Monthly Horoscope

ARIES
(Mar. 21- April 20)
Your desire for excitement and adventure may be expensive. Romance may be likely if you travel. Driving too fast or double parking will result in difficulties with officials. Don't cause a scene, but when you get home let your partner know how you feel and why.

Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Sunday.

TAURUS
(Apr. 21- may 21)
Don't confide in any relatives whom you know have a tendency to meddle in other people's affairs. Take advantage of your attributes and lure the mate of your choice. You can meet new and exciting lovers through work related projects. Investments are best left alone this month.

Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Saturday.

GEMINI
(May 22-June 21)
You can get ahead if you work diligently behind the scenes. Don't let your anger consume you and don't allow important matters go unattended to. Get domestic chores out of the way early. You will get upset over trivial matters.

Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Thursday.

CANCER
(June 22-July 22)
Some of the best opportunities will crop up if you keep an open mind. Be careful not to come on too strongly. Romance will unfold if you take trips or get together with friends. Draw up contracts regarding your personal situation.

Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Friday.

LEO
(July 23-Aug 22)
Consider making pleasure trips or participating in entertainment that will require energy. Sudden changes regarding your circle of friends could prove interesting and stimulating. Your personal life will be disrupted if you have been too busy with business. Don't let anyone take credit for a job you did.

Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Sunday.

VIRGO
(Aug. 23 -Sept. 23)
Your charm will be captivating. Try to mix business with pleasure while traveling. You will have a greater involvement in groups; however, they may not be to your advantage. Moneymaking ventures may just turn your life around.

Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Monday.

LIBRA
(Sept. 24 -Oct. 23)
You always seem to spend more than you make. Try to be patient with their inability to accept your new beliefs. Romance could develop through social activities or short trips. Think before you act.

Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Monday.

SCORPIO
(Oct. 24 - Nov. 22)
Changes in your domestic scene are evident. Pamper yourself this month. Entertainment should include the whole family or a lot of your friends. You will be drawn to individuals who can provide you with both intellectual conversation and physical passion.

Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Thursday.

SAGITTARIUS

(Nov. 23 -Dec. 21)
You will expand your circle of friends if you join groups. Someone you live with may feel totally neglected. You need to do your own thing and work on making yourself the best you can be. You will get bored quickly, so make sure that you have scheduled enough activity to hold your interest.

Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Thursday.

CAPRICORN
(Dec 22.- Jan. 20)
Your colorful conversation may attract new mates. You may find yourself in a predicament with family members. Keep an eye on your weight. Do your job and then spend some time with family; you'll be glad you did.

Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Saturday.

AQUARIUS
(Jan. 21 -Feb. 19)
Misunderstandings could cause confusion and upset. Keep your mind on your work and stay away from situations that could ruin your reputation. Keep your cash in your pocket and offer them sound advice rather than your financial assistance. You may not be able to help, but your support will be favorable.

Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Friday.

PISCES
(Feb. 20-Mar. 20)
A residential move may be in order. Get on with business. Don't be afraid to lay your cards on the table. Much can be accomplished if you compromise.

Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Monday.

Year of The Earth Rat

After two, Fire years life may seem calmer during this Earth year. That could be deceptive, however, as the Rat never stops moving, especially when it comes to mental activity.

Unfortunately Earth has a destructive relationship with the Rat's fixed element, Water. This is not disastrous, but it does mean people should not rely too much on luck this year.

On the other hand the combination of Earth and Rat is extremely positive when it comes to achieving results. The Rat tends to take a lot of risks, while Earth is associated with practicality and stability. This creates balance and can lead to good profits, increased productivity and all sorts of accomplishments. And, under Earth's influence there could be fewer scandals than in other, Rat years.

The Rat is the first sign of the Chinese zodiac and signifies new beginnings. This year is thus an appropriate time to start new ventures, especially groundbreakings. This includes new ideas, directions, and ways of doing things. It is a time to experiment and put plans into action, as there will be plenty of opportunities to achieve success. Something to consider is that which is begun now is likely to have long term consequences, so choose wisely to enrich your life.

Interestingly this is an equally good time for thinking and all kinds of intellectual endeavors. Planning, scholarship and research, for example, are favorable activities. It is also an auspicious time for the arts; although, under Earth's influence, applied arts such as design and graphics may do best.

Earth favors those who are tied to the land, do a lot of routine work, deal with practical matters, or perform work of a spiritual nature. Looking at the characteristics of both Earth and Rat it could be a very good year for those with careers in business, construction, engineering, academia, planning and the clergy.

