I recently watched Sean Penn's magnificent biographical drama of the life of Chris McCandless, described as an American wanderer who quite literally went "into the wild" to try and answer some inner impetus. I found the film to be profoundly moving (I don't care, I cried - a lot!) and I cannot recommend it highly enough; so if you haven't watched it yet, go rent it or buy it, then watch it, then get back and read the rest of this post.

So, if you're half way familiar with this young man's story then you will no doubt wonder what motivated him to feel such an overwhelming need to go "into the wild" at all, after all, he had a good life, good prospects, a future of genuine promise. His demise provokes real polarity in onlookers with the majority thinking that he was tragically driven by a surfeit of feeling and others preferring to consider him at best "an idiot" who got exactly what he deserved. (And who says there's no compassion left in the world!).

I cannot find his birth time, but actually it does not really matter, because there is one overwhelming factor in his astrology that simply cannot be understated; let us consider his chart:

Astrologers beware! I know that tee-square to Neptune looks enticing, and how can we gloss over the grand water trine, which actually forms a kite to Uranus for Pete's sake! and then too there's the opposing near partile conjunction of Mars with Chiron to consider; but all of these are mere appetisers when compared to the main event, peregrine Saturn in Aries.

Not for nothing is Saturn in Aries called the lone ranger position (by me mostly), and "the loneliness of the long-distance runner" has some ring of authenticity to it, but if ever there was an "into the wild" placement then people, this is it. The sign of Aries is all about adventure, solitude, strength and character, and wherever Saturn is found it makes a test. Peregrination, as you should understand if you want to help your clients whose charts evince it, creates an extreme polarity, it is like having only two volume settings on your stereo: totally silent or really forkin' loud! Or only having two speeds in your car, standstill or a thousand miles an hour! Now it stands to reason that if your car behaved like that you either would never go anywhere in your life or you'd create complete havoc when you did decide to take a trip to the shops. That is peregrination, trust me, it works every time.

So, for Chris McCandless he never really had any choice. Here then is not actually "an idiot who deserved everything that happened to him" but someone with an almost soul-destroying burden of astrology; Saturn peregrine is really tough, hey guys, Saturn is pretty tough even when it gets trines, so imagine not having anything to moderate that entire influence and having to express that exacting energy with every fibre of your being! In Chris' case he was switched into a particular mode of Saturnine/Arian expression, that of survival and going it alone, and this was motivated by a need to transform himself into a non-materialist free-spirit (tee-square to Neptune in Scorpio) and the grand water trine creates an emotional self-sufficiency and introversion that allowed him to feel secure within himself and which requires no external validation (a great insight into the grand trine experience by the way). If you watch the film and consider the manner of the ending too then it really speaks, does it not, to those themes of Mars/Chiron opposing Uranus/Pluto across the Virgo Pisces axis. Here are themes of recklessness in regard to nutrition and sustenance, with giving up on the world and trying to trust in something less tangible, with a need to very abruptly transform the self whilst simultaneously rejecting the pain of confused emotions.

These factors though only describe the mode of expression of the peregrination. Far more common, where Saturn is Aries is concerned, is the "fountain of youth" effect. Consider two further examples of peregrine Saturn in Aries, Twiggy and Kylie, both who have made a considerable career from their vivacious and youthful good-looks. Even to this day Twiggy is considered a role-model for ageing women wishing to retain some measure of youthful vitality. Here then is another expression of Aries (youth) configured with Saturn (old age). With Saturn in Aries this impetus is prevalent: no matter how you achieve it: it is either "forever young" or "into the wild". This is exactly why Saturn in Aries speaks to the loneliness of the long-distance runner, because it neatly encapsulates both principles to near perfection; you can actually don your running shoes and go into the wild, all the time fighting the signs of premature ageing by keeping your body in top condition. It is so good a rule that one of the first questions I ask anyone with Saturn Aries is: "did you start running yet?" They always do.

And before you wonder, I do have Saturn in Aries and I'm all signed up for the Hastings half marathon next spring, so I have to get out there and do my 5 miles, right now.

Rhona Cameron is a relatively little known comedienne, certainly beyond Britain's shores; I must confess that I am not especially familiar with her work, although I have seen a few snippets of her on television from time to time and I must say that I like her style. That's about as much as I can reliably report about Rhona Cameron as an observer. As an astrologer, I find her to be a very interesting case, with many fascinating facets to her nativity that bear examination, and her astrology is doubly informative since it combines a case of Cazimi Mercury in Libra - by a mere 1 minute and 47 seconds - configured in a grand trine with Pallas rising in Aquarius. Notably her chart evinces a second grand-trine upon inclusion of Vesta and a near-peregrine Mars in its traditional rulership of Scorpio.

If you listen to a few of the key themes discussed in her autobiography, you get a very clear idea of somebody who feels a need to discuss eighth house issues; unquestionably, the trine from her Cazimi Mercury in the 8th to Pallas rising gives her a great ability to express herself, she is quirky, offbeat and with Pallas rising, no doubt feisty too, but that need to express her comfortable self-awareness of forthright Aquarian difference is moderated by her powerful intellect and Libran impetus to harmony; so she will always mask her confusion and anguish, not for her own sake, but for everyone else's. Intriguingly, with Sun in LIbra and Moon in Scorpio, there is a distinct lack of power in her luminaries and it is ever a difficult combination (I know, because I share it) not least because at heart she is incisive, self-reliant and deeply passionate, but this must be suppressed under a graceful, near-indifferent persona. Moon in Scorpio is intensely emotional, while Sun in Libra dictates that we must appear anything but.

The Cazimi Mercury is remarkable because it is so very tight, while her Pallas rising gives her truly Palladian looks and a confident almost Martial and competent demeanour, and with both of these trining her North Node there is an easy ability to catch the Zeitgeist, to be in the way of things, to tap along comfortably with the tunes of the moment. Here then is a grand trine that combines dazzling intellect, harmonious selfhood, a pleasing and able self-expression and a real insight into the mood of society at large, that in the air triplicity and with Pallas in wacky Aquarius gives a real comedic competence (Robin Williams too has Pallas in Aquarius). The grand trine is always informative; it represents a pattern of behaviour that flows so easily that we become self-sufficient, in that triplicity and energy structure we no longer require external validation or approval; this is why a grand trine is both a blessing and a curse. It allows us to capitalise on the positive benefits subjectively although from the point of view of personal evolution there is not much incentive to progress in those areas. With Rhona's grand air trine falling across the first, fourth and eighth houses there is clearly an emphasis on intensely personal experience, on deep and often uncomfortable areas of one's innermost being, but Rhona finds it so natural and easy to make these issues light, airy and mentally endearing that she may therefore avoid the more serious implications of such a configuration. This dark-side is neatly encapsulated in the partile conjunction of Uranus - Pluto in Virgo riding on the cusp of the 8th; an aspect that speaks to transformative revolution, the science, if you like, of self-realisation. This opposes the Saturn conjunction to Chiron, thus she "farms out" the pain that has wounded her when her father died of Cancer (circa 1979), with this configuration stressing the 2nd and 8th axis I don't doubt that her father's death made a serious financial impact on her formative years too and this speaks fundamentally to values, about money, about a Spartan attitude to life but she will probably not fully address the fallout from that scenario until she learns to go past the easygoing, flighty allure of her grand air trine; something that she is probably doing right about now, with Uranus transiting her radix Chiron and Pluto grinding menacingly through the 12th. No need to mention that the death of her father, when Saturn opposed itself and tipped over into her 8th house as she approached 14 years of age, is the key theme of her nativity in my view.

