20 October 2009

If you have problems with the website, please don't act like this woman

It is just too funny NOT to share! This lady ordered 2 computer readings that reached a grand total of $11.95. She ordered at 3:47 pm and sent the following at 3:50 pm...which I received to my blackberry while I was driving down the road:

"I just completed TWO purchases through your website - one was a 3 month romantic forecast report and the other was a compatibility mini report for TWO people. Your site took me right to paypal but never asked my birthdate, my lovers birthdate, none of the VITAL info that you would need to complete these reports. I recieved NOTHING. I want my money back and I want it back within the next 2 days. If I don't hear a response or get what I paid for --- I WILL report you to the better business bureau and I will make sure your site comes down for false advertisement."

Can anyone say IMPATIENT, RUDE, and OBNOXIOUS??? No where on the site does it say the computer readings are instant; in fact it says I personally deliver within 24 hours! (not 3 minutes!)

See what sort of behavior I must deal with online? She couldn't click a 'return to merchant link' or write an email to ask me what is happening. Btw, I always PERSONALLY confirm all readings, either my own or the computer ones as I do everything myself. If she had just waited 20 minutes I would have been home and would have written her to ask for the necessary info.

This type of thing is so sad. Luckily 98% of my site visitors and clients are absolutely FANTASTIC people and know how to communicate in a friendly manner. As for the other 2%, I don't care what they do with themselves. Especially this woman...who has a 3 minute limit on patience. Oh, she got her money back as soon as I returned home along with a note NEVER To come to any of my sites again.

All comments are welcome...if anyone wants to guess her signs, we could make a game of it.

21 September 2009

Personalized Readings and Consultations by an Astrologer vs. Computerized Readings

I am sharing an article I wrote a number of years ago that I recently found buried in the maze of Through Night's Fire...my virtual mansion with many hidden rooms, LOL.


So you are looking for advice and let’s face it, there are many astrology sites out there offering services. How do you know which service or reading is right for you? Many of the computerized sites are run by people who don’t even know astrology themselves! Since I’ve recently began offering computerized readings myself, I thought I would take a moment to explain to you the difference between a personal reading by an astrologer and a computerized reading. What are the benefits of each? What are the drawbacks of each?

A computerized reading can offer good general insight. Say you want to know what is coming up over the next few months, just so you can have some idea of what could happen. The type of computerized reading that could help would be a forecast (otherwise known as a planetary transit reading)--be it a Love Forecast, a Business Forecast, or just an overall view, a computerized reading is the best way to go. For an astrologer to personally calculate and interpret your transits, she (or he) would have to spend many long and possibly torturous hours working with your charts. If you want a personal forecast by an astrologer, you are going to have to pay good money to receive one. Sure, some astrologers will tell you they are personally doing your transits…but guess what, they aren’t! Unless you are paying about 100+ for a 3 month forecast, they are selling you a computer reading they are trying to pass off as one they ‘personally’ worked for you. Any time you see these types of readings (example follows), you are probably receiving a computer reading:

Venus trine Moon

(with a paragraph or so of text)

Pluto square Ascendant

(with a paragraph or so of text)


And so on and so forth. This is NOT a personal, handwritten reading, even if the ‘astrologer’ managed to take a few moments to input a few paragraphs of their own advice (in fact, most professional astrologers won‘t write their readings out anyway. Many simply talk to you via the phone or send you a tape. It is more difficult and time consuming to write out an astrology reading, which is why many won‘t even bother). If you just need a general overview, spending a lot of money just doesn’t make sense. However, if you have an important date coming up--your wedding, a major move--you may want to spend the money and hire a professional astrologer to get deeper insight and advice into what may happen.

My personal thoughts on computerized astrology readings is that they are best used to gain basic insight. If you want to know more about your compatibility in general with someone, get a computerized compatibility reading. If you really NEED to know the potential of a relationship and receive advice on how to navigate the relationship for the best possible positive relationship (particularly if you are in a difficult situation and need help), hire a professional astrologer to work your compatibility or even perhaps enter into a consulting relationship with your astrologer for ongoing advice and support. A computer reading can just look at your aspects and spit out various aspects (sometimes conflicting ones!) that can help you understand each other better. It obviously can’t give an opinion or offer support. But overall, a computerized compatibility can give you good insight into your relationship in general.

