand what’s good and bad for you, and you’ll be able to take decisive action. This means that if you’re a Libran smoker, or you feel that you drink too much, you’ll be able to turn over a new leaf. Put another way, giving up nasty habits won’t be as difficult as you’d thought.

Scorpio

October 23 to November 21

This week the Sun moves towards a favourable aspect with Jupiter. In the Scorpio horoscope the Sun is important, because it rules the apex of your chart, often connected with career and business. So if you’re working, things should go very well for you. You’re going to be very creative, and your talents will be noticed. It’s therefore not a time for hiding your light under a bushel – if you’ve got it, flaunt it! However it’s also not a time for going solo. You can benefit from other people’s support, and one particular relationship could become very significant – from a business rather than romantic point of view. Perhaps it’s a good time to form a partnership? Also, if you don’t have a skill, it doesn’t mean that you can’t develop one. If you start learning a new skill over the next few weeks, you’ll be amazed at how quickly your progress, and before you know it you could be an expert. Finishing up with love, and the picture is excellent. You know exactly how to carry yourself, and your every move, your every word, will hit the right spots. Though don’t be in a hurry – things that develop slowly bring the greatest satisfaction.

Sagittarius

November 22 to December 21

It’s a time of year when Sagittarians are very focused on their roots. And this is emphasised by this week’s New Moon, in the domestic sector of your solar chart. You’ll be focusing more energy than usual on your home and family, and it’s a great time for reaching out to relatives, both close and distant, who you might have lost touch with. At the same time you’ll have particular ideas about the kind of home you want to live in, and if your current living arrangements aren’t up to scratch you’ll want to make some changes. But don’t worry. You can exercise a calm but firm influence, and as likely as not people will do things your way. Matters are further improved by a favourable aspect between the Sun and Jupiter, your ruling planet. You’ll be able to make useful improvements, left right and centre, and through careful organisation you can boost your luck. From a romantic point of view, you should be looking for someone fairly traditional, who puts security before excitement.

Capricorn

December 22 to January 19

Capricorns have a reputation for being quiet, no nonsense people, who don’t say things unless it’s really necessary. However sometimes it’s necessary to communicate, with passion and conviction. You might feel that no-one cares what you have to say, but that’s simply not true. When you actually start expressing yourself, you’ll immediately grab people’s attention, and you’ll have an intuitive understanding of what needs to be said. Indeed when you’re talking to someone, you’ll be able to tailor your words and gestures to fit their personality. Yet communication takes many forms, and over the next few weeks some Capricorns may embark on a new project, which allows your message to reach a large audience. For example, you might decide to launch a website. Or you might even start working on writing a book. In some ways what really matters is showing the world how creative you are – because you really have got something special to offer. As far as relationships are concerned, say what you feel, without regret or embarrassment. After that, things will fit together very nicely.

Aquarius

January 20 to February 18

There’s continued emphasis on your finances, thanks to a New Moon which falls in the finance sector of your solar chart. You’ll be very aware of what you have and what you don’t have, and you’ll be anxious to put your money situation on a firm footing. However you can’t expect everything to come together immediately. You have to think hard about what other people are doing, and you also have to be original – because in some respects the old approaches to money are no longer working. This also means that in most cases you mustn’t follow the crowd. Sometimes the most popular way of dealing with money is the road to ruin. On a more positive note, you’re on the brink of doing something really profitable, and once you have done your research you can start getting real results. Sometimes you have to trust yourself to be right, even if everyone else is saying you’re wrong. Yet I’m not saying that you should completely ignore other people’s advice. The Sun, your relationship ruler, is moving towards a favourable aspect with Jupiter. There’s one particular person who can be very lucky for you, provided you give them a chance.

Pisces

February 19 to March 19

It’s a good week. The Sun is moving through the early degrees of your star sign, where it makes a fortunate aspect to Jupiter, your ruling planet. Yes, Jupiter is the ruler of Pisces, not Neptune, trust me. You’ll have more than your fair share of good luck, and you’ll be able to express yourself extremely well. So it’s important that you communicate as much as possible, and you must make sure that you read your emails and text messages – something might turn up, that seems like spam, which could actually be very important. And in a general sense, it’s a time for new beginnings. If there’s a project that you want to start, you can now get going on it. The first results might not be spectacular, but if you keep plugging away you’ll get the results you deserve. Looking at relationships, and it’s a time when you can be very assertive. You’ll know what to say and how to act, and partners are unlikely to contradict you. If you’re looking for someone new, and you find someone you like, then it’s OK to make the first move – but you probably won’t have to.

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Discuss: There are 2 comments, add your take.

Talking Astrology with Archie

Posted by on 2/12/12 at 12:35 pm

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This week there was a weird news story. Apparently a senior figure in the Roman Catholic church has predicted that Pope Benedict XVI will be dead within a year.

It’s not the kind of thing you’d expect a priest to say, because the only person who knows the future is God. Though it does seems that the basis for the prediction is talk of some plot or conspiracy to assassinate the Pontiff.

As an astrologer I am of course interested in such predictions, though I do try to be rational. On the surface it might seem an easy prediction to make, given that the Pope is going to be eight-five in April. However from a statistical point of view, it’s not obvious at all. Benedict XVI must surely have the best health care that money can buy, and as far as I know, he’s in good shape, given his age. When you look at the actuarial tables, you find that an American male, aged 85, has a life expectancy of 5.65 years. So you’d expect the Pope to live to his ninety-first year, though of course he might die earlier and he might die later.

From an astrological view, predicting death is frowned upon, though up until the modern era every astrologer worth their salt would try their hand at it. Though one had to be careful – if you went about Rome or Avignon in the Middle Ages saying that the Pope was going to die you could end up being tortured to death.

As far as my own studies are concerned, I believe that in some cases it is possible to predict someone’s death, within a window of a few years. Though it’s a hit and miss exercise, and you would of course never try to predict a client’s death. There are two reasons for this. Firstly you don’t want to scare people. And secondly, there’s a danger of creating a self-fulfilling prophecy – the prediction itself could drive someone to an early grave.

Anyway, here’s your forecast for the week starting on Monday February 13…

Aries

March 20 to April 19

You’re probably not feeling your normal self. It’s difficult for you to assert yourself, and you may not be sure about your next step. And perhaps indecisiveness is the real problem – if you had a single plan, that you were confident about, it would be so much easier to get things done. However sometimes it’s OK to be indecisive. The overall picture might be unclear and there’s no way of knowing which way is the best way. So it’s probably best to stay put. Nonetheless, if an opportunity comes your way you must be able to take advantage of it, and in this light there’s one particular person who you need to talk to. They’re close at hand, though don’t expect them to hang around for ever. It’s possible that we’re talking about romance, but there might be a business dimension. And perhaps what’s really important is trust. Someone is prepared to make a commitment, that could form the basis of a useful partnership. But you yourself don’t have to agree to anything, at least not until April. A secret communication has many meanings, but there’s only one meaning that counts.

Taurus

April 20 to May 20

Starting off with money, and you’re losing focus. There are other things going on, which seem more important. For example, talking with friends, having fun, planning your next adventure. However as every Taurus should now, financial pressures are always there, and every second of every day the Sword of Damocles is hanging over you. And if you’re careless it could fall – and healing the financial wound could be very difficult. Sorry to sound melodramatic, but with Mercury, your finance ruler, making a conjunction to Neptune in Pisces there are some very real dangers to contend with. There could be serious confusion, and you may not be too sure how much money you’ve got and how much money you owe. You also need to be careful in your social life. The people around you are not necessarily a good influence. On the whole their ideas are bad and if you follow their lead you could get yourself into big trouble – and the younger you are, the bigger the problem. In this light you should make an extra effort to steer clear of intoxicating people and intoxicating substances.

Gemini

May 21 to June 20

The focus is on Mercury, your ruling planet. At the beginning of the week it changes sign, from Aquarius to Pisces. This sign-change is going to have an impact on your career, and on the whole way you interact with the outside world. You’ll want to make a name for yourself, and you’ll want to be able to communicate your message. This is great, and I’m sure you can be successful, provided you understand your weak spots. You’re someone who functions best on a mental rather than emotional level, and you need to logically understand what’s going on around you. This means that if your environment is emotionally charged, you could quickly become lost. You try to be logical, but the sands under your feet are always shifting. And in terms of your work, be careful. A perfectly ordinary situation could get very complicated very quickly. The situation is more favourable if your career has a creative flavour – for example, if you’re a writer, artist or musician. You’ll be very imaginative and your inspirations could set you apart from the crowd. And whatever your profession, a telepathic communication gives you a crucial advantage.

Cancer

June 21 to July 21

The beginning of the week could be tricky. You’ll be more emotional than usual, and your response to perfectly ordinary events might be inappropriate. I’m not saying that anyone will notice – it’s more your internal reactions that matters. You might, for example, start brooding, or worrying needlessly. And because you’re a Cancerian, there’s a certain tendency to wear your heart on your sleeve – in other words, your feelings are fairly transparent, and it’s probably the case that the more you try to hide them, the more transparent they become. Under these circumstances, you need to be open about your feelings, rather than let them build up. Your honesty will be appreciated, and in most cases disagreements can be nipped in the bud. Looking at your spirituality, and there’s a conjunction between Mercury and Neptune, in Pisces. This conjunction makes you sensitive to the ebb and flow of wider trends, that have a collective and even supernatural nature. In your heart you know what the universe wants, and in your own small way you can help provide it.