There is likely to be a focus on career and self improvement this year to the detriment of family. People thus need to be attentive and creative so that this area does not suffer. It is, however, a relatively good time to begin a new romance. Those in a relationship may want to consider raising it to the next level, to include marriage.

Since this is an Earth year those people born in a Metal year will generally fare better than others of their animal sign, while those born in a Water year are likely to do worse than those born in Wood, Fire, and Earth years.

Health issues vary not only by sign but by each individual. Your best bet is to visit a Chinese doctor to have your balances checked and get some advice for the coming year. It is an Earth year, so one thing we can say in general is to get enough exercise and be on the alert for unwanted weight gains. Inactivity could lead to problems.

The year 2008 will be a year of possibilities, a time of progress; although, it may not generally be spectacular. Those who take the biggest risks could be disappointed. Everyone should, nevertheless, add something new to their life.

New Moon in Virgo

New Moon in Virgo themes: wisdom of the body; purification; natural solutions; enjoying the process; putting things in order; the simple life; true essentials; finishing what you've started; practical wisdom; picking apart to discover what's wrong; intricate systems and patterns; handling the details; finding beauty in the particular.

New Moons can be deeply renewing, and a time to rest in the dark. We're passing through the atmosphere of Virgo (exact on August 30th, 3:58 pm EDT), a sign of healing, and constant tweaking on the path to wholeness. The chart shows the Sun, Moon and Saturn together in earth, so that creating beauty and efficiency in the real world, becomes serious business. Virgo is the most flexible (mutable) of all the Earth signs, and what's initiated now can be seen as a work in progress. With Saturn's weighty presence, you can find the discipline to set new healthy habits in motion.

Virgo has a gift for quality control, and it's a sign that doesn't take short cuts. It's also the analyzer, a thinking sign that has to come to its own logical conclusion. The energies now help you sift through the deluge of information out there, especially about health and well-being, and lift out the kernels of solid info. Virgo has a sixth sense to hone in to what's untainted, pure, and full of wholesome goodness.

This lunation brings back the simple pleasure that comes from being productive. It's back-to-school time, when students of all ages, impulsively start to get their No. 2 pencils in order, line up books and make sure the sock and underwear drawers are filled. The season is the harvest, and traditionally, it's a busy time of picking and canning, putting up food for the long winter. Saturn, is the planet of time, and this pins us down to the duties and responsibilities of the season. But rather than being heavy, it can be an anchor that roots you into a sense of place. Look for ways to feel more intimately connected to the processes of nature, through gardening, cultivating skills in an artform, or going deeper with a healing practice.

One fallout from the new Moon could be that you feel covered in icky not rightness. There are discordant energies that take could spin out on Virgo's ability to find flaws and harp on them. Virgo reflects back what's toxic, not functioning, dirty, shameful, tucked away, and as a guide, can go overboard to bring the message home. Make a list of what's up for review, for self-improvement, but be patient with where you are, and forgiving of where you've fallen short of your own standards.

This new Moon can be seen as an initiation for the body, into the realities of the changing Earth. There are some reports now, that the Earth's outer core is actually sloshing around, and that's altering the magnetic field outside the planet's atmosphere. See this National Geographic article for more of the science behind it. I recently came across astrologer Alan Leo's description of Saturn in earth signs as "decidedly electro-magnetic, mainly electric and vitalizing in the planet, and receptive in the sign." He gives Virgo an astral or psychic sensitiveness. [From the Book, Saturn by Alan Leo]

It's not known whether this is part of a long polar shift, or if Earth is being disturbed by a twin Sun to our own, called Planet X, and creating all these quakes and tsunamis. With Virgo's prescience, or ability to know at some psychic level, this new Moon can bring dreams or visions of what's going on. What's fascinating to me, is the idea that our bodies, as part of the Earth, will need to quickly adapt to the changes of the Earth. With the influx of new vibes, our bodies will need to adjust. The magnetic field around the Earth is our protective bubble, and some scholars of 2012 say that these changes are speeding up our evolution. That our isolation is ending, and a new era of being part of the larger galaxy is beginning.

This new Moon is, then, a profound moment to listen to the Earth and its upheavals, with the potential of becoming psychically attune to what's going on. Virgo's wisdom now gives us the ability to change and shift, and morph into the best physical vehicle for this particular moment in time (Saturn).

Mars, Venus and Mercury in Libra: The balancing, feminine, cardinal energies of Libra add to the sense that it's a time of corrective events, harmonizing, evening out. Libra brings light to confused areas, so a well-rounded picture of a situation emerges.