Here is a basic checklist of the benefits and drawbacks of each type of reading:

Computerized Readings

Plus

~ Excellent for Future Forecasts
~Great for General Information
~General Insight into your personality, relationships, and life
~Very inexpensive
~Tons of info (although you will have to take all of the conflicting information into consideration yourself)

Minus

~Very limited in it’s ability to answer SPECIFIC questions
~Conflicting information that may make some aspects of the reading feel that it isn’t describing you or your relationship accurately. You will have to determine what is right and discard the rest yourself.
~You can’t ask the computerized reading what it meant about something said in the reading
~Can’t Offer an Opinion or advice
~Can’t Offer Support

An Astrology reading with a Professional astrologer
(Written, Taped, Phone, In-person, Chat room)

Plus

~ Excellent for Specific advice and answers to your questions
~Great for deeper insight and advice into your personality, relationships, and life
~Your Astrologer will take all conflicting information into consideration while working your reading and will provide you with a much more concise and fluid, integrated reading. No astrological understanding should be needed to understand what your astrologer is saying. (Of course, there are some who do work readings in astro-lingo. I am not one of them!)
~You can ask your Astrologer what he or she meant by something in your reading
~Ongoing support if needed
~Many Astrologers offer a retainer service or ongoing consulting
~Some Karmic Astrologers can offer you specific past life details (in conjunction with channeling. This is one service I provide for my clients. A computerized karmic reading will be very general and simply be full of possibilities, not specific information).


Minus

~Can be quite expensive, depending on the quality of the service, the experience level of the astrologer, and whether the astrologer is in demand (how many clients the astrologer works with has a direct bearing on the cost. Obviously an astrologer who is sought after for their skill and knowledge will have a heavy client load and must limit how many people she or he works with. One way to limit the client load is to raise the cost of service).
~There may be a significant waiting period for your reading or consultation. Please see above about demand.
~Your reading will be shorter, but should offer much more specific and concise information

Stop in to my Readings Page and see what I offer!

I am now offering both Computerized Readings AND Personal Consultations!

14 August 2009

Mercury Retrograde...coming soon to a place near you

Mercury is retrograde from 9/6/09 - 9/29/09

We will enter the Mercury retrograde 'shadow' period at 21’38 degrees of Virgo on August 18, 2009 - Mercury will return to this degree again and pass over this point September 29, 2009 as he stations direct and prepares to leave the storm on October 6 - 7th. Prepare to rethink, redraw, replan, renegotiate, etc something that happens over August 17 - 19th around then (September 29 - October 7th)! This Mercury retrograde will stir up the most trouble for Virgo, Pisces, Gemini, Sagittarius, Libra, Aries, Cancer, & Capricorn - particularly the degrees ranging from 21 - 29 (Virgo/Pisces & Gemini/Sagittarius) and 0 - 6 (Libra/Aries & Cancer/Capricorn). Check your natal charts to see where your Sun (or other planets, points, etc) lie in any of these signs to see how this Mercury retro will affect you (or let me do it for you! Online Consultations and Readings) .

On August 28th, Mercury enters its 'Storm' (this is when the planet moves less than 40 minutes of arc per day) so if you have a lot of things you need to get started, I advise you get it moving now...

Click here to read more about the September 2009 Mercury Retrograde, read about the Mercury Retrograde in Virgo and in Libra, and see the upcoming Mercury aspects

28 July 2009

The Starving Soul & How to Feed it - Breaking Barriers to Love



"Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.”

Rumi


While it is easy to recognize the symptoms of a physically starving person, the atrophy, fatigue, apathy, and weakness of one who has not had food or has been unable to eat or digest what food they did have for weeks or months, it may be considerably more difficult to recognize or acknowledge a starving soul. There are many among us here, now, incarnated in form who are wasting away spiritually and are in need of guidance, understanding, and most of all…food, in a spiritual sense.