Leo

July 22 to August 22

Do you walk through a swamp if you don’t have to? There’s a situation close by that’s certainly very complicated, and once you’re in it, it’s going to be difficult to get out of it. Or put another way, it might be a case of curiosity killing, or at least inconveniencing, the Leo. You are a big cat, aren’t you? And you function best when things are nice and simple. So this week concentrate on what you know and understand – it’s certainly not a time for exploring. When dealing with other people, it’s a similar picture. You have expectations about how people should behave, and these expectations are quite reasonable. If you find that someone is behaving strangely you should probably avoid them, unless you feel that it’s your duty to intervene. Looking at your finances and it’s a similar picture. Things aren’t as simple as they seem, and if you take take risks, or even take other people’s advice, there could be trouble. In particular, you mustn’t agree to anything, either verbally or in writing – because things can change very quickly. There’s also an outside chance of deception.

Virgo

August 23 to September 22

Mercury, your ruler, moves into Pisces, where it makes a conjunction to Neptune. Unfortunately Pisces is not the greatest sign for Mercury to be in. Mercury is a rational and logical planet, while Pisces is emotional and chaotic. So for the next couple of weeks it’s going to be difficult to work out what’s going on, especially if you’re surrounded by other people. It might nonetheless be the case that the power equation is going against you, and you might get drawn into a situation that runs counter to your best interests. So it might be a good idea to avoid social situations, especially if you’re dealing with individuals who are strong and opinionated. As far as close relationships are concerned, your partner could be very confusing. When talking, they’ll move from one subject to the next, in an almost random way, and getting them to answer questions will be hard work. If you’re not in a relationship, and you’ve got romantic ambitions, then you have to be careful. It’s so easy to reach the wrong conclusions, and you shouldn’t take what someone says at face value. Flights of fantasy might be fun, but they can also be dangerous!

Libra

September 23 to October 22

Everything is connected. What’s going on in the world, what other people are thinking and feeling, have an impact on your state of being, physically, mentally and spiritually. This might seem surprising. Perhaps you feel that you can skim the surface, not having to take anything too seriously. Normally this might be the case, but this week the boundaries are weak, and your sensitivity mustn’t be underestimated. So whatever you’re doing, keep it simple – and also think through the consequences of your actions. On a different note, you might feel that now is the time to do a great deal of tidying up. Or call it an early spring clean, if you’re in the northern hemisphere. However right now it would probably be a waste of time to do a lot of tidying up. Because things will get messy again very quickly, and you’ll have to start all over again. No, it might be best if you allow the garbage to pile up, for a few more weeks. You can then develop the best plan for getting rid of it. Finally, it’s important to have a healthy diet. Junk food, and chemical additives, should be avoided.

Scorpio

October 23 to November 21

The truth is staring you in the face. It’s not difficult to understand, and your next move should be obvious. However Scorpio is possibly the most stubborn sign of the Zodiac, and once you’ve decided on a particular action it can be difficult to budge you, even when it’s quite obvious that you’re in the wrong. And this week the issue becomes particularly important. A chain of circumstances will show you the error of your ways, and you’ll have a clear opportunity to make amends. But will you take the chance? Will the Scorpio express train trundle on, towards the cliff? It’s up to you, and if you have the humility to admit that you’ve got it wrong, the Universe will reward you. On a lighter note, you’re going to be very creative. You’ll be able to make the most of your imagination, and create something that’s truly amazing. So what’s your number one creative skill? How can you make the most of it? Finishing with your love life, and communication is key. Through subtle gestures you can tell the other person exactly how you feel, and there’s certainly no need to shout, or make a scene. Indeed words are probably unnecessary.

Sagittarius

November 22 to December 21

There’s a conjunction between Mercury and Neptune, in a crucial sector of your solar chart. A sector that represents the absolute foundation of things. This conjunction is a confusing influence, and you may be unsure about where exactly you belong. However it’s sometimes possible to think too much, and to worry about non-existent problems. Not just because it’s more relaxing, but also because too much thinking can lead you to make mistakes. You worry about something, you wonder if you can fix it, you take action, and you find that the overall situation gets much worse. So let the thoughts pass over you, and concentrate on the here and now. I should also say that communications with your family need to be handled with care. Family members have got lots to say, and you yourself are pretty talkative. Unfortunately lines could get crossed, and messages could get mixed up. This means that you have to be very clear and you must make sure that your words can’t be misinterpreted. As far as romance is concerned, partners are in a dream, and they need some guidance. But can you provide it? If you’re a single Sagittarian, don’t believe anything that anyone says – at least not immediately.

Capricorn

December 22 to January 19

Your social life needs tweaking. Some of your friends are on poor form, and others are being less than helpful. Perhaps you need a break from them? Perhaps you need to say thank you and good bye? Anyway, at the beginning of the week you’ll be able to make your decision. There’s also a question of your personal development. It’s possible that your social life is holding you back. To an extent you’re doing the same thing, day after day, week after week, and a change of friends could bring a change of direction. On a related note, there’s a conjunction between Mercury and Neptune, in the communication sector of your solar chart. There is something you want to say, but actually saying it could be difficult. So perhaps you should bide your time – the message might not be as urgent as you think, and in a few weeks time it might be much easier to deliver. This particularly applies to close relationships – if you tell your partner something important over the next week, they might not understand what you’re talking about. It even works both ways – your partners spoken and unspoken signals are going to be pretty meaningless, unless you’re a psychic.

Aquarius

January 20 to February 18

You start the week being preoccupied by career and status. You’re wondering whether or not you’re going in the right direction, and at work things might not be perfect. You’ll perhaps notice that colleagues and workmates are being secretive, and it might also appear that they’re not pulling their weight. However it’s important not to jump to conclusions. Right now a lot of people are going through a bad patch, and by the end of the week they’ll be feeling a whole lot better. Under these circumstances it might be better to wait rather than act. Turning to money, and some Aquarians might be entering a danger-period. Mercury is moving into your solar second house, which is connected with finance, and here it makes a conjunction to Neptune. Try as you might, it will be difficult to understand your finances, and it’s possible that you’re misled into making a mistake. Under these circumstances, you should avoid making new investments, and when buying things you must make sure that you’re not paying too much. And while you’re at it, be careful of your belongings – because right now they’re much easier to lose than you realise.

Pisces

February 19 to March 19

The storm is raging, boats are being smashed to smithereens on the rocks, and you’re right in the middle of it, calm and serene. It’s because you have a natural understanding of emotional realities, and whatever the emotional temperature, you know how things are going to end up. So in many respects you’re a bystander, watching events that have no direct impact on you. Nonetheless you can benefit from the situation. While other people are going round in circles, you can work out the best course of action – and in a business setting, your calmness will seem very attractive. Indeed with Mercury moving into your star sign people will be seeking your advice, and they’ll be happy to reward you. As the week progresses you’re going to be increasingly in control, and at the same time your demands will seem very reasonable. The romantic picture is similarly favourable, and if you’re single it does seem that someone new is heading in your direction. They don’t know what they want, and if you tell them what to do they’re unlikely to object.

 

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Talking Astrology with Archie

Posted by on 2/4/12 at 7:51 pm

In last week’s video I made some comments about ruling planets, which some people found confusing. I say that Saturn is the ruler of Aquarius, yet other people say it’s Uranus. Who is right?

Watch Archie’s forecast here:

[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnHKfh1KbrU&list=UU0pCQM031-7LyEXZT0tNJAQ&index=1&feature=plcp']

And continue reading it here…

Up until the end of the Eighteenth Century rulership was a simple matter. The Sun ruled Leo, the Moon ruled Cancer, Mercury ruled Gemini and Virgo, Venus ruled Taurus and Libra, Mars ruled Aries and Scorpio, Jupiter ruled Sagittarius and Pisces and Saturn ruled Capricorn and Aquarius.

However the discovery of Uranus in 1781 upset the apple-cart. Astrologers started wondering if Uranus ruled any of the twelve signs, and then in the early Twentieth Century it was deemed to be ruler of Aquarius. Likewise with Neptune, which took over rulership of Pisces, and then Pluto, which got assigned to Scorpio.

The problem with these new rulerships is that they fly in the face of two millennia of tradition, both in the East and the West. Astrologers have been using Saturn as the ruler of Aquarius since the time of the Greeks, so why should the system suddenly change?

Over the last twenty or thirty years there has been a revival in traditional astrology, and astrologers are increasingly taking the view that the new rulerships were just a fad. So actually, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto don’t rule any of the twelve signs, and if you’re an Aquarius you can rest assured that the planet Saturn is your one and only ruler.