With all the 9th house placements lending a bubbly, fun-loving and deceptively philosophical slant to her outlook on the world, Rhona's positivity is not an act, and her Mars, peregrine - although configured to Chiron - is significant so close to the Midheaven. She may well switch on to her power, providing she can integrate the painful lesson of her father's tragic death, and discover a real determined power in her career as a result.

Evidently, Rhona's career is in something of a hiatus, and with Pluto still 5 years from her Ascendant I don't expect her to be making much headway until it surfaces in the first and starts to make its way to her Pallas placement sometime thereafter.

One last point of interest; Jupiter in Cancer in the 6th falls on the (Cardinal) Aries Point. This I believe to be the source of her modest fame; it falls in the 6th house of occupation and she has achieved a measure of success as a comedienne, and with the sign of Cancer being so prominent, it is small wonder that one her best known routines, concerns her breasts and her "home-baking" accent. And very funny it is too.

The Sun in Cancer is sextile Saturn in Virgo in the wee hours Wed. --Looks good for adopting a health or diet regimen, altho the Moon in self-indulgent Pisces can sabotage any serious diet. But try to make some painless substitutions, like oatmeal for any sugar or corn syrup loaded cereal, or just go back to plain coffee instead of calorie-loaded lattes and cappucinos, and maybe herb tea instead of any corn-syrup sweetened pop. Any of those will get you moving in the right direction.

Pluto has retrograded back into Sagittarius. Remember late last summer when several sports stars were getting busted for steroids, or execs forced to retire or celebs in entertainment and religion were having to pay the piper for their transgressions? There may be another phase like that from mid-June till December, when Pluto finally re-enters Capricorn again. Pluto is probably a factor in Tiger Woods’ injury which put him out of action for the summer at least - and I bet we will see season-ending injuries to several other major sports stars, too, maybe more gambling scandals, and maybe a few who will just retire for whatever reason. A rapper got off this past week in a child porn case (offering proof that his head was pasted on another body) but other celebs may not be so lucky in court and will have to do time like Paris Hilton did last year.

Readers can follow not only their Sun sign horoscope but also the sign of their Ascendant for further clues to how your week will develop

ARIES - March 20-April 19 - The Moon enters your sign late Wed. and stays thru the wee hours Sat. Aries likes the weather hot hot hot, so I hope you get your wish and please wear a hat or other protection against the sun. Your Moon squares Sun-Venus Thurs. and then sextiles Mercury; maybe a bit of battle of the wills ensues at home, because this is in your solar fourth house. Maybe dad and sis want you to do X for them, and you have contracts to do Y all thru the summer, so you got a problem. I suggest you talk over their plans and tell them what it ought to cost them to hire a contractor, and give them a referral. Tho you probably have energy to spare to do this job on the weekend, they don’t have a right to bully you into anything or lay on a guilt trip. Besides I think you will get some overtime coming thru on Friday.

TAURUS - April 20-May 20 - - The Moon enters your sign in the wee hours Sat., just in time for a fun, indulgent weekend. Sounds like a great weekend for planting in the garden and then a get-together with good friends and lots of music. I say this because the Moon trines Saturn in Virgo (another earth sign) Sat. morn, meaning hard work in the dirt; possibly you get creative in laying out an herb or veggie garden, and don’t forget to feed the earth with some rotted manure. Plant a few flats of flowers for the soul, too; I find that impatiens is a very forgiving plant that blooms in sun or shade, and cosmos blooms right thru frost. Pallas in your sign is moving toward a trine to Jupiter in Capricorn; become the authority in your field, get your blog signed up with Technorati, start a blog is you don’t have one and make sure that it is one that Google can find articles on!

GEMINI - May 21-June 20 - Pluto is retrograding back into your solar seventh house and will not go back to Capricorn (your solar eighth) till December. Possibly you have been promised some bequest earlier this year, but the estate matters won’t be settled till fall and you won’t see a check till December or even next year. Be patient, the wheels grind slowly. Sun, Venus and Ceres are in your second house, Cancer; any garage sales you have planned this year should be held this month, especially now that Mercury is direct. You may also find something you really need, too, while chatting with customers. A bit of windfall may come to you at work Wed. when the Moon conjuncts Uranus, possibly when the computer acts up and you save the days’ work with a nifty little geek trick. Well done!

CANCER - June 21-July 22 - - Ceres is most at home in your sign and she will be there thru mid-August. Taking care of others, and taking charge in emergencies, come very naturally to you. Cancer is a natural executive who is also very sensible, so I hope that you offer your talents to a local organization, church or food bank, because it has become abundantly clear that we cannot depend on the federal government for help in crises. Home repair or rebuilding might be an avenue you can make a difference in, too. Do you work out of your home? I ask because Vesta is in your solar tenth house and Vesta can be rather reclusive -- she just like to set things up for her comfort at home and is quite content in her cocoon. National news, world events might be very upsetting to you personally on Wed. Try to keep a perspective, and act locally. The North Node, Chiron and Neptune are all clustered together in your solar eighth house; possibly you are getting involved in alternative health, maybe even you’re studying to be a practitioner yourself. But I feel that if you investigate this area that you will benefit dramatically yourself, and will influence others to try it too. It turns out the folk wisdom has a lot of scientific basis to it after all.

LEO - July 23-Aug. 22 - This is very interesting: Mars is just about in an exact grand trine with Vesta in Aries and Pluto in Sagittarius. Mars trine Pluto should give you great endurance in sports. Pluto is transformative, but your personal goal is best oriented to the greater good rather than personal benefit. Paradoxically, you will benefit personally far more if you do that rather than just try to grab more for yourself from the outset. You’re a natural and courageous leader, and Vesta in Aries accents that even more, but your courage is stronger if based in protecting the weak rather than in proving your bravado.

VIRGO - Aug. 23-Sept. 22 - Now that Saturn has been in your sign a while, maybe the burdens it brought are starting to feel lighter. This week it sextiles the Sun, Venus and Ceres all clustered together in Cancer, your solar eleventh house. Can you offer your services to an organized group, or even run for office? This group can be anything from a local Scouting pack to a charitable or environmental non-profit, to even an online group or your coffee circle. Saturn is responsibility and Virgoes are so responsible even when Saturn isn’t in their sign. It’s time the world knew how wonderful and capable you are.

LIBRA - Sept. 23-Oct. 22 - Your solar fifth house of creativity, Aquarius, has been visited by the North Node, Neptune and more recently Chiron, and looking forward to July, Mercury will trine these planets and talk about your creative works. Don’t be surprised if you even get national attention! Neptune rules the arts in general, but especially dance, music, painting, poetry. Chiron seems to suggest that the art will comment on the wounding of the world’s soul by oh, everything, war, famine, lost loves, everything. Sun and Venus in your tenth house should bring a pleasurable month in the workplace; you are appreciated and small signs and favors come your way.