Some Souls may be so disconnected from their own being that they do not know who they are or what they want out of life. They wander from relationship to relationship, job to job, place to place, spiritual camp to spiritual camp, searching…always searching for that one thing that continually escapes them, a sense of their own Self and their place in the world. As the search continues, these Souls may turn to mind-numbing experiences in order not to feel the pain…others become depressed or ill. They may enter counseling or see a doctor, seek out an astrologer or metaphysician, try a variety of healing exercises, get more exercise, practice yoga, go on a pilgrimage…do anything, anything, to ease the pain! While they can obtain some relief for a while, if they haven’t discovered the true source of their problem, the symptoms will gradually return.

The symptoms below will help you to recognize the Starving Soul of yourself or another:

Never-ending search for your Self

Ongoing feelings of discontent or worthlessness

Constant and significant escapism in all of it’s forms. Each Soul will chose a different form of escapism. Drugs, alcohol, sex addiction, food addiction, competitive sports (pushing the body until it becomes a mindless experience), etc

Trusting the ‘word’ of another, especially a so-called authority figure, over your own knowing and intuition

Looking for a savior to save you from yourself

Allowing abuse in your relationships

A dreaded fear of being alone

Mindlessly following a set of religious or spiritual beliefs but lack a sense of connection to those beliefs

Going along with the crowd, sometimes at the expense of your own being

Jumping from one religion or set of spiritual beliefs to another more than two times in your life

Extended episodes of depression, lasting more than a year (it is not uncommon or undesirable for us to experience depressive episodes. Melancholy itself can be a symptom of deeper Soul healing taking place).

Extreme co-dependence in relationships, with lovers, family, and friends

Lengthy episodes of floating anxiety (no known or obvious source)

Inability to give or receive sincere compliments or value the source of the compliments given

Lying, to the Self, to others - about the Self, about others

If one has two or more of the above symptoms, it is likely they are suffering from Soul starvation. The more symptoms, the deeper the gravity of their condition. These Souls are cut off from the bounty of the Universe - the Soul food of Spiritual connectedness - and while this may seem simplistic, the underlying culprit of this starvation is the inability to love. Without love we wither and waste away on a Soul level. When we are starving, we stop evolving, stop manifesting, and have little to share with the world. We are too weak to carry ourselves, let alone others. We have nothing to give.

Continue reading

My healing services
Astrological Consulting

04 July 2009

Thanks to those who have sent Donations and Happy 4th to all US Americans

I hope everyone has a safe and happy 4th of July spending time with family, friends, and loved ones.

I wanted to say Thank You! too, to those 3 people (out of literally thousands) who have shown consideration and kindness by donating to help me keep the Karma Scopes alive...thank you also to the few who have left me kind words of appreciation.

Special thanks go out to those who sent donations:

ST in Brisbane, Australia
LS in Ontario, Canada
LA in Miami, Florida

Blessings to you!

For all US site visitors, clients, and customers - and to those who love the United States of America or a US citizen :)




With love, light, and amazing abundance,

Dena

19 June 2009

Sue's Kewpie Doll

The Kewpie Doll prize goes to Sue, the first (and so far only!) person who has offered a donation for the Weekly Karmic Love Scopes! Thanks so much, it is greatly appreciated. Please see the birthchart of your Kewpie below:



And here is a Merlin Natal Report for the Kewpie:


The Merlin Report for


Sue's Kewpie Doll
June 19, 2009
2:31 AM
Brisbane, Australia





Through Night's Fire Astrology
http://www.throughnightsfire.com



You will find that the interpretation of your chart is written in simple language, uncluttered by astrological jargon. If a statement appears to contradict another statement, then you exhibit these opposite qualities at different times in your life. For example, a statement that you are highly sociable and gregarious and a statement that you prefer solitude seemingly contradict each other; this means that you vacillate, and need both sociability and solitude at different times.

The astrological factor that the interpretation is based on is also given. The astrological factor is given for the benefit of astrologers and students of astrology. If you are not a student of astrology, then obviously the factor will not be meaningful to you, and you can ignore it.