Anyway, here’s your forecast for the week starting on Monday February 6…

Aries

March 20 to April 19

You feel like escaping. There are lots of pressures, and you feel that it’s just not worth the aggravation. It would be so easy to run for the hills, with your phone turned off. However it’s important not to be impulsive. Just because one thing is bothering you, doesn’t mean that the whole world is a disaster area. You should also consider the possibility that other people can change. For example, you might feel that one particular person is a permanent problem-area, best avoided, but actually, the situation can transform itself in the blink of an eye. To be more specific, on Wednesday the planet Venus moves into Aries, your star sign. Someone is moving into your life, a person who is hungry for attention. This person makes a lot of noise, but actually they’re quite weak. Yet it’s a weakness that’s strangely attractive, that in certain cases could form the basis for a brand new relationship. As far as your career is concerned it might be a good idea to pause for breath – a plan might be good, but it can always be better.

Taurus

April 20 to May 20

Do you do what’s comfortable, or do you do what’s necessary? If you’re a typical Taurus, you’re not always comfortable with change, and you might feel that the old ways are the best ways. This week’s Full Moon certainly puts the focus on this dilemma. You so want to stand still, but in your heart of hearts you know that that’s not possible. So what you have to do is build on what you’ve achieved in the past. You know what works, you know what makes you secure. And this should give you the inner strength to move forward with your ambitions. Respect the past, but also embrace the future, and in terms of business and career you’ll almost certainly have to bring new pieces of technology into your life. On a more negative note, at the beginning of the week Venus, your ruling planet, is close to a fixed star called Scheat. It’s associated with shipwrecks and disasters, so you should stay away from water and avoid boat trips. Also, in the home be careful when dealing with plumbing, and leave home repairs to a qualified expert. At the end of the week you realise that something needs to be kept secret, because if the truth were to get out the consequences would be regrettable. In a few weeks time you can afford to be more open.

Gemini

May 21 to June 20

Beware of women, particularly at work. Or should I perhaps say, beware of other women? I’m not being sexist, I’m just saying that this week women could be a problem. There’s one woman in particular, who in the past hasn’t been any problem to anyone. Yet she’s now going through a bad patch, and everything she touches will go wrong. Indeed if you follow her advice there could be a real disaster. So once you’ve recognised who this person is, stay out of their way, at least for the duration of the week. As far as relationships are concerned, you certainly know what it takes to win people over, and the way you move, and the way you dress, will be near perfect. However seductiveness is a two-edged sword. It’s easy to attract someone’s attention, it’s even easy to start a relationship with them, but in the process you might get yourself into deep water. You’re thinking hours and days, the other person might be thinking years and decades. Looking at travel, and many Geminis have an important decision to make. Do you really want to make the big trip that you’ve been thinking about for months? Is it really worth the effort? Sometimes the biggest opportunities are in your own back yard.

Cancer

June 21 to July 21

This week Venus moves into Aries, and it stays in this sign until March 5. Overall this is good news. Over the next few weeks you’ll have a powerful presence, and at the same time you’ll feel good about yourself. However it’s important to get the balance right, especially in your career. You might have a strong and charismatic personality, but if you push it too far people are going to get annoyed with you. And be particularly careful if you’re in a position of authority. You might get things done, but in the process you could make enemies. So take it slowly and don’t scream at anyone unless it’s really necessary. Moving on to your finances, and this week there’s a Full Moon, that hits the finance sector of your solar chart. In some respects you’ve been allowing things to slip. There might have been a small financial detail that you weren’t taking sufficiently seriously. The Full Moon will put it sharply into focus, and you’ll understand what needs to be done. And in some cases the best course of action will be to pay off a debt, even if you don’t want to. At the same time, it might be a good idea to have another look at a financial agreement you’re involved in. Does it really work to your advantage? Is it possible to change it?

Leo

July 22 to August 22

This week there’s a Full Moon, which falls slap-bang across the main axis of your solar chart. As a result relationships will become very important. You’ll have to consider the balance between yourself and other people, and issues such as power and control will be difficult to avoid. Furthermore, you’ll have to realise that relationships are a matter of give and take. You can’t expect your partner to give you non-stop attention, and if you feel that you’re being ignored then consider the possibility that you’re not the only person in the world and that other people have their own priorities. Also, you can learn some valuable lessons about detachment. In most cases you don’t actually need other people’s support and praise. On your own you’re a powerful player, and you can get things done, in a quiet but systematic way. Yet if there have been recent problems in your relationship, the Full Moon could bring things to a head. It will be clear that something has to change, and compromise just won’t be an option. Elsewhere someone from faraway wants to get back in touch. It’s probably a good idea!

Virgo

August 23 to September 22

If you’re a typical Virgo, you like to know what’s going on, and you don’t like surprises. You have an image in your head about the way things are going to work, and you’re assuming that particular people are going to work in particular ways. However the planet Venus is in a rather precarious state. It starts the week in the last degrees of Pisces, then moves into Aries. So other people are going to be difficult to handle, and you can’t count on them to honour their promises. In the light of day they are all smiles, but when the shadows lengthen they’ll start throwing up their defences. It also seems that someone has information that you need to get hold of. They don’t know that this information is important, and it will be up to you to ask the right questions. Looking at close relationships, and over the next few weeks your partner is going to become a lot more complex, and you won’t know what they’re thinking and feeling. It’s a time for being patient, because if you’re pushy and tactless it will make the situation far worse. Finally there is your health. A Full Moon gives you insights into your physical limitations, and with a bit of intelligence you can take active steps to make yourself fitter and healthier.

Libra

September 23 to October 22

All eyes are on Venus, your ruling planet. It starts the week moving through the last degrees of Pisces, then on Wednesday it moves into Aries. This means that on Monday and Tuesday, as Venus moves close to a dangerous star called Scheat, you’re going to be more accident-prone than usual. So think carefully about what you’re doing and consider the possibility that things might unexpectedly go wrong. Water could be a particular problem – so dishwashers and washing machines should be treated with extreme caution. Also, you should avoid activities such as sailing and swimming. For example, you might trip and hurt yourself by the water’s edge, or worse. Be particularly careful of your feet – they’re vulnerable to injury, and you should watch out for infections such as athlete’s foot. When Venus moves into Aries the emphasis moves away from health, and relationships become important. You’ll be very aware of the way you and other people interact, and you might get the feeling that the power equation is going against you. So in social situations you’re more likely to follow than lead. It’s a situation that’s not to your taste, that might even make you angry, but there’s probably not much you can do about it.

Scorpio

October 23 to November 21

This week there’s a Full Moon. You become aware of the absolute fragility of everything around you. Nothing can last forever, and the strongest foundations can collapse in a matter of seconds. As a Scorpio this doesn’t both you – if you’re typical of your sign, you understand the mysteries of life and death. Life is about transition and when something doesn’t change it’s got one foot in the grave. As far as your career is concerned, you can see the way things are going. People are running round in circles, like they’ve done for years, and it’s obvious that something has to give. However it’s not a time for drawing attention to yourself. Try to spend more time than usual alone, in a secure environment where you can meditate and plan. Also, it’s a good idea to do more of your work from home. You’ll be very focused, and once you’re free from distractions you can get to the heart of the matter very quickly. Switching to relationships, and partners and lovers are going to be more fussy than usual, and if things aren’t absolutely right they’ll complain like mad. So either behave yourself or stay out of their way.

Sagittarius

November 22 to December 21

Everyone is breathing a big sigh of relief. Things are supposedly getting better, and there’s now room to relax. And being a typical, fun-loving Sagittarian, you’re anxious to join the party. However appearances can be deceptive, rather like the thin ice on a deep pond. As soon as you join the crowd and start partying the ice will crack. So, Sagittarius, take a long, hard look at what’s going on around you, and don’t take chances. Yet I’m not saying that you have to be miserable. Just bear in mind that it’s not a time to go crazy, and instead you should be showing the world what a wonderfully responsible person you are. Moving to your love life, and from Wednesday onwards you benefit from Venus’ movement into Aries. Whatever your private feelings, you can demonstrate to partners and lovers that you’ve got a great sense of humour, and once you start showing off your sparkling sense of humour things will really start moving. Nonetheless the best thing you can do for yourself this week is read a good book. You might feel that you haven’t got time, but hey, you’ve got time to surf the internet, which is why you’re reading these words! Anyway, get off the computer and turn to page one.

Capricorn

December 22 to January 19

Over the last couple of weeks money matters have been very important and many Capricorns have wanted to take active steps to improve their finances. And this week there’s a Full Moon, across the finance axis of your solar chart. In astrology Full Moons are about the truth. The light shines into the darkest crevices, and what used to be hidden is now lit up in all its glory. So when you think about money, you’ll see the whole picture. You won’t be kidding yourself any more, and you’ll have all the information you need. Though it will soon become apparent that any financial decision you make will require a degree of cooperation from other people. This means that you must work hard to establish your case – because when it comes to the crunch you’re right and they’re wrong. I suppose it’s all a question of how you handle delicate egos. You must nonetheless appreciate that there is a time and a place for talking about money, particularly in relationships. Partners need to be in the mood for financial discussions, and if you raise money questions at the wrong moment there could be trouble.