SCORPIO - Oct. 23-Nov. 21 - Neptune and Chiron in the solar fourth house don’t look so good to me; hope you are not one of those caught in the wave of bad news about spring flooding. I feel that even if you are, that it will prove to be a blessing in disguise and you will wind up in the right place for you. Pallas in your opposite sign suggests that your partner (business or spouse) will be a rock to you, a source of boons and encouragement. A woman, especially a strong woman (Juno) who has her own business, will be a good source of financial advice also in these stressful, changing times.

SAGITTARIUS - Nov. 22-Dec. 21 - Geez, if you got into the house-flipping trade when the flipping was good, and got caught in the subprime squeeze, all your hard work could get wiped out by Pluto as it retrogrades back into your sign. This Pluto is forming a grand trine with Mars in Leo and Vesta in Aries, so possibly the remedies put in place by the federal government will help some people save their homes. Maybe you will be one of the lucky ones. Maybe you will have to put the house in someone else’s name to save it, but it is better than lying vacant. Best of luck to you.

CAPRICORN - Dec. 22-Jan. 19 - You may have to give your money away in order to keep control of it. No, really. Setting up a trust fund is how all the super-rich families have held onto their wealth. OK, maybe you are not in that rare company. But setting up some kind of fund to benefit your grandchildren will allow the fund to appreciate and outlast the current trying times in the stock market. Lots of electronic messages this week, not just mundane stuff but things that affect you emotionally like family news. Possibly it will be news of an addition to the family tree.

AQUARIUS - Jan. 20-Feb. 17 - The Moon is in your sign Sun.-Mon. The Moon trines Mercury which is finally direct, on Sun. morn -- Maybe you feel like going for a Sun. drive (in spite of gas prices) or finding a great place for brunch OR stealing some time to work on creative writing, a blog, or book collaboration. On Monday the Moon is conjunct Neptune which might be a fine time to try incubating a dream (on Sun. night) -- see dream.ca for instructions. Your spouse might not be in a great mood Mon. morn, so maybe you could try incubating “how to create harmony in the marriage”. The Moon’s last aspect Mon. afternoon is a sextile to Pluto in Sagittarius -- Do you have influential friends in charitable organizations or other groups? It might be time to pass the torch to a new generation of members, and that just might be you.

PISCES - Feb. 18-March 19 - The Moon trines the Sun late Mon. and then Venus early Tues. in Cancer --Better to busy in the home than retreat into a carton of Ben&Jerry’s. Those guys are very comforting, I know, but you can’t afford the calories now. The Moon is conjunct Uranus on Wed. in your sign. This often brings some emotional upset, even if the cause has no real effect on your life. It may be that some passersby is very rude; just count ten or meditate on Zen. Others’ bad manners have nothing to do with you, so drop thoughts of revenge.

Here's a good question to ask all your hip café-crowd real-world friends next time you're congregating for lattés and croissants down the King's Road: what do Jimmy Page, Annie Lennox and Carole King all have in common? Now the appeal of this question is that everyone is going to have an answer; they're all iconic musicians, they each defined something of the cultural ambience of their time, they were all somehow credible and meaningful in their art, the list goes on but I'll bet that nobody is going to pipe up with the fact that they all share a Cazimi Mercury!

Cazimi, an ancient term used in Arabic astrology to determine a placement within "the heart of the Sun" is rare because it requires a partile (exact) conjunction of a planet to Sol, the closer the better, in the tradition of Persian star-lore any conjunction of less than 17 minutes will be purified and exalted, although in practise, greater orbs than this appear to on occasion offer some remarkable power to the conjunction.

Whilst a Cazimi placement can refer to any planet in partile conjunction with the Sun, the commonest placement is that to Mercury who never strays more than 28° from the Sun's place on the ecliptic. Often, this configuration confers true genius in some area or other, consider these 10 fascinating examples:

1. Alan Watts' Cazimi Mercury in Capricorn (see this article for a full discussion).
2. Montgomery of Alamein's too, in Scorpio (see this article for a full discussion).
3. Oprah Winfrey's Cazimi Venus (at less than a minute of latitude!) in offbeat Aquarius.
4. Donna Summer's Cazimi Jupiter in Capricorn, in the 5th house of songwriting.
5. Ed Moses' Cazimi Venus in beautifully precise Virgo.
6. Meryl Streep's Cazimi Uranus in mimic and actor friendly Gemini.
7. Alicia Silverstone's Cazimi Pluto. There's her source of hidden power!
8. Kevin Costner's Cazimi Chiron (he always did seem sensitive somehow...)
9. Tony Blair, Yehudi Menuhin, Dan Rather and George Patton all shared a Cazimi Pallas!
10. And how about Denzel Washington's Cazimi North Node? Denzel's chart is remarkable for about 10 different reasons, so I shall definitely be writing a future article on his astrology!

Today though I want to focus on the function of Cazimi Mercury in the charts of iconic musicians, and we shall begin by looking at Carole King, whose 1971 album Tapestry is considered one of the great works of the singer/songwriter story and is ranked at #36 in the Rolling Stone Top 500 albums of all time list.

Evidently the grand-trine between dreamy Neptune conjunct the fame-inducing Aries point, Uranus in comfort-loving, rich and mellow Taurus (which rules the voice of course) and the point of competence of Pallas conjunct the IC show a great triangle of talent, but King's ability to hint at the profound shows a measure of Aquarian genius which is expressed through her Cazimi Mercury in the home-loving 4th; there is a gentle, lilting and safe quality, a tremulous hearkening to warm Sunday afternoon's sat cosily watching the rain outside in her music, and there is no questioning her intelligence as a songwriter: "Will you love me tomorrow?" sung by such diverse talents as Roberta Flack and Amy Winehouse, "The Loco-Motion" (you remember when Kylie was only taken seriously by 7 year olds?) and "(You make me feel) like a natural woman" were all penned by King in addition to her own internationally recognised hits. With no easy aspect to the Su/Me placement there is plenty of drive to express its quality, and once it reaches the Uranus apex of the grand trine, that energy flows serenely out into the world.

Jimmy Page has been described as "unquestionably one of the all-time most influential, important, and versatile guitarists and songwriters in rock history" by AllMusic and Rolling Stone ranked him at #9 in the Top 100 greatest guitarists ever list too; so there is no doubting his pedigree. Mercury of course rules the hands and if we look at Jimmy's chart we see that not only his Mercury Cazimi, but the conjunction with Sol is also peregrine! This means that the conjunction of Sun and Mercury makes no Ptolemaic aspect with any other planet, it is what Noel Tyl calls a "Peregrine Island", and unquestionably it gives Page's hands an almost superhuman and exalted ability to create structure, his fingers exaltedly communicate his message with almost overwhelming power and perfection. Think of the nature of Capricorn, think of that being Cazimi, think of it being Peregrine and you can well imagine the countless hours of building up of working slowly, carefully and methodically toward the summit of peak Mercurial experience and expression until one day his unparalleled power and magnificence could shine out and dazzle the world. And you only watch Jimmy give forth the opening bars of White Summer in the Albert Hall performance of 1970 to see how very apt that is.

Annie Lennox is the one person from this list that I have actually met (over breakfast in a hotel in Kings Lynn many years ago), and her reputation, initially as a singer and songwriter with the Tourists, the Eurythmics and latterly in her solo career has arguably to an extent been eclipsed by her poster-child status for the feminist movement, since she encompasses a near-archetypal lyrical, vocal and enduring power that somewhat transcends her role as a musician. She recently won an Academy Award for best song, written for the closing credits of the movie The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003).