If you find this interpretation of your birth chart interesting and informative, you might want to discuss your birth chart with a professional astrologer to learn more about the astrological influences on your life.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Your birth chart interpretation is based on the positions of the planets at the time of your birth. For the benefit of students of astrology, these positions, along with other technical information, are listed below:

Sun 27 Gem 34 Pluto 2 Cap 06
Moon 1 Tau 15 N. Node 0 Aqu 40
Mercury 5 Gem 06 Asc. 3 Tau 22
Venus 12 Tau 18 MC 5 Aqu 28
Mars 13 Tau 10 2nd cusp 2 Gem 23
Jupiter 27 Aqu 00 3rd cusp 3 Can 12
Saturn 15 Vir 49 5th cusp 7 Vir 40
Uranus 26 Pis 33 6th cusp 7 Lib 25
Neptune 26 Aqu 22

Tropical Placidus Standard time observed
GMT: 16:31:00 Time Zone: 10 hours East
Lat. and Long. of birth: 27 S 28 153 E 02

Aspects and orbs:
Conjunction : 7 Deg 00 Min Trine : 5 Deg 00 Min
Opposition : 5 Deg 00 Min Sextile : 4 Deg 00 Min
Square : 5 Deg 00 Min Quincunx : 3 Deg 00 Min
Conjunct Asc: 3 Deg 00 Min Above, 5 Deg 00 Min Below
Chapter 1: General Characteristics

Your fundamental needs, values, and orientation towards life are symbolized by the four astrological elements. Each person has their own unique balance of these four basic energies: fire (warmth, inspiration, enthusiasm), earth (practicality, realism, material interests), air (social and intellectual qualities), and water (emotional needs and feelings).

Your "elemental make-up" is described below. Remember that most people are "unbalanced" or lopsided, and if you are lacking or deficient in a certain element (or elements), it simply means that you need to consciously develop that aspect of yourself to learn to appreciate and/or to work harder in that dimension of life.

Sometimes we overvalue the element that we are least endowed with, sensing it as a lack within ourselves, but more often we neglect or ignore it. The qualities described below will be reiterated and explained in more detail in the following chapters.

You value order and security in your life and prefer dealing with known quantities, following clearly defined guidelines in order to achieve your aims. Reason rather than emotion rules you, and you think in clear, practical, no-nonsense terms. You are uncomfortable with ambiguity, emotional impulsiveness or extremism, and things which cannot be explained in rational terms. Even spiritual or mystical realms, if you have any interest in such things at all, must have either some scientific basis or be proven to you through your own experience and practice.

You think a situation through thoroughly before deciding upon a course of action, assessing and analyzing the matter carefully, and can be relied upon to come to a fair, reasonable, and sensible solution to whatever confronts you.

You are able to handle practical matters very efficiently, using both deductive reasoning ability and manual skill. However, it is easy for you to become overly "adult" and to lose touch with the spontaneous, playful, vibrant, and childlike side of yourself. You can become too organized and controlled, not allowing your emotions or creative, playful impulses full expression, and a certain dryness or emptiness will result. You need to learn to appreciate a certain degree of "creative chaos"!

You are likely to be overly humble or unsure of yourself and to look to others for inspiration, motivation, reinforcement, and approval. Tending to be somewhat passive, you must learn how to take initiative and motivate yourself.

A lack of warmth (either physically, emotionally, or both) may be evident in you, which can show itself physically as a low energy level, paleness and lack of color in the skin, or a tendency to be easily chilled, and emotionally as a marked coolness or aloofness with little spiritedness, joyfulness, or enthusiasm for living. Eating warming, spicy foods, living in a warm, sunny place, and using fire in your daily life (lighting candles, using a wood stove or fireplace for heat) can help balance you. Also, spending time with warm, cheerful, positive-minded people and developing a philosophy based on spiritual optimism can stir up your own zest of life.

Positively, you are unlikely to be egocentric and have a capacity for great patience and peacefulness.

You have difficulty dealing with your own and others' emotions. Feelings and the emotional reality of a situation are often ignored or discounted by you and you may thus seem insensitive or uncaring to others. Deep emotional rapport, empathy, compassion, and sensitivity to the feelings of others is something that you need to develop, and will be in more evidence later in life rather than in your youth.

Though you may appear emotionally self-sufficient or above it all, your denied feelings can result in physical problems, so it is wise and important for you to learn to acknowledge and express all of your emotions.

You may also find that you crave a great deal of liquid, or to live near bodies of water, as a way to gain balance.

