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MERCURY IN RETROGRADE

The planet Mercury, which is only visible just before sunrise or just after sunset travels in a forward direction most of the time. But three or four times a year, if you care to watch carefully, it appears to turn around and go backwards for about three weeks! Now Mercury really isn't going backwards. It's just an optical illusion based on the relative speeds and orbits of the Earth and Mercury around the Sun. For example think of riding in a fast car on an motorway which is passing a slower-moving car. The slower moving car appears to be moving backward, but it isn't really. It's just the relative speed and direction of the two cars gives that illusion, retrograde Mercury is similar to that.

The apparent backward motion of Mercury is called retrograde, and it has been known and studied in western astrology for thousands of years.

In general the effect of Mercury retrograde is annoyance. Little things get snarled up and a low-grade frustration emerges. Anything involving communications, verbal activity, technology, short trips and journeys, primary education, and siblings can be affected. Whilst Mercury retrograde usually is a minor irritant, every now and then a colossal screw-up can take place.

During the next Mercury retrograde:

If at all possible, avoid signing legal documents.
If at all possible, finish projects which involve communication before the retrograde.
If at all possible, avoid closing big deals during the retrograde
If at all possible, avoid launching new projects during the retrograde
If at all possible, avoid scheduling meetings to make a big decision
Allow extra time when travelling
Backup your hard drive before the retrograde
If at all possible, avoid installing new computer software during the retrograde
Do needed repairs on machinery before the retrograde
Do not hold an election during the retrograde.

This is not to say Mercury retrograde is always a bad thing. Far from it. It is actually an ideal time to do some other things, like:

Do the follow-ups on a project already started
Wrap up or complete a project already started
Research a new project thoroughly
Catch up on paperwork
Hold an information-sharing meeting

Table for Determining Sign Positions

Venus Sign Table Quickly and easily find your Venus sign, and the Venus signs of your friends and lovers.

VENUS SIGNS

The sign and house position of Venus holds insights into your first love -- life itself. It's also shows what kinds of people you're drawn to in romance and friendship. Venus engages with life and finds beauty, and here you'll find insights about your own natural creativity.

Aries Venus Sign	Taurus Venus Sign
Gemini Venus Sign	Cancer Venus Sign
Leo Venus Sign	Virgo Venus Sign
Libra Venus Sign	Scorpio Venus Sign
Sagittarius Venus Sign	Capricorn Venus Sign
Aquarius Venus Sign	Pisces Venus Sign

Venus in Aries Drawn to what stirs up passions in the moment, which could lead to many exciting, but short-lived love affairs and friendships. A creative, radiant being that's not always aware of the subtle balance of give and take in relationships. Seeks out inspiring people, and gravitates toward original, cutting-edge culture.

Venus in Taurus Looks for rich environments in which to sink in, create stable bonds and build beauty. Crafty with the hands, with the patience to develop an artistic skill. A lover of the good life, sensual pleasures and partaking of life's natural abundance.

Venus in Gemini Seeks out the curious variety of life through ideas and people. Enjoys being part of a large social network, showing care and friendship through vibrant language. Finds comfort in the whirl of life, and delights in being the comedian of their friendship circle.

Venus in Cancer Will seek to make heart ties first and foremost, offering emotional warmth to those they love. Friends will feel like family, and longtime ties add to the sense of continuity. Seeks out beauty that comes from the heart, and has a rich imagination to drawn from.

Venus in Leo Wants to be uniquely admired, and usually draw attention through their warmth, generosity and good cheer. Can have a flair for the dramatic, with talent for creative self-expression. Drawn to the color of life through celebrations and adventure.

Venus in Virgo Seeks to constantly refine and improve on the beauty that exists in life. Drawn to relationships with a shared purpose, since that fulfills an instinctual need. Often very crafty in a hands-on way, which supports their mastery of an artistic skill.

Venus in Libra Enjoys playing the host, with a special gift for creating a harmonious atmosphere. But one-on-one relationships are the masterpiece, and an instinct for balance, fairness and beauty are the artist's tools. Appreciates art of all kinds, and has an eye for what's appealing, possibly drawing them into fine art or design fields.