Annie's chart is remarkable in many ways; without the inclusion of Chiron it evinces no oppositions, and her Cazimi Mercury is in Peregrine, the same as Jimmy Page's, but her Moon is also Peregrine, a remarkable combination when you consider that her three most personal planets have almost no relationship with any other factor in her astrology. The message here is clearly one of isolation, and in the sign of Capricorn there is a "go it alone" mentality on the lonely road to success. It is reported that her childhood as an only child of a poverty-wracked family living among the shipyards of Aberdeen was unhappy and lonely because her father, overprotective of her interests, limited her independence. Her time at the Royal Academy of Music in London was similarly described as lonely, and there is a haunting note of loneliness or a certain apartness in Annie's life which is strongly resonant in her music too. Capricorn is tough, it creates often harsh conditions, but especially it creates structure and Annie's icy, chiselled bone structure is manifest in her iconically Capricornian good looks. Cheekbones like that define structure after all. And the pure peaks of her vocal range are almost unmatched in popular music. The disconnect of her personal planets from her wider nativity is an excellent example of the power of Peregrination in practise, here we see undiluted and startlingly pure Capricorn energy and once again we see the sheer, almost primal power of Peregrination at work, add to this the Cazimi factor and you have a voice of unremitting power and purity.

As we've noted, Mars in Leo makes one point of the trine; this is the epitome of Self-motivation toward fulfilling one's own interests and for one's potential glory. This is a heady influence for the ego, but an excellent source if we're called upon to be brave, to speak and assert on our own behalf, and if we are called upon to act in such a way that the spotlight falls upon us, we are prepared. Under the right circumstances, this can fuel enormous personal leaps forward, and under less controlled influences, may see egos run amok; the difference is in what will be accomplished in the end--if there's a positive goal other than simple glory for the Self in sight, the you're on the right track.

Another point of the trine is made by Vesta in Aries. This is the energy of the sacred, that which we dedicate ourselves to; it also represents the fire of the hearth and home, and the fire of sexuality; what burns in the presence of Vesta is the constant of our core comfort and the heat of divine connection. That which we revere is represented by our Vesta; as part of a Grand Trine in Fire, it demands that any action taken be respectful of those subjects, acts, and relationships we deem sacred. If we try to act without reference to Vesta while the Grand Trine is in effect, we will experience an intimate repugnance at our attempt to violate our own most important connection to the divine.

The last point of the trine is an Earth/ Pluto conjunction in Sagittarius. Earth and Pluto join in Fire and the effect is that of a volcano--where in your life is the material world insisting on upheaval that seems unnecessarily violent and yet you know, when the situation 'cools,' that the landscape will have a new shape, and newly formed territory for our use? Where does change and transformation in your life call for personal action on your part? Pinpoint the area(s), and then choose carefully what actions you will take and accept from others, as the sense of the sacred must be respected. What is destroyed, in this case, makes room for the new. If you can juggle all these points of Fire, you can make leaps forward that will surprise you with their effectiveness.

This is quite an interesting week as far as working with asteroids in astrology goes. Chiron is conjunct the North Node at 21 degrees Aquarius (plus it will sextile Juno), Venus moves into Cancer where it joins Ceres (conjunct on the 22nd), Vesta in Aries sextiles the North Node-Neptune and makes a Grand Trine with Mars in Leo and Moon-Pluto-Juno in Sagittarius. I feel that Venus-Ceres in Cancer will prompt people to not only grow some of their own food, but also put up some produce for the winter, especially sweet things (Venus) like jams. You can find a recipe for easy freezer strawberry jam here at http://minnieapolis.newsvine.com/_news/2008/06/07/1552025-easy-freezer-strawberry-jam-for-newbies?r=643198883&threadId=282409&cmt=1962063#c1962063.

The Fire sign trine will probably prompt some to take the plunge to explore new worlds for themselves -- this can include anything from a hiking trip (preferably with a guide) to contributing to the Mars lander project. Mars in Leo is a very brave placement, so you could step outside your comfort zone (WAY outside) and even have to face down a wild animal or a crowd.

Juno was conjunct Pluto in May, but now it helps form the Grand Trine, plus the Moon is in Sag from June 16-18. This is a very emotionally deep, heavy placement, when Sags have to reach down deep into their samurai core and challenge themselves. This may mean they have to allow themselves to be transformed, and change their way of thinking, if they are to survive. Juno may signify a mentor or advisor who helps you achieve the breakthrough.
I recommend the excellent book on Chiron by Barbara Hand Clow.
Readers can follow not only their Sun sign horoscope but also the sign of their Ascendant for further clues to how your week will develop

ARIES - March 20-April 19 - You may feel the urge to go on a personal Quest (with a capital Q), either alone or as a guide for others who are on a Quest. Those who are not in this field as a business may merely want to go camping and get away from it all for awhile. Security is another possible interpretation -- so maybe you will provide security for a group traveling the globe. I see you working with a woman tour group director; give her all due respect because she is a stronger person than you might think.

TAURUS - April 20-May 20 - The Nodes are at the top and bottom of your chart as they transit thru Leo and Aquarius. Career options can open up for you in alternative health, possibly in massage which is a very Taurean career. Experiment with music as an adjunct to treatment for yourself and others. Mars conjunct the South Node may mean your health is at a low ebb; conserve your energy and force yourself to rest. Low-impact yoga, with soothing flutes and mellow strings in the background, looks like a good option now to help restore your energy.

GEMINI - May 21-June 20 - The Sun in late degrees of Gemini favor writing and other messages. Try to finish up that book or post those blog notes now. Mercury, your ruling planet, will go direct on Thurs. morn -- but hold off decisions on choosing an agent or publisher till better info comes in after the 28th. Your Sun sextiles Vesta in Aries; if making travel plans, consider that traveling with a tour group offers greater security than traveling solo. Find out how experienced the travel guide or operator is; this can make a big difference. Look up reviews on Trip Advisor or other travel sites for the consumer. You might also consider a vacation at a spa or other health resort for a very positive experience.

CANCER - June 21-July 22 - Happy birthday to Cancer natives! Not only does the Sun enter your sign (Friday) but Venus, too, (on Wed. morn) bringing all kinds of soft, sweet things like compliments or a visit to the beauty salon. Venus is also joining Ceres in your sign, where it is very at home. You might feel the sudden urge to hit the kitchen after picking strawberries (at their peak now) and put up some jams. (See link at http://minnieapolis.newsvine.com/_news/2008/06/07/1552025-easy-freezer-strawberry-jam-for-newbies?r=643198883&threadId=282409&cmt=1962063#c1962063.) Duties may fall on your shoulders if the boss takes off on his summer vacation; you are a capable executive and administrator, and you project a positive, encouraging influence on your workers this month.

LEO - July 23-Aug. 22 - Mars in Leo receives trines from Vesta in Aries and Juno-Pluto-Moon stellium June 16-18 -- PLUS there is a Full Moon in Sagittarius on Wednesday! Mars here is a very brave placement, and I think it’s very possible you will find out how brave you are. Maybe you just step outside your comfort zone, maybe you go hiking and have to face down a rattler or puma, or maybe you just have to brave the crowds at a big sale! Be prepared for anything. At any rate, you will emerge stronger and with a great story to tell by the fireside.