Aquarius

January 20 to February 18

This week there’s a Full Moon, that has a direct impact on Aquarius, your star sign. This Full Moon will heighten your need for independence, and if other people are telling you what to do then you’re likely to get very annoyed. However it’s important that you have a sense of balance. Whatever you’re doing you have to consider other people and the Full Moon will bring friends, partners and colleagues clearly into focus. You’ll understand their thoughts and feelings, and with a bit of sensitivity and intelligence you’ll have no difficulty handling them. If you’re in a position of leadership, you have a chance to make waves. Not by issuing wild commands, but by understanding what makes people tick. As far as romance is concerned, it might occur to you that in the past you’ve been getting things wrong – perhaps you’ve been thinking too much of yourself. Well, the Full Moon gives you a chance to turn over a new leaf, and to show your partner what a wonderful, kind and considerate person you are. If you’re a single Aquarian then a change of approach brings a change of luck.

Pisces

February 19 to March 19

On Wednesday Venus moves out of your star sign, into Aries. I’m not sure if this is a good thing. Venus isn’t very happy in Aries, and things connected with beauty and fashion are unlikely to prosper. So while Venus stays in Aries, until early March, you should avoid major expenditure on clothes, jewellery and soft furnishings. Spending the money will be the easy bit – the difficult part will be convincing yourself that you’ve made a wise purchasing decision. Indeed if you’re not careful money could slip through your fingers, so avoid unnecessary shopping trips. You could also benefit from doing a major reorganisation of your environment, both at home and at work. A lot of junk has been building up and it’s now time to clear it away. Don’t hesitate, just do it! It’ll take a fraction of the time you had expected and once the decks are clear you’ll be a lot more efficient. So don’t allow yourself to be distracted, and if possibly avoid romantic pursuits – they might seem attractive, but fundamentally, you’re not in the mood.

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Talking Astrology with Archie: Mitt Romney versus Barack Obama?

Posted by on 2/1/12 at 10:33 am

By Archie Dunlop

Mitt Romney wants to be the first Piscean President since Grover Cleveland, who left office in 1897. I don’t know about the 2016 elections, but in 2012 Mitt Romney hasn’t got a chance.

This must be a big disappointment for the Republican establishment. Their man has just beaten the even more unelectable Newt Gingrich in the Florida primary, and Obama is going nowhere, isn’t he?

It doesn’t actually matter what Obama does, because Romney is destined to lose in 2012, assuming he gets the nomination. I say this because I just asked the question ‘Will Mitt Romney win the 2012 Presidential Election?’ I set up a horoscope for the moment I asked the question. The horoscope was very simple. The Moon was in late Taurus, and it had made its last major aspect before leaving the sign. In the jargon it was ‘void of course’, meaning that nothing will come of the matter. End of story. So my message to the Republican Party is simple. Find another candidate. Quick.

As for Obama, assuming there are no mishaps, and his name is on the ballot paper in November, and Mitt Romney is his opponent, then he is definitely going to be elected for a second term. There are going to be some difficult moments for Obama over the next few months, and there’ll be doubts about whether he can make it, but over the Summer of 2012 his luck improves in a big way.

This is down to Indian astrology. For the last fifteen years and more Obama has been in a period of life ruled by Jupiter. In his Hindu horoscope Jupiter isn’t very well placed, and despite this, he won the 2008 election. The Jupiter period ends in the Summer of 2012, and he moves into a Saturn period. His Saturn is very strong, and if he’s running for a second term in 2012 he’ll be practically unbeatable.

I should also say that Obama’s second term is going to be far better than his first. He’ll be his own man, and having had his on-the-job training during his first term, he’ll know what needs to be done. Put another way, if Obama had left office after one term, he would have gone down in history as a poor to mediocre president. It’ll only be during his second term that he’ll show his greatness.

Photo credits: WENN.com

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Talking Astrology with Archie: The Worst Shipping Disaster Ever

Posted by on 1/30/12 at 12:31 pm

It’s nice to mix things up, take a momentary break from celebrities and look at history, and as you will find out from this piece from Archie Dunlop, today is very symbolic.

Archie writes…

What was the biggest maritime tragedy in history?  The sinking of the Titanic?

The Titanic was certainly a disaster, with 1,517 people killed.  However this was nothing compared to the Wilhelm Gustloff.

The Wilhelm Gustloff was a German passenger ship, that was built by the Nazis for holiday cruises.  It became a hospital ship, and then in 1945, as the Soviet army was crashing into the Eastern parts of Germany, it became an escape vessel.  At the time there was  terror amongst German citizens, and they were desperate to flee the advancing Russians.  The land routes were blocked, and the only option was to go by sea.

It was under these circumstances that the Wilhelm Gustloff set sail from Gdynia, en route to Kiel, across the Baltic Sea.  It was January 30 and it was very cold.

The rest of the story is tragically inevitable, though surprisingly few people have heard of the disaster.  This is in spite of the efforts of German novelist Günter Grass, who wove the Wilhelm Gustloff’s sinking into a haunting work of fiction, titled Crabwalk.

Such was the panic to board the Wilhelm Gustloff that no-one is quite sure how many people were on board.  However it was probably around ten thousand.  As the ship crossed the Baltic, it was spotted by a Soviet submarine, which fired four torpedoes at it, and three of them hit.

The ship went down quickly, but not so quickly that the officers in command weren’t able to save themselves.  Yet the vast majority of passengers died – that’s right, about 9,400 people were killed.  That’s over six times as many people who died on the Titanic.  Over three times as many people who died in the World Trade Center.

As Günter Grass pointed out, there are two weird coincidences relating to the sinking.

Firstly, January 30 1945, the day of the sinking, was the twelfth anniversary of Hitler coming to power – he became German Chancellor on January 30 1933.

Secondly, there’s a link with the person whom the Wilhelm Gustloff was named after.

The man Wilhelm Gustloff was a Swiss Nazi, who was actively anti-semitic.  In 1936 he was assassinated by a Jewish student, and the Nazi establishment in Germany gave him an elaborate funeral, attended by Adolf Hitler himself.

And when was Wilhelm Gustloff born?  January 30 1895, so the ship named after him was torpedoed on what would have been his fiftieth birthday.

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Archie goes virtual

Posted by on 1/30/12 at 9:39 am

You’ve read his great forecasts, now Archie Dunlop is sharing his thoughts on video.

 [yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3jioIXPKnQ&context=C3fdd47fADOEgsToPDskKXA_v5_AVv73nJgwf42r3H']

And be sure to see what your week entails by reading his weekly analysis.

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Talking Astrology with Archie

Posted by on 1/28/12 at 12:33 pm

[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3jioIXPKnQ&context=C3fdd47fADOEgsToPDskKXA_v5_AVv73nJgwf42r3H']

 

Are you sick of atheism? Have you had enough of Richard Dawkins and friends telling us that we’re deluding ourselves by believing in God, astrology and an afterlife? While there’s nothing wrong with having a critical brain, there are limits. It’s not just that humanity needs a God, but also, there IS a God – or at least some supernatural force, which magically binds everything together.

However it’s not surprising that over the last few decades atheism has become so popular. Since the early 1980s Neptune has been in signs ruled by Saturn – respectively Capricorn and Aquarius. It briefly went into Pisces last Summer, but then returned to Aquarius.

This week the big change happens. Neptune moves into Pisces, ruled by Jupiter, and stays there until 2025. Neptune is the planet of spirituality, Pisces is the sign of spirituality. The next ten years and more are going to be a time of spiritual renewal, when our faith in a higher being can be restored and reaffirmed.

Interestingly the last time Neptune was in Pisces, aside from last summer, was in the middle of the Nineteenth Century. At this time spiritualism was becoming very popular, and people wanted direct contact with the spirits of their deceased loved ones. I think we are going to see something similar between now and 2025. There’ll be a need for a direct experience of the supernatural, and we’re going to see the beginnings of new religious and spiritual movements.

In this light I wanted to contact an old friend who does psychic and spiritual healing. I haven’t seen her for ages – I think she might be designing jewellery in Australia. But now that Neptune’s in Pisces she should get her act together and start building up her own religion. She’s charismatic and convincing, and with Neptune’s help she can get millions of followers. So it’s a great shame I’ve given up on Facebook and I don’t know her email address.

Anyway, here’s your forecast for the week starting on Monday January 30…

Aries

March 20 to April 19

You’re not quite your normal self. You’re focusing on the wrong details, and things that are genuinely important are passing you by. So before you do anything stupid, you need to sit down and ask yourself some basic questions. Think about what you want, and consider whether you’re going about it in the right way. I suspect that you’re putting too much energy into one particular area of life, and really, you’re chasing your own tail. Even if you got what you wanted, would it make you happy? I understand that you’re a spontaneous Aries, and you want to do something the moment you think of it, however if you’re being attacked by a swarm of bees is it possible to respond to each bee, individually? On a more positive note, you can take active steps to improve your health. Indeed one small change can make you feel a whole lot better. Finishing up with relationships, and the main influence is a stressful, 180-degree aspect between Venus and Mars. It’s an aspect that’s exciting and passionate, but if you put your sex drive on automatic you could run off a cliff. In nature things that are bright and attractive are often deadly poisonous!