Astrological influences analyzed in Chapter 1:
Air and Earth are Strong (F,E,A,W Scores = 0,29,19,1)
Fire is Weak (F,E,A,W Scores = 0,29,19,1)
Water is Weak (F,E,A,W Scores = 0,29,19,1)



Chapter 2: How You Approach Life and How You Appear To Others

The following is a description of your basic stance towards life, the way others see you, the way you come across, the face you show to the world. In Chapter 3 you will read about the "The Inner You: Your Real Motivation", which describes the kind of person you are at heart and where your true priorities lie. Read this chapter and the next one and compare them - there may be significant differences between them, in which case "the inner you" may not shine through and others are in for some surprises when they get to know you at a more than superficial level. This chapter describes the costume you wear, your role in life, while Chapter 3 talks about the real person inside the costume.

You have a sensible and realistic outlook on life and your two feet are always planted firmly on the ground (though you may, on occasion, have your head in the clouds). Others often see you as a rock of strength, solid, reliable, dependable, and constant. You are, in fact, amazingly consistent for you possess great powers of endurance and do not like to make changes or adjustments in your regular routine. You do things deliberately and methodically and do not easily accommodate the unexpected. Though you have a gentle, even soft, appearance, you are enormously strong-willed and stubborn. You go at your own pace and refuse to be rushed or pushed into anything before you feel sure about it. You can be coaxed and persuaded by charm, beauty, love, or affection - but never forced. You won't fight either, but simply stubbornly resist any attempt to coerce you to do something you do not want to do.

When you have a purpose, you are extremely fixed, immovable, and bullheaded about it. Your obstinacy is often infuriating to others, especially since it takes much provocation to make you flare up or respond to their anger. You appear calm, unruffled, and unemotional most of the time, but behind your easygoing and peaceable appearance there lies great strength. When it comes to a contest of wills, you often win simply due to your relentless persistence, your ability to outlast just about anyone. Another reason for your slowness to make changes is your very strong need for security. You are most comfortable in stable, relatively unchanging conditions and you also have a strong desire for tangible security - a home of your own, money in the bank, job security, etc. The other side of your steadiness is that you easily get caught in a rut and will stay in a familiar situation (be it job, marriage, or whatever) long after it has lost its vitality and interest.

You have a keen appreciation of the natural world and get much happiness from simple creature comforts and the physical world, with all of its myriad delights. You are quite sensual in a very natural, wholesome way and you know how to enjoy yourself. You are appealing to the opposite sex in an earthy way. You are also a great lover of beauty and your tastes are basically conventional or classic - not modern.

You are impressionable, sympathetic, and responsive to the emotional tone and atmosphere around you. You harmonize, blend, and adapt yourself to other people. Often you are rather quiet, just listening and feeling. You are subtle and know when to keep silent and wait. You act instinctively, sensing and intuiting when the time is right for action.

There is a certain intensity, charisma, or compelling attractiveness about you that may have little to do with your physical features. It's an energy, a subtle sexuality, that you emanate. Also, you tend to do everything wholeheartedly and with passion, which is quite fascinating to other people. Your instincts and psychological perceptions about others are quite incisive.

Astrological influences analyzed in Chapter 2:
Taurus Rising
Moon Conjunct Asc.
Pluto Trine Asc.



Chapter 3: The Inner You: Your Real Motivation

Although you have a sensible, realistic outlook on life and you are able to dedicate yourself wholeheartedly to your interests (as described in the previous chapter), you are also very adaptable, flexible, and varied. You appear more conservative and conventional than you are. From your appearance, others may not realize that you are familiar with a wide range of life styles and you have varied tastes. You are able to put ideas into practical action and you are likely to be successful in an field that requires good communication skills and presentation of ideas.

You are, in many ways, an eternal child. Your mind is bright, alert, curious, flexible, playful, and always eager for new experiences - and your attention span is often quite brief. You grasp ideas quickly and once your initial curiosity has been satisfied, you want to go on to something else. You crave frequent change, variety, meeting new situations and people.

It may be hard for you to decide just where your talents and true vocation lie, for you have a multitude of interests and are loathe to limit yourself by concentrating on just one. You are easily distracted by all of the other fascinating possibilities. Your curiosity and restlessness propel you into many different experiences in life, and you are willing to taste or try anything once. Doing the same thing over and over again, even it is something you do well, is real drudgery for you.