VIRGO - Aug. 23-Sept. 22 - The Moon moves into Capricorn, trining your sign, from late Wed. thru early Sat. You won’t feel much like giving-receiving affection early eve on Wed. (please do accept it with good grace as it was probably very hard to approach you and say those magic words). Later that night is good for getting down to dirty jobs. Thursday you’re out of sorts -- Mercury goes direct but is still confused by emotional messages. Friday morn you’re in a great mood tho, as the Moon conjuncts Jupiter -- just avoid shopping or you might blow the budget.

LIBRA - Sept. 23-Oct. 22 - Mercury goes direct in your solar ninth house this week -- Perhaps you have had promises from a publisher fall thru, or run into printing snags over the past month. Now things will start to get back on track tho patience may be needed. Mercury is still confused till the 28th; this is called the Mercury Storm. Go into wait-and-see mode while you gather data and seek a respected advisor.

SCORPIO - Oct. 23-Nov. 21 - The Moon is in your sign over the weekend till early Monday. You’ll enjoy being the family’s anchor on Father’s Day, receiving your just desserts. Some real desserts (Venus trine) would not be a bad idea, either, in your humble opinion. Scorpios like to challenge themselves, and believe me, being a dad is a challenge every day. Give every thanks to dad this Sunday and every day. We are so fortunate in this generation to have the increased longevity to benefit from our parents both materially and spiritually.
With the Nodes conjunct Marts and Neptune and squaring your sign, I think your energy will be low this month so take care to conserve and ration. Doing some laps in the pool sounds like a good idea, but this is not the time to try to set any records.

SAGITTARIUS - Nov. 22-Dec. 21 - Pluto lingers at the very end of your sign, with Pluto possibly signaling the beginning or end of a career for religious or spiritual leaders, athletes, actors, lucky gamblers. The Moon is there also this week (Full Moon on Wed.), so look who’s in the public eye or on the front pages of the paper. Juno, the strong woman or partner-spouse, was conjunct that Pluto in May, but now she retrogrades into the Grand Trine with other fire sign visitors Mars and Vesta. Your partnership may enter a new phase, as you chart a new course or even switch places. The Sun opposing Pluto on Friday makes me say that, which I take to mean that Sag steps away from the spotlight and yields to the partner.

CAPRICORN - Dec. 22-Jan. 19 - The Moon enters your sign late Wed. and stays thru late Fri. This week you start a new diet or other discipline, probably no sugar or corn syrup, with only occasional home-made jams so you know what you’re eating. You may mis-speak on Thurs. and have to clarify later. You’re in a great Jupiter conjunct Moon mood on Fri. morn; could it be that you’re anticipating the good news that afternoon?
Happy Summer Solstice Friday! The Dragon Project found that the quartz megaliths such as those found in stone circles, emit an ultrasonic sound when sunlight hits them at sunrise on the Solstice or Equinox. Maybe you can plan to be near some large rocks at sunrise this year.

AQUARIUS - Jan. 20-Feb. 17 - The Moon enters your sign Sat. morn -- where it is inconjunct the Sun, Saturn, then Venus. Inconjunctions favor creative pursuits, so this one suggests working on a family scrapbook, taking the old photos and putting them in a beautiful new volume. It also suggests carving and other artistic crafts that last a long time. Is there a piece of art that has been handed down over the years? It might be worthwhile to get it appraised and see if it has anything more than sentimental value.
The North Node, Chiron and Neptune are clustered together in your sign, too. Have you been experimenting with alternative health or sound therapy? Even listening to a Bach fugue has been known to be therapeutic, you know. Follow your inclination in these areas because I am sure they will help you.

PISCES - Feb. 18-March 19 - Sun and Venus moving into your solar fifth house suggest you will get busy putting up jams and other sweet items. It is strawberry season, you know. And trekking with the whole family out to a pick-your-own farm is great fun and easy exercise. Pallas in Taurus in your solar third house suggests that contacts are key this week -- call up people to touch base and you might be surprised what you learn. These contacts can be people from school, the old neighborhood, relatives. The Moon-Pluto-Juno in your solar tenth house means that a very demanding boss is not going to let you off easy, but you will gain increasing competence.

The spirit of Taurus is of the Earth itself; when the Warrior Queen enters the sign of the Bull, she puts aside her armor, leaves the battlefield, and returns to the source of sustenance and creation. This is represented by Taurus as the sign of the fields, of gardens and growth (though agriculture is Virgo--why?--because Taurus is the seed, the act of planting that is akin to faith, while Virgo is the gathering in on a large scale of the product); as well, Taurus is the actual soil things grow in, and as such she is the sign that represents those crafts and artisanal skills that are quite literally of the Earth and its products, such as sculpting, pottery, cooking, the fashioning of jewelry, and use of stone and wood to build.

Pallas steps onto the fertile Earth, and a set of talents entirely different than those we've seen during her time in Aries come forward. Pallas is an indicator of practical and artisanal abilities herself, and when in Taurus she becomes the pair of hands that deals skillfully with all that the Earth produces. She is also a businesswoman, and as such will deal in Taurus with the material, the tangible, with the real estate (in its most expansive sense) of each one of us. She will help us re-build, help us find a home, bring us to fertile ground, in one sense or another.

When she enters Taurus she creates a Grand Trine with Saturn and Pluto, and should aid in recovery from all the devastation that the Earth and her inhabitants have been experiencing. This aid will be practical and beautiful; Pallas is nothing if not wise in her choices. To respect Pallas is to honor our own wise inner voice, as well as our most useful skills and abilities. For this week long period, we'll see some of the most meaningful steps being taken in building, planting, with energies rising Phoenix-like from Mother Earth. Check the House in the natal chart where this will occur for you to know where best to apply your Taurus and Pallas oriented efforts--you can make significant strides during the week long trine, and can exercise the wisdom of Pallas Athena in all Earth-related matters as she helps us move forward toward a productive and bountiful summer.

When I started work this morning, I was oblivious to the impact of the “grand trine” on my life. Most of the people I spoke to were acting normal–as normal as they ever act. Nobody made a pass at me in the local coffee shop or next to the red lead lettuce at Kroger.

While checking e-mail, I was about to delete the Tarot.com newsletter, when I noticed that today is a day of “all manner of sensual pleasures.” So that’s why the coffee tasted better than usual, why the sun seemed hot to trot, and the birds and bees were, well, busier than usual.

I called up several trusted local officials and asked them if anyone had been arrested “on the street” for being Under the Influence of the Grand Trine (UIGT). “Frankly,” they said, “we don’t go in for all that grand trine nonsense but we’re sure there’s a law against it.”

“But what about Saturn and Pluto?” I asked. “According to informed sources, they’re having their way with Venus.”

“That’s outside of our jurisdiction,” I was told. I was also told not to call back.

I asked my wife if she wanted to go on a grand trine date and she reminded me that as of 2:41 pm (EDT) I hadn’t started mowing the lawn yet. So much for Saturn and Pluto in our neighborhood.

For the purposes of research, I contacted the local chapter of the Everleigh Ladies of the Evening Association (ELEA) and asked if they were offering a “grand trine special.” When they said it would cost $1,000 (via PayPal) to find out, I hung up and was so disgusted that I tore the ELEA refrigerator magnet off the door of our Kenmore Coldspot and rammed it down the garbage disposal.