Taurus

April 20 to May 20

If you’re typical of your star sign you don’t like change. You know what makes you happy, and you just want to carry on with it, without worrying about other people and their problems. While it’s true that you can have moments of real happiness, there’s always something to spoil the party, especially at the beginning of the week. To be more specific, there’s someone out there who you can’t get on with, and this person seems to deliberately get on your nerves. In reality I’m not sure if it’s their fault. They have a particular way of expressing their creativity, and it just isn’t to your taste. So instead of loudly complaining, you should quietly leave the room. Alternatively you could regard your social life as being a learning experience. You have a social experience that’s disturbing, yet you grin and bear. In the process you try your hardest to understand other people’s perspective, and with toleration comes good Karma. As far as relationships are concerned, you’ll become very aware of your partner’s bad points – in particular, their dirty habits. But don’t worry, dirty habits are part of the human condition, and in most cases are harmless.

Gemini

May 21 to June 20

Neptune moves into Pisces and it stays in this sign for a long time – until 2025. In the Gemini horoscope the sign Pisces has a special association with the career, so for the next thirteen years the planet Neptune is going to have a crucial impact on this very important area of your life. Now you have to understand that Neptune is the planet of confusion. So there’s a possibility that you’re about to enter a prolonged phase of your life when you won’t have a clue what you want to do, and you might therefore have frequent changes of job. This is not a question of fate – it is up to you. If you want to avoid this possibility, then you have to be honest with yourself. Do a job not because of the money, or because of what your friends and family are saying, but because it’s an essential part of who you are. And once you have found the right job, the job you were destined for since the moment of your birth – and perhaps before – nothing can go wrong. Yet it’s easy to be deluded. A job, or a piece of business, that sounds exciting and glamorous could turn out to be a death-trap. Modelling, acting and deep-sea diving could be especially hazardous!

Cancer

June 21 to July 21

You’re not quite in the real world, are you? You might be sitting behind a desk surrounded by concrete walls, but your mind and spirit are soaring skywards – different places, different countries, different galaxies. It seems that you really want to do something usual, which breaks the pattern of your everyday life. And at the same time you feel sure that there’s more to life than being born, getting married, having kids and dying. That’s right, there’s a spiritual dimension, and even if you can’t touch it, you’re very aware that it exists. However you have to appreciate that you don’t have to travel round the globe to find contentment. You might not even have to leave the four walls of your prison, or your home, or whatever. It’s all about a state of mind, and one thought, the right thought, can push you off on your spiritual journey. Of course I’m not saying that nothing has to be changed. There are pressures to do trivial things, such as paperwork, or cleaning or even just gossiping. You might also spend a lot of time on pointless visits – that are a waste of gas as well as time. So make sure that you prioritise, because then you’ll be able to focus on your core needs. In relationships the more someone talks, the less seriously you should take them. If someone argues for the sake of it, then it’s almost certainly time to call it a day.

Leo

July 22 to August 2

You want a quiet, uncomplicated life – at least this week you do. However if you crawl under a stone and go to sleep events could pass you by and you might find that your situation deteriorates. No, you’ve got to pay attention to what other people are doing, especially when it comes to money. You might think that it’s none of your business, but right now everything is your business. Things happening hundreds of miles away could make you better or worse off, and you need to work out what’s going on. So make sure that you ask plenty of questions, and keep digging until you find the answers. Moving on to relationships, and at the beginning of the week there’s an opposition aspect between Venus and Mars, which impacts a very passionate sector of your solar chart. You’ll certainly be very attractive, and if there’s any chemistry between you and another person it will quickly become obvious. However chemistry can be dangerous, and if you mix the wrong substances together there could be unfortunate consequences. It’s therefore important that you don’t rush into anything, and you should avoid situations that are heavily emotional.

Virgo

August 23 to September 22

This week there are are two big events. An opposition aspect between Venus and Mars, and Neptune entering Pisces. Both these events will have an impact on Virgos. The Venus-Mars aspect crosses the main axis of your solar chart, and you’re faced with a contrast. As I discussed last week, there are lots of things in your life that make you angry, and sometimes you want to hit out at them. However a softer influence is now coming into play. It might, for example, be a new person moving into your life, who is easy-going but also very sensitive. Although this person could be a force for good, there’s a possibility that your negative, even hostile, attitude frightens them away. So it’s important that you give everyone a fair chance to explain themselves and you mustn’t rely too heavily on surface appearances. In terms of romance, the sparks are certainly flying, but at times the line between love and hatred is dangerously thin. Neptune’s movement into Pisces could also have an impact on romance, in a long-term sense. Over the next decade and more you’re going to want something extraordinary from you love life, and there’s a possibility that some unusual fantasies start falling out of the woodwork. However you have to be reasonable – can any one person give you everything you want? They probably can, but only if both your feet are firmly on the ground.

Libra

September 23 to October 22

If you read what I’m saying for the other signs, you’ll notice that I put a lot of emphasis on a stressful aspect between Venus and Mars. It makes life exciting, but it also make it difficult, especially if you have to deal with other people. And in the case of Libra, this Venus-Mars aspect is of great significance, because Venus is your ruling planet, and Mars rules your love life. You can be as nice as you like, and you can try your hardest to follow the crowd, but you’re still an individual, with likes and dislikes. And you know what? If you half kill yourself attempting to make someone happy, and you’re not being sincere, then you’ll make them angry, and in the end you could become worst enemies. So be honest, right from the beginning. If you want to start a new relationship this week, be careful. The kind of person you’re attracting is someone completely different from yourself. Fine if you want a one-night stand, but if your horizon is any further than tomorrow morning you need to be more discerning. Mutual differences will soon come to the surface and you’ll want to bring the thing to a swift ending. On the other hand if you’re already involved with someone, it might be best to agree to differ.

Scorpio

October 23 to November 21

Jealousy works both ways. I know that Scorpios have an undeserved reputation for being jealous and vindictive, but have you considered the possibility that other people might be jealous of you? You’ve got lots of talents, and you’ve got an inner power that’s always obvious. Most of your friends and colleagues appreciate your presence, but a few people are jealous. They wish they could be you, but they know it’s impossible! Under these circumstances it’s important to question everyone’s motives. Not everyone is a true friend, and once the wrapping paper has been ripped away there could be a rotten core. Having said all that, you mustn’t be too harsh. Everyone has their own way of looking at the world, and just because a person is stupid doesn’t mean they’re not honest. Indeed you should try to understand what people are doing, and if you can show some appreciation and sympathy so much the better. As far as love is concerned, you’re probably too guarded to find romantic satisfaction, but if you’re desperate for a challenge you’ll find someone interesting. If they’ve got an artistic or musical streak, so much the better.

Sagittarius

November 22 to December 2

What is required to be successful? You certainly need a lot of energy – you have to push yourself as hard as possible, and you must keep going until you’ve crossed the finishing line. However energy on its own isn’t going to accomplish much. You have to make sure that everything is done properly. So when you’ve completed a task you must check it, very carefully. Because if something is wrong it’s a sure bet that someone will find out. You then have to consider why you might make mistakes. Well, it could have a lot to do with other people, in particular your family. They’ll make a lot of demands on your time, and as every driving instructor will tell you, it’s impossible to do more than one thing at once. There’s a place for dealing with your family, and there’s a place for pushing forward with your ambitions – and you musn’t mix them up! Also, you must never get too comfortable. The moment you think that everything is fine is the moment the world starts falling apart. Elsewhere Neptune moves into Pisces. The sign Pisces has a special association with your home and family, and Neptune stays in this sign until the middle of the next decade. Over this time period you might develop unrealistic ideas about where you want to live, so when buying or renting real estate between now and 2025 be extra careful. In particular, be careful about buying property that’s close to water, because what’s pretty one moment could be a disaster zone the next.

Capricorn

December 22 to January 19

It’s a time in your life when your opinions are under pressure. I’m sure that you’ve got strong feelings about a number of subjects, including politics, spirituality and religion. And when you look at the problems facing your country you’ve got a clear idea about what needs to be done. However nothing is written in stone, and opinions can change. In your case the process of change starts with simple observations. You see something happening in the everyday world that doesn’t accord with your pre-existing opinions. You see it again… and again. Then slowly but surely your opinions start to change. It’s nothing to be afraid of, and in six months time some of your beliefs may be totally different from what they are now. Looking at your career, you’re being told something that you don’t believe. The person giving you the information might be right or wrong, but you must nonetheless listen carefully to what they’re saying. One you’ve worked out the facts, and reached your own conclusions, you’ll be able to take the next step. In the process you might have to do some travelling, but at least you’ll have a map.

Aquarius

January 20 to February 18

There’s a lot of stuff going on that you don’t understand, that involves other people. You feel that you ought to be interested, so you might spend a lot of time asking questions. However you’re probably dealing with matters that aren’t just complicated, they are also unimportant. This means that even if you discover the truth, it’s unlikely to do you any good. Put another way, it’s a question of minding your own business and not worrying too much about the outside world. You’ve got things of your own that need to be taken care of, and once the job’s finished you’ll find that many of your imagined problems have disappeared. As far as money is concerned, it’s essential that you keep in mind the big picture. Your financial decisions should be based on long-term considerations, and what’s true today might no longer be true tomorrow. Above all, you don’t want to be distracted by vague promises. Indeed if you’re made an offer that sounds amazing, it’s likely that someone hasn’t done their calculations. And this need for financial caution will continue for some time – after all, the planet Neptune has entered the money sector of your solar chart, and it won’t leave until 2025.