You live in your head a great deal - reading, observing, thinking, spinning ideas around - and you need mental stimulation every bit as much as you need food and drink. In fact, if you had to choose between a good book or movie and a good lunch, you would very likely choose the former. You have a creative mind and often live by your wits.

You are also a very social creature, with a strong need to communicate and to interact with people. You enjoy using and playing with words and have a real flair for getting your ideas across in a clever, interesting, articulate manner. Writing or speaking are areas you have talent for.

You also have a rather light and mischievous sense of humor, and often do not take anything too seriously. Though you crave emotional involvement, it is hard for you to achieve it, for you are frequently unwilling to commit yourself to anything, to take responsibility, or to limit your personal freedom and mobility.

Your happiness lies in using your creativity and your language skills to communicate something meaningful, to teach, inspire, or bring people together. You have an unbiased mind and can usually offer a fresh, clear, uncluttered perspective. Your faults are your lack of constancy and persistence, and your tendency to overlook or ignore deep emotional issues and other people's feelings.

Ownership gives you a sense of security, and you have a strong attachment to your possessions. You also have a natural instinct or understanding of economics, finance, trade, and appraising the value of merchandise.

Your subconscious needs and feelings blend well with your conscious intentions and desires, therefore you are able to proceed in your life's pursuits relatively unhampered by internal resistance or inconsistency. Your male-female relationships will reflect this state of internal harmony also.

You have big aspirations but do not struggle or labor to achieve them. Your self-confidence and inner harmony attract success and benefits to you in an almost magical way. Your optimism and cheerful generosity also win you many allies and successes in life.

Impulsive, restless, and spontaneous, your life is apt to be somewhat unstable and full of sudden changes. You are extremely independent and crave excitement, adventure, freedom, and discovery. You have a rebellious streak and often feel you are unusual and different from the mainstream of society. The unorthodox and novel appeal to you.

You are imaginative and sensitive to anything colorful, beautiful, or magical. You are attracted to artistic and creative pursuits, music, and mysticism. Your spiritual values color your whole perspective and approach to life. You are idealistic and perhaps impractical.

You are infused with a sense of personal destiny or mission, and can be extremely driven, obsessed, and fanatical. Learning about power and how to use it for good is definitely part of your path. You confront abusive power, tyranny, and dominating people who will teach you about power, and eventually force you to claim your own.

Astrological influences analyzed in Chapter 3:
Ascendant in Taurus and Sun in Gemini
Sun in Gemini
Sun in 2nd house
Sun Sextile Moon
Sun Trine Jupiter
Sun Square Uranus
Sun Trine Neptune
Sun Opposition Pluto



Chapter 4: Mental Interests and Abilities

You have an extremely active, lively and versatile mind with a multitude of interests and an inexhaustible curiosity about life. You are quick to grasp new concepts and equally quick to lose interest in an idea or project once your curiosity has been satisfied. You like to taste a little bit of everything -concentration and disciplined study are not your strong points. Mentally restless, you may change jobs or locations frequently, or do work that involves movement, travel, and variety.

You have a flair for language, playing with words, speaking, writing, or teaching in an entertaining and informative way. You also enjoy meeting new people, conversing and learning a little bit about them, and you work well with the public.

Sales, advertising, communications, journalism, or public relations are good areas for you. Your ability to be articulate and to communicate well is one of your greatest strengths.

Your mental skills and intelligence are directed toward practical matters, and you are interested in the tangible effects of any abstract idea or concept. You are very interested in finance, economics, and moneymaking strategies.

You have a probing, penetrating mind and in your view, nothing is as simple, innocent, or straightforward as it appears. You may not totally understand the hidden undercurrents you perceive, the secret machinations, the dark underside of a person or situation -- but it intrigues you and sometimes you can't stop thinking about it. Once your interest has been piqued, you can become obsessed with getting to the bottom of the matter. At times you make more of something than is actually the case, like assigning dark, convoluted motives to a person where none exist.

You have a charming disposition and love to socialize and meet new people. You also like to be surrounded by beautiful things and like to talk to others about your views on love problems as well as your views on beauty, fashion and art in general.

You are physically vigorous and always ready for action. A quick thinker, you are able to make swift decisions and may unknowingly create for yourself opportunities to take control over others or to be a leader.