Subsequently, my wife informed me that when I got done mowing the lawn, I could go out and buy a new garbage disposal and install it before we had remnants of the red leaf lettuce to grind up.

Had I not flunked out of Astrology 101, all of this grant trine stuff might make sense. Sad to say, May 1 is zooming by past my window at flank speed and I’ve been wasting it looking for romance in all the wrong places.

If you, dear reader, have had one or more grand trine experiences, please don’t tell me about them.

Copyright (c) 2008 with some hesitation by Malcolm R. Campbell. I invite you to take a look at my new book trailer for “The Sun Singer” and see if it isn’t more fun than speculating about Saturn and Pluto

Venus trines Pluto May 1, 2008 @ 3:44:34 AM EDT
Venus trines Saturn May 1, 2008 @ 6:19 34 PM EDT

There is a Grand Trine on May 1. It includes Venus -- trine Pluto --- trine Saturn.

This is the same as the Grand Trine of April 20-- which instead of Venus, included the Sun and Mercury as the 3rd point of the triangle. (The trines are the darker blue lines, sextiles are lighter blue.) So this Grand Trine including Venus is a continuation of recent events, with a new theme.

The change of April to May this year is a special moment. The Moon in Pisces will create a quick Kite to the Grand Trine as the early Pisces Moon opposes Saturn (stationing Direct) in Virgo. The distance we feel, and any sense of lack and alienation can also be part of a greater spiritual awakening, a deeper look at ourselves and how we interact, how we give, what we expect, and what we get. It is our choice, whether to hold on tight to feeling bad or to begin a process of learning to relax, release, and center ourselves. Being responsible now means being centered, not overreacting emotionally, keeping it calm so you can think clearly at all times; looking beyond blaming others and accepting our responsibility/ability for things to flow smoothly.

With Venus as part of this Grand Trine to Saturn (as it stations Direct) and Pluto, you may find yourself working in a way that is focussed and concentrated, and possibly alone. It can be an ideal time to do creative work that draws on your inner self and accesses your deep intuitive creativity in a way that is disciplined, relaxed, and precise. Take your time.

The Grand Trine with Saturn stationing Direct comes at time when it is time to get serious about your talents. How ARE you going to market yourself? Exact, what are the steps? There's no need it ALL alone, but you have to take the first step on your own-- without blaming anyone else for the results. This may not be easy. If you are feeling and projecting hate, you will feel the hate coming back to you, very strong during this Grand Trine configuration-- so strong it can be debilitating. However--- you can consciously choose LOVE over hate, and breathe LOVE into the mix, sending and receiving more LOVE. What you send out, LOVE or HATE, is recirculating now.

This can be a good time for thinking seriously and practically about making major purchases or investments. The investments you make now are likely to be long-term and relatively safe, but you may have a strong yearning to beautify and improve things from the bottom up. If you're not sure, a trusted professional may be able to guide you as you take things apart and put them back togeher, even better.

In relationships, this can be a time you want to get deeper, more seriously and spiritually. What is the purpose of your relationship? Is there a commitment, and if so, is it deep enough to bear the realities of living every day? What can you do to improve and understand your sexuality on a deeper level? This is a time you can re-generate a relationship. But the commitment has go both ways.

You can stretch it to call this a Kite to Neptune-North Node. A KITE occurs when one of the planets in a Grand Trine has a planet opposing it. The opposing planet then also sextiles (60 degrees) the other 2 planets in the Grand Trine. Neptune sextiles Venus and Pluto and opposes Saturn (or it did last year). This is a wide sextile (6 degrees) and out of sign because it's separating and moving out of orb. Usually, aspects are between signs of the same element. However, the Moon passing through early Taurus on May 4th, the same day that the North Node and Neptune are conjunct, not only lengthens the time the KITE is in effect, it makes this KITE more influential, if subtly.

When an aspect is out of sign, it is a few degrees into the next or previous sign. Counting by degrees apart, it is a sextile aspect (60 degrees apart). Yet, the planets are not in the same element. In this case, the Grand Trine is in Earth. Neptune and the North Node are conjunct in Aquarius, an AIR sign (a perfect KITE would include a planet in WATER opposing one of the Earth sign planets). Out-of-sign aspects can make any aspect less potent. It can also give it more perspective which can give it a notable influence. Since Neptune rules oil and Venus carries the theme of money, we can see that the price of oil has the support (sextiles) to rise. So does everything Neptunian. Including people with strong Neptune placements in their charts.

This Kite is an old story. In this Grand Trine chart, the Kite is based on the separating opposition of Saturn to Neptune. It was exact from August 2006-June/July 2007. So this is old business reappearing. With the help of the Grand Trine, perhaps we can figure out more about sustainable business practices that benefit everyone. Or, we can find ourselves stuck in a rut that keeps going round and round.

Neptune is also conjunct North Node as the focal point of a KITE. If you have faith, you just might meet someone who upgrades and sustains your life in some crucial way. This is a time to delve into your spirituality, regardless of the price or lack of funding.

When the Sun and Mercury joined the Saturn-Pluto trine to create a Grand Trine, Mars was approaching an opposition to Jupiter. The Moon was Full. The energy was fast-paced, which can be challenging for an Earth Grand Trine that includes Saturn and Pluto, both slow and thorough movers. So you seem to spin your wheels, trying to make things happen, for real.

As Venus enters Taurus and joins the circle (the Sun and Mercury have moved past the Trine), it can be time to slow down and add some financial reality and clarity to your manifesting formula.

Feelings can get intense this week, especially if there's something you deeply want and see someone else enjoying, while you feel denied the same pleasure or success. Or perhaps you feel a pang of jealousy when your loved one has any affectionate feelings for another.

Current Grand Trines do not make this an easy time to create change in your life. No matter how much you say you want change, the hold of the status quo is compelling. Even if you have complaints, you can be comfortable in your situation, or have more fear of change than of continuing, despite the parts you don't like.

Limitations have a purpose, which is why we encounter them. And what makes us feel limited? Shame. Some shame is healthy. Most of it is toxic. And the result of too much shame is self-sabotaging patterns that keep you stuck. So every time something positive happens, somehow you ruin it. In astrology, psychological patterns are represented by patterns like Grand Trines, T-Squares, Grand Crosses. These patterns are compelling. They can keep us stuck in ruts that feel natural, yet we suppress our talents, our thoughts. Why are we afraid to spread our wings and show our beauty? Because many of us are afraid that we're going to do something "stupid" that works against our best interests.

So what if that's true? What if you shared and were rejected? What if you really do still have more work to do? What if you need more practice doing something you love? We may have to push ourselves further to get the results we envision. But that just means there's still more of ourselves we can explore, more gifts we can develop, enjoy, and share. As long as you refuse to grow, you will keep repeating a pattern, no matter how much you complain about it. It's not complaining that changes lives. The resistance you encounter is your unwillingness to change. WHY? Because change always involves some adjustment, which may not feel immediately familiar or comfortable. We'd rather be miserable with what we know than uncomfortable with what we don't. We can make other choices.

If you're serious about changing or improving anything, you will have to make a commitment you can stick to, and keep doing it. What can you do now to attract more of what you want? And if you get it, what will you do with it? Having an intention and a plan can help in your effort to attract your goals and success.