Pisces

February 19 to March 19

This week the planet Neptune moves into your star sign, and it stays here until 2025. It’s therefore a long-term influence, that isn’t to be taken lightly. Neptune is the planet of confusion, and over the next thirteen years or so Pisceans are going to have some very unusual ideas and impulses. At the same time you’ll be easy to distract, and there’s a danger that you look at the world through rose-tinted spectacles, only seeing the positives of something, and never the negatives. So it’s important that you get your act together, and you should put the emphasis on facts rather than promises. Yet Neptune has a strong connection with spirituality, and many Pisceans will start seeing the world in a different way. You won’t just be looking at the material details – you’ll be looking at the underlying metaphysical realities. You’ll realise that some things last for ever and that other things are short-lived and aren’t worth clinging on to. You therefore have to attach yourself to the eternal, and not be dragged along by pointless distractions. Elsewhere someone’s in a bad mood, but your kind words can resolve the situation very quickly.

 

 

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Talking Astrology with Archie

Posted by on 1/21/12 at 11:31 am

This week is the beginning of the Chinese New Year. How do I know? As a rule of thumb, the New Year stars at the time of the first New Moon in the sign of Aquarius, and don’t ask me why. This year the Aquarius New Moon takes place on Monday January 23, at 7.39 am Greenwich Mean Time.

I’m not particularly interested in Chinese astrology. It runs on a twelve year cycle, with each year representing one of the twelve animals. So we’re now moving from the Year of the Rabbit to the Year of the Dragon. That sounds like a big contrast – the scared animal, that everyone’s hunting, changing into a fire-breathing predator. At 7.39 am on the dot.

Traditionally you shouldn’t start things right at the end of a Chinese Year. You should wait until the beginning of the next. So if you’ve got a project that you have been delaying, now might be the time to put it into action.

However you have to be careful. This week the planet Mars starts going backwards, from the Earth’s point of view. It continues going backwards until the middle of April. As Mars is the planet of aggression, there are two things you shouldn’t do over the next few months.

1. Start wars – so if you’re Israel or the US, you should under no circumstances attack Iran.

2. Start lawsuits.

Mars is also the natural ruler of male sexuality. This means that you should avoid sleeping with a man for the first time between now and mid-April. The experience will be unsatisfactory in the short term and regrettable in the longer term; and if it’s the consummation of a new relationship then expect it to last. Or put another way, chastity is a real, live virtue, just as relevant today as it was in the Middle Ages.

Anyway, here’s your forecast for the week starting on Monday January 23…

Aries

March 20 to April 19

Let’s get technical. The planet Mars is coming to a standstill and between now and mid-April it’s going backwards. OK, it’s not really going backwards, in the sense that the planets always move in the same direction. However from the Earth’s perspective it seems this way. This backwards motion is going to have a big impact on you, and it might not be entirely positive, especially if you’re a typical, gung-ho Aries. Plans might go unexpectedly wrong, and if you don’t retreat you could get yourself into real trouble. And from a physical point of view it’s not a good idea to take risks. You’re only human and there are limits to how far you can push your body. Indeed if you know what’s good for you, between now and April, you’ll lead a healthy and wholesome life, and you’ll steer clear of self-destructive habits. Looking at romance, you should take things slowly, especially if you’re at the beginning of a relationship. There’s no need to rush into anything, especially when it comes to sex. I say this because there’s a tradition in astrology that if one sleeps with someone for the first time while Mars is retrograde the relationship is unlikely to work.

Taurus

April 20 to May 20

The week starts with a New Moon, in the career sector of your solar chart. This is good news. If in the recent past your career has been unsatisfactory you can now start moving it in a new direction. At first no-one will notice what you’re doing, but that’s probably for the best. You can quietly get the show on the road, without having to worry whether or not you’re being criticised. At the same time your competitors will be in the dark about what you’re doing, and this will allow you to steel the advantage. Now it is possible that some Taureans have a revelation about their careers. You might decide, for example, that your current job isn’t right for you, and that you need to find something new. In which case there’s no need to panic, and you certainly shouldn’t take dramatic initiatives. Instead weigh up the options and start preparing the ground for a change. Moving on to relationships, and Mars, your relationship ruler, is coming to a standstill. Partners are becoming more hesitant, and they’ll find it difficult to make up their minds. And if they do make a decision, don’t be surprised if they go back on it. So take their promises with a pinch of salt!

Gemini

May 21 to June 20

Geminis think too much. Or at least a lot of them do. What am I doing on the Earth? What is the point? One day I am going to be dead. Everything is a waste of time. I don’t believe in anything and right now I’m miserable. Hey, yours truly is also a Gemini, so if you want to accuse me of projecting my problems onto you that’s fine. Anyway, what’s done is done, and this week there’s a chance for us to turn over a new leaf. To be more specific, a New Moon at the beginning of the week puts the focus on philosophy and spirituality. You’ll be thinking about your overall direction in life, and if you open your heart, without asking too many questions, you’ll suddenly feel that things are clicking together. Yes, there is a purpose in life, and if you follow your intuition you’ll find total satisfaction. On a more mundane level, travelling could become important. You might have a sudden opportunity to visit a place that you’ve never visited before. It’s a journey that won’t just be fun, it will also be educational. Finally, your home environment could take up a lot of your time – not just now, but over the next few months. While it’s true that there are domestic chores that need to be completed, you don’t want to get trapped.

Cancer

June 21 to July 21

It’s not a week for jokes. Everything’s very serious, and if you play the fool the Universe will smash you into the ground. But who said you’re a joker? Cancerians tend to be serious people, who understand the importance of the emotional dimension. You know that you’re walking on rice paper, that a heavy tread will bring the house down. This puts you at a distinct advantage. While your less sensitive friends and rivals are crashing around causing mayhem and panic, you’re creating a good impression for yourself. You’re also reaching for the heart of darkness, for the rottenness at the core of society, and once you’re at the centre of the wheel you’ll be almost unbeatable. While all this is going on it might be a good idea to do something secretive, of a financial nature. It’s the kind of action that would protect your position, in case you’re let down – and the full implications of what you’re doing might not be apparent for years. Finishing up with close relationships, and it does seem that something is changing. Your ties with one particular person are getting stronger, and very soon it might be the point of no return. In other words it could be your last chance to put on your parachute and jump out of the plane.

Leo

July 22 to August 22

Your love life enters a new chapter, thanks to an Aquarius New Moon at the beginning of the week. Aquarius is your opposite sign, and this New Moon makes you think about other people rather than just yourself. You’ll realise that on your own you’re not complete, that you need someone else’s support and encouragement. Not to mention their love! If you’re already in a relationship then you’ll see the first signs that the relationship is changing. You and your partner have a good understanding of each other, and you know what’s possible and what’s not. So it might be a good time to make new commitments. On the other hand if the relationship has recently been going through a rocky patch you might decide that enough is enough. After all, no-one is so special that they can get in the way of your full enjoyment of life. The New Moon also brings the possibility of a brand new relationship, with someone who is probably very different from yourself. They’re not a show-off, and neither are they are flatterer, and that’s almost certainly a good thing. Finally there’s money. Few things are settled, and an old argument will very soon come to the surface. Stick up for yourself, but also remember your manners.

Virgo

August 23 to September 22

Calm, responsible, always willing to lend a hand… or so it seems. But underneath your placid exterior the fires are burning hot, and there are some things that make you angry. It’s the kind of anger that doesn’t go away easily, and if you’re mad about something this week, you’re still going to be mad about it in April. Yet anger on its own is a pretty useless emotion. Indeed it’s often self-destructive – your feelings go inwards rather than outwards, and they start destroying your equilibrium. On the other hand anger can be a powerful motivator. It can encourage you to make things happen, to improve both your own and other people’s lives. For example, if something is wrong, which makes you angry, you can do something about it. You should also recognise that your emotional and physical selves are closely connected, and if your feelings aren’t properly expressed your health could suffer. Under these circumstances you should consider changes to your lifestyle. Perhaps you can take a little more exercise, provided you don’t go over the top. Also many Virgoans can benefit from giving up red meat. I can’t tell you why, scientifically, but from an astrological and symbolic point of view red meat might be messing you up, and making you more angry than you have to be.

Libra

September 23 to October 22

If you’re typical of your star sign you’ll regard relationships as being important – no Libran is an island! However you musn’t feel that you have to be in a relationship for every day of the year, for every hour of the day – especially now, when Mars, your relationship ruler, is coming to a standstill. The people close to you aren’t going to be very reliable and they could go back on their promises at the drop of a hat. And it’s a situation that’s likely to continue, through until April. You won’t be able to rely on other people as much as you’d like, and trust will be a scarce commodity. This applies to business as well as love, and if you dig deep enough you’ll realise that everyone has a secret agenda. So overall now might not be a good time for forming new partnerships, because things are unlikely to turn out as you expect. On a more positive note, this week there’s a great emphasis on your creativity, and you’ll have a chance to use your talents in a brand new way. At first you might not be comfortable with the situation, but if you take it slowly things will turn out just fine. For example, you could start off with quiet preparations, where you don’t have to worry about upsetting the audience. Then, as your confidence gets stronger, you can start showing the world what you’re made of.