You are somewhat restless and in constant search for variety and change. Cautious in one way and optimistic in another, you frequently change your mind and your philosophy of life. You may prefer mental work and are likely to choose a scientific field.

Your sense of reality seems a bit distorted and you tend to always think the worst. Your attitude toward the world is rather pessimistic and you place too much importance on matters that really are not important and ignore the ones that are.

Astrological influences analyzed in Chapter 4:
Mercury in Gemini
Mercury in 2nd house
Mercury Quincunx Pluto
Mercury Conjunct Sun/Venus
Mercury Conjunct Sun/Mars
Mercury Opposition Jupiter/Saturn
Mercury Opposition Saturn/Neptune



Chapter 5: Emotions: Moods, Feelings, Romance

Even-tempered and peace-loving, you are not easily ruffled and are rarely given to emotional displays. You have a calming effect on more high-strung or volatile people, and an emotional steadiness that others find soothing. Though gentle and not easily provoked, you are tremendously stubborn and will resist any change which requires an emotional adjustment, such as changes in your home life or marriage.

You seek security and loyalty in love, are extremely devoted to your loved ones, and provide a warm, nurturing atmosphere for them. However, you tend to cling and seek to keep others from changing.

A great deal of physical affection, closeness, and touching is essential to your well-being, and you have a tendency to overindulge in sensual comforts and pleasures. At times you substitute food for emotional comfort and love.

Your own feelings and emotions are something of an enigma to you, and it is often difficult for you to share with others what you are feeling.

You frequently withdraw from contact with the world, and need a healing, peaceful environment in order to blossom and come out of yourself.

You identify with the oppressed, disenfranchised or underdog in any situation and want to help them or care for them in some way.

You enjoy emotional intensity and are attracted to the mysterious, the unknown, and to dangerous or challenging experiences which draw on all of your inner resources. You are able to handle an emotional crisis very well, and you are interested in the deep roots of emotional problems and how to cure them. You insist on bringing feelings between people out into the open, for you want real closeness and intimacy with others, without barriers or secrets.

You have a somewhat excitable disposition and your moods and thoughts change rapidly. Enterprising, original and intuitive, you have an instinctive correct grasp of a subject. You are intellectual, resent interference and it is hard to deceive you.

In love, you are steadfast and loyal, especially if you have a warm, demonstrative partner. You are very sensually oriented and need lots of touching and physical affection. You enjoy being pampered with a good meal, loving massage, or other sensual delights. You are a wonderful lover, very attentive to the comfort and enjoyment of the one you love. You are tremendously responsive to beauty and physical appearances, and the physical attractiveness of your partner is very important to you.

You are very much aware of your personal appearance, attractiveness, and charm, and you can be rather narcissistic. On the other hand, you are concerned with getting along with others and you have a pleasing, agreeable manner that people find quite appealing. You use tact or charm to get what you want rather than intense effort or force. Your desire for love and affection colors everything you do.

You are extremely amorous and it is difficult for you to go without a romantic involvement for very long. When you are attracted to someone, you pursue them very ardently and sometimes come on too strong. Doing creative work or artistic work can also satisfy the very strong desire for love and beauty that you feel.

Loyalty, fidelity, and security are very important to you in love. You are cautious about giving your heart away but true to the one who does win your love. Your tastes are simple, even austere, and you do not appreciate frivolity. You are interested in a person's character and inner qualities far more than their appearance. Casual or superficial relationships don't interest you at all, for love seems to get deeper and richer and more satisfying for you with time.

You are likely to have many romantic or unusual experiences in love. You tend to fall in love quickly and enjoy a conquest, but then tire of what has been conquered. If you don't keep this in control, you could end up in a hasty marriage and a quick divorce.