Jupiter in Capricorn forms a supportive trine to the Sun, Moon and Saturn in Virgo. Your intentions, when they're Saturn-approved (tests of character), get a boost from Jupiter, and are expanded into things that last. Going with the Flow can be the smartest strategy now, and lead to Jupiter's opportunities to expand in a big way.

The body is our vehicle to get through time and space. How we treat it matters, and comes back to us in ease or dis-ease. The body is a reflection of our thoughts, too, and that's where more harmonious thoughts (Libra) set us on a new path. Each of us is reacting to the environment, on a physical level, and yet this is something we share as our collective natural system. That makes this new Moon an ideal time for new commitments to the Earth, both singly, or as part of a mass effort.

Suggestions for the new Moon in Virgo: Check out the Earth Meditation or come up with your own; Cut out something evil from your diet; Sign up for yoga classes; Clean out the closet, desk, car, medicine cabinet; Look into non-toxic alternatives, such as for cleaning; Research natural cures and therapies.

September

The Autumn Equinox is upon us, a day that ushers in fall and says 'so long' to summer. The outdoor activities we've been engaging in since early June are now winding down, only to be replaced by new ones, like tailgating at football games or taking drives down country lanes to appreciate the lovely colors of the leaves now turning. It is a mysterious time when we bid a fond farewell to yet another cycle of summer. The annual equinox falls on September 22 this year, a day that divides the day and the night equally. These energies whisper and prompt us to pay our respects to the impending darkness soon to come. Long considered a time of mysteries, many religions observe seasonal days of celebration during late September.

Some common themes that weave through this period are balance, harmony, harvesting, hunting and a remembrance of the dead. In Japan, there is a widely practiced ceremony conducted on the Autumn Equinox called 'Higan-e.' This is practiced on this day not only because the length of daylight and darkness are exactly the same but because the Sun rises due east and sets directly in the west. The word 'higan' translated means arriving at the other shore and therefore signifies 'going across.' This ceremony speaks to crossing from an impure world to a sacred one, and these energies can be easily accessed on this day.

Give thanks for the abundance that the long days of summer allowed us to accrue and take these moments to balance, to rest, simply to be. Try to recognize and remember that what often appears as a 'death' is merely a preparation for another birth to come. What is reaped as reward in this harvest becomes a seed for our next birthing energies and efforts as we each head towards that 'other shore.'

On this night, light a white candle and stare into the flames. Ask for guidance and assistance in 'seeing' clearly. On this evening of beginnings and endings, ask for the power to fully understand the past while also fully experiencing the present. Ask what you need to know to experience success in your future. Breathe deeply and relax. Take a few minutes to ponder that last question as you gaze into the flames. Close your eyes and 'listen' for your answer. After a few minutes with your eyes closed, you will receive a thought that will be a guiding light for you. Write it down and give gratitude for this personal harvest. May you walk in beauty in a sacred way, and may you rest in beauty each and every day!

August

The dog days are still barking loud and clear, especially when temperatures continue to reach record highs, reminding us daily that it is still summertime and the livin' is supposed to be easy. But, as all good things are known to do, this summer will soon come to an end. Even with the sweltering heat, there are events going on that remind us of the rapidly approaching autumnal season. In fact, the month of August is often considered to be the first of what are called the 'harvest' months. This is the time to reap any seeds of intention that we've previously sown when those supportive birthing energies of springtime urged us to consider new goals and then go and get them! But this month now offers a time of reflection as we look back in order to move forward toward the coming cooler weeks and months with optimism and enthusiasm.

The first full Moon in August that falls on the 16th is, in fact, called the 'Harvest' or 'Corn' Moon, supporting the beliefs that any recipe filled with this same staple also brings great fortune to you. Yes, it's believed that if you eat all forms of corn this month then you will find that health, happiness and prosperity will follow you through all the ensuing seasons until another August comes around. Eating cornbread with honey during these specific dates is specifically said to guarantee days of peace and prosperity.

Another way to ensure empowerment, enlightenment and peace as the wheel of the year begins to turn toward fall is to complete an old ritual. If done this month on the full Moon, it will bring you wonderful energies and opportunities for the next 12 months. The ritual goes like this:

Gather together a ring (Love), a key (Personal Power), a fresh flower from your garden or one from your local store (Joy), a small piece of cake (Prosperity) and a crust of bread (Career). Bundle these items together and during this full Moon either bury them in your backyard or take them to a stream or river and throw them in. All the gifts you are offering the universe in this one package will be returned to you 12-fold before the next Harvest Moon of 2009 shines down upon you!