Scorpio

October 23 to November 21

Sun sign astrology puts great emphasis on the ruling planet. Each sign has a ruling planet, and by tracking this planet you get an idea about what’s happening in someone’s life. As far as Scorpio is concerned, the ruling planet is Mars. OK, there was a fad in the late Twentieth Century for saying it was Pluto, but since the time of the Ancient Greeks and Romans Mars has been regarded as the true ruler. Anyway, that’s the theory. This week Mars starts going backwards and it continues going backwards until April. As a result it might be difficult to get your act together and your plans might have to be constantly delayed. This applies not just to business, but also to your social life. Your friends are going to be unreliable, and if they say they’ll do something, then don’t hold your breath. Though perhaps it’s time to review your network of friendships. Just because a friendship goes back for years doesn’t mean you should stick with it. On a different note, it’s a time of year when Scorpios can develop a new attitude to their homes and family. Put down the foundations now and you’ll see the full benefits in six months time.

Sagittarius

November 22 to December 21

It looks as if you and someone else are heading straight for an argument. You’ve got different views about the world, and you both have strong principles. However conflict isn’t inevitable. At the last moment there could be a change of heart, a realisation that there are many routes to the same goal. This particularly applies to career and business. A person who you think is a rival could actually be an ally and once you start talking to them, in a civilised way, you’ll understand the truth. Also, if you have been considering a big initiative at work, it might be necessary to postpone it until April – you’re not as strong as you could be, and it’ll probably take a few more months before you’ve marshalled your resources. To change the subject, this week there’s a New Moon, in a sector of your solar horoscope that’s associated with short distance travelling. When you consider how you get from A to B, you might come to the conclusion that you could be a lot more efficient. For example taking a shorter route, or using a different mode of transport. I should also say that a short note – perhaps in the form of an email or a text message – can have a huge, long-term impact. For better or for worse!

Capricorn

December 22 to January 19

The week kicks off with a New Moon, which takes place in the finance sector of your solar chart. It’s an opportunity to take a long, hard look at your finances, and work out what changes are required. I’m not suggesting that anything is seriously wrong, but there’s little doubt that things could be better. A fresh approach, some reorganisation, is all that is requires. However you might also feel that you haven’t got enough money. Perhaps your job isn’t paying enough, or your bank account is depleted. Well, you can take active steps to make yourself richer, believe it or not. You might not get immediate results, but what starts this week can move you slowly but surely towards your goal. You’ll have to be open-minded, and be ready to use unorthodox tactics, but it’s nothing you can’t handle. Meanwhile the planet Mars is starting to go backwards, in Virgo. In the Capricorn horoscope the sign Virgo is connected with travel, while Mars is the planet of aggravation and mishap. You should think carefully before travelling, not just now but over the next few months. Things aren’t as smooth as they seem, and when you’re miles away from home things could go unexpectedly wrong. So if in doubt, stay exactly where you are!

Aquarius

January 20 to February 18

It’s an important time for you, because of a New Moon, in your star sign. In astrology New Moons are connected with fresh starts, and it’s a time of year when you can dedicate yourself to brand new ideas, and you don’t have to be tied down by the past. The rules really have changed, and if you’re prepared to be an individual, you won’t be sorry. Though don’t expect any overnight victories. Real change takes a long time to come about, and your first, hesitant steps could be difficult – especially as other people won’t have a clue what you’re doing, and they certainly won’t give you much support. However if you’re a typical Aquarius you’ll understand the importance of following a solitary path, where you don’t have to play other people’s games. The New Moon is likely to have implications for relationships. You’re going to be more independent-minded than usual, and you’ll find it difficult to follow your partner’s lead. You therefore have to express yourself in the right way and it’s all about getting the balance right. Being open about your opinions, but also being diplomatic. You can perhaps give way on small matters, without having to compromise your core principles. Of course if someone refuses to listen to you that’s another matter – he or she is clearly not worth bothering with.

Pisces

February 19 to March 19

Other people are capable of making your life a misery. They just won’t go away and at every turn they’ll cause you trouble. It’s a problem that’s been building up for some time, but this week it really comes into focus. You’ll become very aware of your various relationships, whether they’re business, social or romantic, and it may occur to you that there are people out there who you really don’t like. In which case you should accept the situation. You can’t be friends with everyone and you can’t be expected to hide your feelings. At the same time, you mustn’t be too trusting. There are hidden forces, lurking in the undergrowth, that could trip you up when you least expect it. So keep your eyes open! On a happier note, on Thursday and Friday the Moon is moving through your star sign, where it makes a conjunction to Venus. This is good news. You’ll be charismatic and charming, and wherever you go you’ll make a good name for yourself. At the same time your clothes sense will be excellent, so it might be a good plan to go clothes shopping, provided you stick to a budget. Though really, you don’t have to spend money to look good – you are what you are, and your personality will shine through.

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Talking Astrology with Archie

Posted by on 1/14/12 at 11:58 am

Archie has lots of wise words of wisdom

Do you want a reading? Do you want to pay me for a reading? Like all the other low life inhabiting the internet I must be desperate for money and ready to tell you anything so as to get hold of your credit card details. However believe it or not, what I really want, even more than money, is a satisfied customer, and I want them to be satisfied because I am honest with them, not because I’ve told them what they want to hear. Which raises the question of what makes for a good reading.

In my experience there are three elements. Firstly the client must have specific issues that they want to discuss – if they consult me out of curiosity the reading is likely to be a disaster. Secondly I need to do adequate preparation. Thirdly, and most importantly, there needs to be the right chemistry between the astrologer and the client. So astrology is a difficult and perhaps impossible profession.

If an astrologer tells me that all of their clients are delighted with their readings I won’t believe them, unless these clients are regulars. The vast majority of one-off clients will pay what they owe without complaint, however dissatisfied they are. They might even say ‘that was interesting’, before disappearing into the void.

Overall I go by the ‘third, third, third’ rule. A third of the people who consult me are very happy with what I provide, and believe I am both enlightening and good value for money. A third are satisfied, without being over the Moon. I provide a different view on their various issues and I am charging a reasonable rate for my time. And a third are completely unimpressed. I’m not telling them what they want to hear, there are no wonderful revelations, and by and large they disagree with what I have to say. In many cases I can spot members of this final group before the reading has got under way – if not, it becomes apparent during the first minute or two of the consultation. It’s then my responsibility to stop the reading and not charge, or refund any money that’s been paid.

Your forecast for the week starting on Monday January 16…

Aries

March 20 to April 19

What’s freedom? It sounds an obvious question, especially for an Aries. You might think that it’s doing whatever you want, without having to worry about other people and their petty demands. However there’s also freedom of choice, especially in terms of your lifestyle. Deciding that you want to do something, or buy something, without having to worry about the cost. Ironically to be truly free you usually have to follow the rules. For example there’s a way of getting people’s support and cooperation, that requires compromise. You might also have to tell someone that you think they’re wonderful, when in private you think they’re ghastly. And this week you have to accept that on your own you can’t achieve much, especially in your career. There’s one particular person you have to deal with and they’re a pain in the neck. Yet this person can help you in surprising ways. At the end of the week Venus aspects Pluto. If you’re involved in a relationship your partner is going to be deadly serious and they won’t be in the mood for games. You either follow their lead or get out of their way. If you’re looking for a new relationship, then you have a secret admirer and if you want something to happen you must find out who this person is.

Taurus

April 20 to May 20

It’s horrible, but first impressions really count. Once you’ve had the first meeting, or even the first phone call, the events that follow are quite inevitable. So in many cases there’s no point in trying to alter the natural path that things are following. And this week it will be clear that it’s too late for words, too late for explanations. Everyone’s made up their mind, for better or for worse, and that’s it. This needn’t be a bad thing. You can relax and you don’t have to bust a gut trying to get immediate results. At the same time it’s important that you’re level-headed. There are things going on that appear sudden and dramatic, and you’ll be tempted to jump on your horse and start rushing at windmills. However I’m fairly sure that it’s just a storm in a teacup, and if you bide your time things will quickly return to normal. On Friday or Saturn Venus, your ruling planet, makes a 60-degree aspect to Pluto. Your charisma will start moving to the top of the range, and through the slow, steady power of your feelings you can create your own luck. This especially applies to your love life. In your own way you’re quite irresistible, and by being yourself you can attract the right person into your sphere of influence.

Gemini

May 21 to June 20

The atmosphere is so thick you can touch it – and for the average Gemini that’s unusual. Normally you like to skate high and free above the turbulence, detached from the tiresome complexities of other people’s emotions. However there are times when you can’t ignore what’s going on. You get dragged in, and it feels like you’re in quicksand. It’s not just the emotions of friends, partners and family that matter, it’s also the emotions that are flying around in wider society. There’s anger and despair, in the face of the massive economic and social problems that everyone’s facing. You can’t separate yourself from it, and you have to recognise that we’re all part of one big system. As far as relationships are concerned it’s a week for walking on tiptoes. Loved ones are more sensitive than usual, and a word out of place could cause a lot of trouble. At the end of the week the Sun moves from Capricorn to Aquarius. This is good news. The atmosphere will become much easier and you’ll have time to relax. But that doesn’t mean that there’s nothing to be done. You can do some planning, and work out the best way of manipulating the people around you. Then next week you’ll have a chance to put theory into practice.