If you can visualize it, you can attract it! Even if that seems to be in slow motion for now.

Lauren Edmond
artcharts.com

If you can tune in, you can find a way to be of great service. Perhaps in a way that is legendary.

If you are open to the emotional problems of others, you can feel the full weight of the world now. Anyone with anger or other issues may want you to share in their emotions, perhaps to be the one to blame for their bad feelings. And if you're susceptible, you can take in their negativity and believe it's your fault. Yet, we all have a choice. We can let our negative emotions carry us away and hide out till it passes. Or, we can stay in control of our emotions, observe them, note how they feel in the body. We don't HAVE TO react instantly to what we think is felt, even if it is negative. We can try to stay aware. And that attempt itself can help to dissipate the urge to react impulsively.

This is a Grand Water Trine with a Kite to Jupiter in Earth-sign Capricorn. The result of well-handled emotions is strength, wisdom, a larger perspective, compassion. And a good laugh.

During this season of Grand Trines, there's a KITE to the angles every time the Grand Trine aligns with the Ascendant or Midheaven. That happens 4 times a day, every day until early May. Currently, it's exact around sunset and sunrise, noon and midnight. This is a sign to get things done! Catch yourself in your excuses and get past it or change it. Energize your values! Or make careful plans to do it ASAP, and keep at it. This is a strong indicator that work doesn't have to be "hard". What if you did something that expressed your talent? How can you start to integrate that more and more into your lifestyle. There are significant, obvious, opportunities happening every day.

ps. if you think i write this only to you, i write it to myself first. we are all evolving. hopefully.

::: http://www.artcharts.com/ :::

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[ArtCharts] Inspired Astrology Newsletter: Full Moon in Scorpio

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FULL Moon in Scorpio: it's got to be real

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ArtCharts Chart Tips
Rulerships: connecting the dots
Many people tell me they understand the basics of chart reading. They understand what it means to have a planet in a sign and house. But putting it all together seems beyond reach. It's not hard if you know a few techniques.

Rulerships establish connections between planets, signs, and houses in a chart.

These are the houses, signs, and planets that are most-closely connected.

• 1st house - Aries - Mars
• 2nd house - Taurus - Venus
• 3rd Gemini - Mercury
• 4th house - Cancer - Moon
• 5th house - Leo - Sun
• 6th house - Virgo - Mercury
• 7th house - Libra - Venus
• 8th house - Scorpio - Pluto (Mars)
• 9th house - Sagittarius - Jupiter
• 10th house - Capricorn - Saturn
• 11th house Aquarius - Uranus (Saturn)
• 12th house - Pisces - Neptune (Jupiter)

And click to see artcharts Rulership Chart online

Seeing a Sun in the 5th house in Leo tells you that's a strong Sun. Taurus may not feel as much at home in the 11th house as it does in the 2nd. Planets located in houses or signs opposing their rulership positions are often in what is called a "debilitated" or poor condition and don't express themselves as easily or naturally as planets and signs in rulership positions. More on elevated and debilitated planets to come...

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ArtCharts Good Timing Sale
The LifePath report is the only report that contains a section on house rulerships. It tells you where the ruler of each house is located in your chart and what that means. LifePath shows how the planets in your chart link to your houses, suggesting the kind of options you may have in your life.

In the Full Moon chart, Taurus is on the cusp of the 1st house, making Venus the ruler of the 1st house. Venus is in the 12th house, so the ruler of the 1st house, Venus, is actually located in the 12th house and according to LifePath Report it means that:

"Your outlook on life can be brought into balance by spending some time alone to meditate and recharge your batteries.
Avoid becoming your own adversary by falling into the "woe is me" victim trap. Spiritual philosophies that go beyond traditional orthodox viewpoints can bring revealing insights into your life and the meaning of it all.
You may identify somehow with large public institutions that provide a service to society, especially the helping professions."

Get your personalized LifePath Report this week and get your Green Report as an Earth Day gift! Find out how you can live (ever more) green.

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Dear Friends of ArtCharts [Inspired] Astrology,
Purchasing from our large selection of astrology and numerology reports gives you more personalized information. And supports ArtCharts website, blog, and Newsletter:-) We appreciate your purchases and are always thrilled to hear your success stories.

And because nothing is ever perfect or complete, there's more EVERY DAY on the [ArtCharts] InspiredAstrologyWeblog!

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This Full Moon in intuitive Scorpio brings potential for deep personal healing, evolution and transformation. Feel the fullness and power of the true you. Feel the passion that feeds your heart’s desire and dare to take the risks that put your dreams into action.

This far-reaching Grand Earth trine provides opportunities for us, as enlightened individuals, to support one another in very down to earth, practical and substantial ways. Imagine... (I feel a song coming on...) focusing on the similarities of our hopes, dreams and prayers…worldwide. We all want to love and be loved. We want to share laughter. We all want the basic freedoms to live safely, have food, shelter, clothing, and worship according to our highest awareness. We are spiritual beings and Divine Love is natural to us.

Light IS Love and Peace IS Power. We are one multi-faceted Earth community and we can bring dramatic change to our World. Let’s commit ourselves to compassion and Peace.

Jupiter and Saturn are trine in Capricorn and Virgo. And they are both trine Ceres in Taurus, creating a Grand Trine in Earth.

This Earth Grand Trine is about being practical and about honoring the Great Mother. This Grand Trine is about valuing the connections and relationships that keep you solvent, put food on your table, and pay the rent.

You can feel motivated to collect the materials and tools you need to build a more secure future. And you can do that by building on what is already there instead of reinventing the wheel right now.

This Grand Trine can find you running in circles to get as many things as you possibly can. And this can keep feeding on itself, and you can wind up spending a large sum on lots of stuff.

Or-- you can make a commitment, put on blinders, and work towards a specific goal that has MEANING for you. If there is something you want to do that would benefit you professionally, now and in the future, this is an ideal time to take the steps, no matter how many, do it.

the Jupiter and Saturn trine (exact on on Monday, January 21) began almost a year ago, and Monday is the 3rd and last time they will be exactly trine. This shows a conservative trend, both politically and spiritually.

Ideally, you would spend some hard-earned money on tools, materials, and/or education that will provide opportunities for you, your family, and the world. You CAN do it! And you probably already know exactly what to do.

If you feel that you're procrastinating, this Earth Trine can remind you that may be too comfy in your comfort zone to make a move that would further your growth and support your family. What opportunities are you overlooking because it would take too much time and seems too complicated? This is an opportunity to slowly, methodically, and thoroughly study, explore, and practice until you achieve a level of professional mastery.

in Love&Light,
Lauren

ps, if you benefit from the articles on this blog-- and you don't want an astrology report or reading-- please let me know by buying my absolute favorite gift - an Amazon gift certificate. My email is lauren@artcharts.com Click Here! Thanks:-)

As the balloons float down Broadway, the Sun enters Sagittarius, the sign of generous giving and joyous living.

[Sun enters Sagittarius on November 22, 2007 @ 11:50 am est]

The Sun usually enters Sagittarius on November 22, but the Sun does not always enter Sagittarius ON Thanksgiving Day.

So what will Thanksgiving Day 2007 be like?!

Filled with great opportunities!

The Sun and Moon are making an inconjunct (a/k/a quincunx) aspect, which means they are 150 degrees apart. Give and take may be equal. The person you give to may not be the person who returns the favor. That may come from someone else so don't expect giving and receiving to be exactly equal.