Venus in Scorpio Naturally creates intense and transformative relationships. Can lose their way in the shared shadow of love and friendships, becoming obsessed with the unfolding drama. Knows that often the beauty of life is hidden, and has a gift for expressing the "dark side" in an artful way.

Venus in Sagittarius Explores truth through relationships, and instinctively knows our first engagement is with life. Needs lots of freedom to move freely, even in a committed partnership, steering clear of heavy emotional bonds. Engages with life's beauty through direct experience, like adventures or active, physically-oriented art-making.

Venus in Capricorn Drawn to the timeless and enduring, and stays close to the traditions of family. Is attracted to those that radiate worldly status, someone to team up with for success. Finds beauty in the solid, valuable and tangible, and enjoys creating an aura of wealth.

Venus in Aquarius Engages most naturally in groups, where the emphasis is on concepts and causes. Is attracted to the beauty of the mind and ideals, and less likely to conform to social norms when pairing up. Shows love for all of humanity through compassion, and is an artist with future-oriented ideas.

Venus in Pisces Seeks to merge in relationships, and experience intimacy on spiritual and emotional levels. Relationships grow best out of the spiritual search, or creative collaborations offering an engagement with life's mysteries. Has a deep sense of connection with life and all of humanity, and is drawn to art and culture that reflects that union.

Chinese Zodiac Sign ~ Chinese Astrology Signs by Year

In the Chinese Zodiac, astrological years are cyclical and repeat every twelve years. Each of the twelve Chinese zodiac signs is an animal representing the characteristics and personality traits of a person born in that year and there are twelve of them. Just click any link to find out more about your chinese zodiac sign for the year you were born and learn about the signs in Chinese astrology for free from the Chinese Culture Center of San Francisco.

Year of the Rat 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008	Year of the Ox 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009	Year of the Tiger 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010	Year of the Rabbit 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011
Year of the Dragon 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012	Year of the Snake 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013	Year of the Horse 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014	Year of the Sheep/Ram/Goat 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015
Year of the Monkey 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016	Year of the Rooster 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017	Year of the Dog 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018	Year of the Pig 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019

ASTROLOGY IS A SCIENCE

An interesting article I came across today. Whether some would like to dismiss astrology as hokum pokum or say its evil and occult, its never going to go away, and why should it? As I see it if the moon is powerful enough to control the great oceans, it stands to reason, it must have an effect on us, after all we are 70% water. The general forecasts you see in newspapers and magazines are much too generalised and it's because of these Astrology does not get the credibility it rightly deserves. Before you follow the crowd and dismiss Astrology because of those generalised forecasts I urge you to have a proper natal chart and forecast done in detail, then you too will see what an incredible science Astrology is.

Astrology is a science, court rules

Astrology, the study of interplanetary alignments as the explanation for everything, is a credible science, an Indian court has ruled.

For years it has been dismissed by the world's scientists, but according to the Bombay High Court astrologers are officially their colleagues Photo: ALAMY

The judgment will be met with relief in India, where engagements are decided, wedding and election dates are chosen on the basis of detailed charts drawn up by revered astrologers. A day deemed "auspicious" by an astrologer can lead to thousands of weddings and traffic gridlock. For years it has been dismissed by the world's scientists, but according to the Bombay High Court astrologers are officially their colleagues. The ruling was made in a case brought by a campaign group, Janhit Manch, which sought a ruling against practitioners of "tantric" black magic and "fake" astrologers. Their "work" should be prohibited by India's Drugs and Megical Remedies Act (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954 which bans false claims in advertisements. The judges rejected the application, however, relying on an affidavit by Dr R Ramakrishna, a government deputy drug controller, who said: "The Act does not cover astrology and related sciences. Astrology is a trusted science and is being practised for over 4000 years." Lakshman Das Madan, one of India's leading astrologers and editor of the bestselling 'Babaji' magazine, offers detailed predictions ranging from domestic political tips on ministerial resignations to the wedding dates for top cricket stars. He remains hugely popular despite several errors. In 2009, he predicted the Hindu nationalist opposition BJP and its allies would win the election. In fact it lost spectacularly to its Congress rivals.