Cancer

June 21 to July 21

The ancients called it ‘the flaming path’. An area of the heavens covered by late Libra and early Scorpio. Every month the Moon passes through this zone, and it’s a time when few things go to plan, when the most easy tasks can go badly wrong. Fortunately it’s an influence that’s short-lasting, that’s only in operation on Monday and Tuesday. So if you’re careful on Monday and Tuesday, and you expect the unexpected, then nothing bad should happen. As the week progresses the focus shifts to a stressful aspect between the Sun and Saturn. It’s an aspect that slows things down, and if you’re working with other people progress could grind to a halt. If you’re in a relationship you and your partner should avoid spending too long in the same place. You could start finding each other very irritating and it might feel that you’re both holding each other back. If you’re not in a relationship then don’t complain about it – instead count your blessings, because right now you need a love life like you need a hole in the head. Sorry to sound down-beat, but bear in mind that it’s only one view, and I might be wrong!

Leo

July 22 to August 22

I’m not wildly enthusiastic about this week, regardless of your star sign. The Sun in Capricorn is making a stressful aspect to Saturn in Libra, and as a result it’s going to be difficult to get anything done. For Leos this aspect is particularly important, because the Sun is your ruling planet. If you want to get results you’ll have to do a lot of planning, and you must make sure that you’ve got your facts right. In this light other people could hold you back, in a way that’s completely boring. If you want to do something creative they’ll raise objections, and you’ll have no choice but to go back to the drawing board. However if you’re honest with yourself you’ll realise that it’s for the best. Looking at relationships and it’s a similar picture. Saturn is your relationship ruler, so you and your partner are going to have different views of the world, and until the weekend you’re unlikely to enjoy the same things. Under these circumstances it might be best if you stayed away from each other. Yet if you’re having an argument, and it’s a win-lose situation, you should consider the possibility that your partner understands the situation better than you do.

Virgo

August 23 to September 22

You’re in a strong position. Not only do you know what you want, but you’re prepared to fight for it. You’ll indeed throw huge amounts of energy into the achievement of your goals, but in a way that’s very focused. So in your career you’ll be an unstoppable force and anyone that gets in your way will be brushed aside with relative ease. However it’s important that you don’t take things too far. We’re living in a harsh and perhaps uncaring world, and it’s easier to be part of the problem than part of the solution. If you think only of results, and you ignore people’s feelings, you’ll make yourself unpopular. But perhaps you don’t care – as every successful dictator knows, you can’t make an omelette without breaking eggs. I would also suggest that you make good use of your time, and you mustn’t feel that you have to enjoy yourself – because right now pleasure and leisure aren’t going to match your expectations. This means that you mustn’t feel guilty about working long hours, or taking your work home with you. Your efforts will be noticed and rewarded, and you’ll get a sense of quiet satisfaction that you’re doing something useful while everyone else wastes their time.

Libra

September 23 to October 22

On the surface you come over as being easy going and relaxed, the kind of person that doesn’t let anything worry them. However appearances can be deceptive, and behind your happy-go-luck mask you’re being very calculating. You’re thinking about your next move, and you don’t want to make a mistake. As a Libran you’re good at play-acting, but only up to a point. There comes a stage when it becomes exhausting trying to be someone you’re not, and it’s therefore important that you have trusted friends, who you can be open and honest with. Also, you have to be honest with your family – they know who you are and they know what you’re thinking. Continuing on the domestic theme, many Librans will have rigid ideas about the way their homes should be organised. You’ll perhaps feel that your vision is the only vision, and that other opinions don’t count for anything. Yet you don’t have all the answers, and it’s essential that you listen to your family. At the end of the week, when the Sun moves from Capricorn to Aquarius, the atmosphere starts lightening up. You’ll find it easier to enjoy yourself, and in terms of your love life your quiet preparations with have an almost electric impact. Just remember that with power comes responsibility.

Scorpio

October 23 to November 21

What starts badly ends well, right? You expend all your bad vibes and bad luck in your opening act, and by the end of the performance you’ll be a sensation. At least that’s the general theme of the week ahead. The Sun, which rules your career and status, is moving towards a stressful aspect with Saturn. So as the week progresses you might find that your career is hard work. It will be difficult to get anything done and at every turn there could be significant obstacles. Matters won’t be helped by the fact that other people will be almost impossible to get through to. You’ll explain to them the situation using simple language, using the kind of words that even amoebas can understand, and they’ll still disobey your instructions. Things will be even worse if you have to do a lot of short distance travelling. There’ll be unavoidable delays, and chances are you’ll get nothing done. However you’re only dealing with local difficulties and if you keep calm, and you don’t forget your core goals, you’ll eventually make headway. And perhaps the catalyst will be the Sun’s movement into Aquarius, at the end of the week. You’ll have more space, and if you work at home you’ll make good progress. In your love life you benefit from a favourable aspect between Venus and Pluto, which is at maximum strength on Friday and Saturday. Entertainment moves to pleasure, pleasure propels you into orbit.

Sagittarius

November 22 to December 21

When you’ve got a big idea you’re supposed to get advice. Your idea might be rubbish, it might even be dangerous – and when a neutral party listens to what you’ve got to say, they’ll give some useful feedback. However you have to be careful. Someone might be an expert, but that doesn’t mean that they can’t be wrong. And if you get your friends’ opinions you’re really asking for trouble, at least until the weekend. They’ll look at things from their own selfish point of view, and their advice could be less than helpful. So it’s probably best that you make your own decisions, and if that’s not possible then don’t commit yourself. Also, some of your best ideas are going to occur when you’re on your own, perhaps when you’re in bed, or in the bath. At first sight these ideas might sound crazy, but if you work on them you’ll soon realise that you’ve hit a gold mine. Over the weekend you should spend as much time as possible at home. Not only will you feel very comfortable, but you’ll also have a good understanding of financial realities, and through silent manoeuvres you can create a positive transformation.

Capricorn

December 22 to January 19

This week’s big astrological event is a 90-degree aspect between the Sun and Saturn. For most of the twelve signs this aspect is bad news, but in your case you can benefit from it, provided you handle its energies in the right way. The Sun-Saturn aspect is a heavy-duty influence, that must be treated with respect. If you’re lazy you’ll be punished, but if you’re hard-working and responsible you’ll be richly rewarded. So make sure that you hit the ground running, and don’t be satisfied with second best. In your career you can be very effective. You’ll know exactly what needs to be done, and you won’t rest until everything’s sorted out. At the same time you’ll be good at dealing with other people, especially if you’re in a position of authority. Your demands will be reasonable and you’ll know what’s possible and what’s not. At the end of the week you can reach out and make new contacts. You might feel that you’ve got nothing to offer, but when you’re on the phone you’ll sound very convincing, and to get someone’s attention you won’t have to say very much. As far as love is concerned I don’t think you’ll be in the mood for romantic detours, but your sense of purpose will add to your attractiveness.

Aquarius

January 20 to February 18

Wait for it! You’re very close but now is probably not the right time for taking the initiative. You’re not sufficiently prepared and you need to gather your resources. This requires plenty of space and you don’t need other people’s help. And one area of your life which is unlikely to fulfil expectations is relationships. The Sun, your relationship ruler, is making a stressful aspect to Saturn, your ruling planet. So for most of the week you and your partner are unlikely to see eye to eye, and what starts as a discussion could end as an argument. Though perhaps you have to realise that no two people are the same, and there are always going to be differences of opinion, however much these two people respect each other. To be more specific, your partner will have a great need for privacy, and if you don’t pay attention to their unspoken signals they could get offended. At the end of the week the Sun moves into your star sign, and the curtains open on your birthday month. It’s time to reveal your plans, though don’t be surprised if some people haven’t got a clue what you’re talking about. They’ll take a few weeks – or maybe a few months or years – to catch up. Their problem not yours!

Pisces

February 19 to March 19

Venus, the planet of love and harmony, gathers strength in your star sign. In general you’re feeling good about yourself and in social situations you feel very much at ease. You’ll know how to fit in and your clothes sense will be near perfect. However sometimes doing your best isn’t enough, and it’s all to do with other people’s state of mind. They’re thinking about their own problems, and they haven’t got the time or the inclination to notice what’s going on around them. You mustn’t be offended – it’s just a temporary phase, which everyone seems to be going through. And don’t be surprised if there’s an absolute refusal to discuss deeper matters, of an emotional nature. So it’s probably best that you don’t ask difficult questions, especially if sex, death and love are involved. However by the weekend, as Venus moves towards a favourable aspect with Pluto, things start to improve. Through the power of your personality you can make people sit up and listen, and you’ll be reminded that the most powerful weapon in the Piscean armoury is your emotional sensitivity. Once you’ve understood someone’s weak spots the rest is easy!

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