The Sun at 0 Sagittarius is making a semisquare to Venus in its own sign of Libra. If your appearance is your main focus, it could be a sign that socializing is more of an OBLIGATION than fun today. If you feel stressed about socializing, socializing can become stressFUL. It's not always easy or pleasant to let other people get too close for comfort, but today it's time to be sincerely grateful. Give heartfelt thanks and enjoy the day, the good food, and the good company instead of focusing on the (irritating) faults of any ONE person. You may be "right" but overlooking the conflict can improve your own vibrations and make for a better day for everyone.

The start of Sagittarius contains 2 Grand Trines. One in WATER, the other in EARTH.

The EARTH Grand Trine is from Saturn to Pluto to Moon. The Saturn-Pluto trine was exact in August 2007, and will remain very close through the spring of 2008. On Thanksgiving Day, the Moon in Taurus will fill in the 3rd part of the trine to form a loose Grand Trine from the Moon to Saturn to Pluto. (As the Moon moves from Aries to Virgo, it will carry the energy to the Saturn-Pluto trine.) This is an "out of sign" Grand Trine because Pluto is still in Sagittarius, but as Pluto enters Capricorn in January and Saturn stations Retrograde, this trine will remain in effect through the Spring of 2008. And every month as the Moon transits early Taurus, there will be an EARTH Grand Trine. This can be an INDUSTRIOUS winter!

The WATER Grand Trine, that has been in effect all Fall as Mars and Uranus trine. And this week, Mercury joins them (see the last post on Venus and Mars this week). What messages are you receiving from your intuition?

Opportunities are knocking. But they may require a mastery of your personal power and the willingness to follow instructions AND take chances. The point is to be industrious and productive, even if you make mistakes. It may no longer feel like enough to just do something to satisfy your own interests. You may feel increasingly compelled to share, and this can lead to more detailed study and preparation. Yet, what once felt overwhelming can become a piece of apple pie.

Enjoy!

in Love&Light
Lauren

ps, if you benefit from the articles on this blog, let me know by buying my absolute favorite gift - an Amazon gift certificate. My email is lauren@artcharts.com Click Here! Thanks:-)

This Venus-Mars square offers a way through the tensions of relationships, so your tango doesn't get tangled in relationship goo.

If you feel like your giving OR receiving is out of balance, you can feel unappreciated, which can drain your energy and intensify any feelings of conflict. Before you end a romance, this SQUARE calls on each of to give more thought to WHY our relationships get out of balance. Are you both able to give? to receive? It's not as simple as it seems. Both giving and receiving require being open to the other person and to your own heart. If you exist in a shame-based blaming relationship, you are not giving or receiving, you are staying closed-off by blaming the other person. Though joyless, this kind of lifestyle can seem very comfortable. Being open to giving OR receiving requires great strength AND great sensitivity. And that's the balance Venus-in-Libra square Mars can show you this week.

Mars, currently stationing Retrograde, is part of a Grand Trine that also includes Uranus (and the Moon on Monday) and Mercury in the guest co-host seat for this week only, as Mercury trines Mars on Monday and Uranus on Wednesday. This is the 3rd and last time. Mercury made a trine to Mars before the last Mercury Retrograde station (September 26), during Mercury Retrograde (Oct 17), and this week (Nov 19) for the final time.

You can make fast progress now if you communicate your needs and ideas. If you leave your happiness to whether or not someone can read your mind, you can find yourself in a continuous disappointment loop. But this week, your ability to communicate can be exceptionally clear and persuasive. You can get things done quickly--- just by using the right words.

Step one is to write. When you write, you clarify your thinking. If there is something you want, if you have a goal you would like to achieve, write it down. Thinking about it is a good start, but if you want to make it happen, start writing. Writing and communicating can help to balance you emotionally. Sharing is not required, but if you feel that you want to reach out, make new friends, and share more of yourself so you can grow, Mars-Mercury-Uranus in trine formation this week is the PERFECT time to start your blog or social-network page. Join an online group, participate in community events, join with like-minded locals. And if you're not ready for that, start reading more, leaving comments, writing profiles, sending messages. Express yourself, make suggestions to the group. Don't think everyone will agree with everything you say and think. They won't. Yet, when you are yourself this week, magical things can start to happen, like your intuition can open up and give you just the right words of wisdom.

in Love&Light,
Lauren

ps, if you benefit from the articles on this blog, let me know by buying my absolute favorite gift - an Amazon gift certificate. My email is lauren@artcharts.com Click Here! Thanks:-)

Here's Destiny & Decisions on
TRANSITING SUN TRINE URANUS--The Sun illuminates you and the world around you and this transit encourages self-discovery. There will be an air of excitement and suddenness with a heightened level of understanding about yourself and the world around you. It is a good time to expand your horizons and for the study of any technical discipline, such as astrology, mysticism and psychic phenomena. Very little that affects you is hidden from you during this transit, and you can be very much aware of who you are. You will be energetic and restless, so it is not a good time to relax. Use the energy to expand your life with new experiences and new encounters.

And here's Sun trine Uranus from Starlight Solutions:
Creative license, spontaneity, improvisation, and discovery are stimulated now. This is a good time for any activity that requires you to experiment and think outside the box. Your freedom to express yourself in your own way is quite important to you at the moment.

This Grand Trine is created by the transits of the SUN, URANUS, and MARS. Since the Sun travels more rapidly than Mars or Uranus AND Mars will station Retrograde on November 15, the Trine between Mars and Uranus will not actually become EXACT until April 2008, yet Mars-Uranus will have an influence through Spring 2008. When any personal planet occupies the 3rd point, a Grand Trine will activate. More on that as Mercury (Nov 19-21) and then Venus (Dec) approach that point.

in Love&Light,
Lauren

Astrology books describe Grand Trines as endless tape loops. You just keep doing what comes easily, and often fail to make real progress. Grand Trines can indicate a tendency to do avoid things that are hard. But what's wrong with leaning into what comes easily and makes you feel better? The Triangle in sacred geometry represents the balancing of physical and mind with spirit.

It can feel like it's time to strike out on your own, yet making an impulsive move may not create any real change-- at least until till next Spring. If your work brings joy and creativity to the world, shamelessly self-promote. But don't get concerned if a seemingly strong tide of publicity starts to disappear as Mars slows in its orbit, preparing for a Retrograde station on November 15. What felt like a strong current fulling you forward can seem to subside--- before it returns full force in April. Meanwhile, it's time to give more thought to packaging, presenting, promoting, and publicizing your work. This long-term trine can help you to connect your ideas with the public. Do you connect or is your ego getting in the way? The goal is to feel confident when you get noticed by the public.

Mars and Uranus will be trine through April 2008. This is the winter to create networks within and without. If you want to connect more effectively with others, make the space within to allow yourself to receive and access subtle energy, instead of blocking it off with negative thoughts and emotions. Holding onto beliefs and emotions that make us feel worthless or hopeless is really not about what "she" said or "he" did, but about our own fears that come up when we think about how to go on, what to do next, how to solve a problem, how we can avoid a risk that is unavoidable. The trine of Mars-Uranus-Sun is about increasing courage, without bravado or ego, and for the greater good.

in Love&Light,
Lauren

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