ASTROLOGY LUNAR ECLIPSE DECEMBER 10TH 2011


Total Lunar Eclipse December 10, 2011 The Moon passes right to left through the Earth's shadow

Remember how the moon controls the great oceans, it stands to reason with us humans being 70% water its going to affect us.

The Sun is in Sagittarius and the Moon is in Gemini during the total lunar eclipse on December 10.

A lunar eclipse is a time of beginnings, endings, exposure and major changes. It always has something to do with "relationships". The changes are tied to how we relate and will have a lasting impression. Emotions run high, causing upsets and feelings of disorientation. Actions taken often do not have the expected results, it can be very unpredictable, but they do bring awareness and enlightenment. The energy of an eclipse is at its strongest during the two days before and three days after its occurrence

Lunar eclipse is a very special Full Moon. Decisions we make, things we let go of, and things we finish during this waning cycle have significance in the future. It is an excellent time to give up an old habit, for example, smoking and a time for affirmations to make positive changes in your life

Full Moons in general, and Lunar eclipses in particular, are times of high emotion, and they bring awareness. The Sun and the Moon, our animus and our emotions, are on opposite sides of the sky, as if the other were a mirror. This is a time of mirroring, we can see ourselves in others if we are willing to look. Many are not. Either way the lunar eclipse is a time to take stock of our lives and make positive changes towards the life we want for ourselves. Remember Universal Laws. We can have whatever we wish, the only proviso is that it must not be detrimental to anyone else. The lunar eclipse is a very auspicious time to manifest this.

courtesy of:

Understanding Astrological Moon Signs

Astrological moon signs (or "signs of the Zodiac") are just as important as Sun signs, but not everyone pays attention to them. Moon signs are the next most planetary placement in a person's horoscope chart and are the moving cycle in the chart that helps define our emotions and make up the unconscious side of our personality. This is the place where we go to find comfort, peace and childhood memories. These signs also have an affect on our senses, such as sight, smell, taste, hearing and touch. They are all connected to our subconscious memories and affect us differently than the Sun's Zodiac signs. The twelve Zodiac moon signs can be divided into four groups: air, fire, earth and water.
Air - Gemini, Libra and Aquarius
The astrological moon signs of Gemini, Libra and Aquarius are a little different from the Sun signs because they deal with the emotions and feelings of a person. For instance, Gemini likes to acquire as much information as they can about a given situation and let others know what they have learnt. Their moon sign makes them avid talkers to get their feelings known. Libra's can please and appease. People born under this astrological moon sign have a deep feeling to be accepted. Aquarius' think first then verbalize to come to a good understanding.
Fire - Aries, Leo and Sagittarius
Aries, Leo and Sagittarius have their own way of reacting to their feelings when the moon is in the fire sign. Aries are:

very self assured

sure of their own actions

trust in other peoples competence For Leo, they make those under this sign attention seekers that tend to dramatize, but they are very deeply passionate when expressing emotion. For Sagittarians, their astrology moon sign tends to make them move around and explore. They also tend to take their own feelings and apply them to religion. Earth - Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn
The Zodiac signs of Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn go through different emotions. Taurus, when in their astrological moon sign, will try to defuse unwelcome situations because they like calm. Virgoans are organizers; they also like to find out what is going on by engaging in activities while determining what's happening. Those under the moon sign of Capricorn tend to control emotions. They tend to keep their feelings to themselves, making this the most complicated sign of all.
Water - Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces
For the astrological moon signs of Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces emotional expression becomes a must. Their sign makes them wants to take care and be taken care of. Their free expression of emotions becomes extremely important. While those in the moon sign of Scorpio can hold resentment for a lifetime if their emotions are not released, Pisces has a caring and tenderness and helps other people in need.