Astrological influences analyzed in Chapter 5:
Moon in Taurus
Moon in 12th house
Moon Trine Pluto
Moon Conjunct Mercury/Uranus
Venus in Taurus
Venus in 1st house
Venus Conjunct Mars
Venus Trine Saturn
Venus Conjunct Sun/Uranus



Chapter 6: Drive and Ambition: How You Achieve Your Goals

Once you set your mind on a goal, your dedication, determination, and commitment to it are extraordinary. You pursue your ambitions tenaciously and will stubbornly refuse to give up, let go, or be influenced in any way. Like Aesop's tortoise, you labor patiently and steadfastly until you achieve what you want -or until it is clear beyond a shadow of a doubt that all is lost. You are a reliable, consistent, and productive worker, and often shoulder more of the workload than your co-workers, usually without complaint. The nitty-gritty work often falls to you. You prefer a regular routine, with definite hours and clearly defined responsibilities and tasks. In fact, establishing a pattern or routine is very important to your success because once you get started in a certain direction, is easy for you to follow it through to its completion. Getting started is more difficult. You have a lazy, comfort-loving side and there is often a good deal of inertia for you to overcome before you get going. Once you get a momentum going, your energy level is strong and steady.

You are interested in concrete results and solid, practical achievement. You need to have some tangible product or contribution to show for your efforts, and cannot be content with only intangible rewards (such as having a good time, learning, or spiritual enrichment). Material well-being and security is also a large factor in determining what you do. Your stamina and persistence is your great strength but it can also work against you; you can get caught in a rut and refuse to seize new opportunities. You also tend to play it safe, and to limit yourself in that way.

You are a doer and an achiever. Energetic, courageous, and often impatient, you will forge ahead with your plans regardless of others' reservations. In fact, you often feel other people get in your way and you prefer working on your own. You are active, assertive, and rather competitive as well.

You possess the gifts of endurance and perseverance, the willingness to work hard and seriously to achieve your objectives. Once you decide you want something or make a commitment, you'll do it "even if it takes forever". Self-discipline is natural to you and you instinctively realize that any creative achievement is "10% inspiration, 90% perspiration". You choose practical, realistic goals and pursue them step-by-step in a well-planned, orderly way. You like to concentrate on one thing at a time and do a thorough job. You enjoy working in solitude, and often feel your best work is done when you are alone.

Patience is not one of your strong virtues and you do what needs to be done impetuously and hastily, leading to great potential for accidents. You also have a streak of rebellion in you that could bring disputes and arguments with those around you.

You may have to overcome something in your background or personal past in order to achieve your long-range goals and ambitions. Sometimes you're apt to feel pulled in two different directions -- what others expect of you or what you need to do to progress, versus what your old conditioning or your emotional predisposition would have you do. Overcoming the pull of the past is the key.

Fluidity of speech and thought, and using intellectual gifts or communicative skills to achieve your ambitions in life are featured. Convincing, selling, persuading, reasoning, bringing ideas into public awareness are also part of your professional life.

You seem to lack confidence in yourself and worry about being compromised or exposed. You may feel that you are unable to defend yourself and tend to withdraw from others. It is more important to you to do the right thing than to be popular.

Astrological influences analyzed in Chapter 6:
Mars in Taurus
Mars in 1st house
Mars Trine Saturn
Mars Conjunct Sun/Uranus
Moon Square MC
Mercury Trine MC
MC Opposition Sun/Saturn



Chapter 7: Growth and Expansion: Areas That You Enjoy

Your strength lies in your ability to be innovative, open to new progressive concepts, willing to experiment and to reject customs and traditions when they cease to serve any positive function in the present. Also, you have an expansive view of the world, one that includes humanity and not only your own small, personal circle.

Your career or contribution to the world at large is likely to touch many people's lives in a very positive, helpful way. You aim high and have an innate confidence and trust both in your own abilities and in life in general, which enables you to go far. You want to do something BIG with your life, and you attract the support you need to do so, for your aims are not solely for your own personal benefit. You want to give something back to the world, or to improve others' lives as well as your own.

You have an unusually expansive, far-reaching outlook on life. At times the everyday routine is far too dull and boring to you, and you are inclined to travel, daydream, fantasize, or philosophize on a grand scale.

Astrological influences analyzed in Chapter 7:
Jupiter in Aquarius
Jupiter in 10th house
Jupiter Conjunct Neptune



Chapter 8: Areas That Challenge You Or Are Difficult For You

You have a penchant for order and precision, and an almost compulsive attention to detail. You are often hypercritical and can be such a demanding perfectionist that you discourage yourself or others from even attempting something that won't be done exactly the way you know it should be done.

You frequently over analyze or pick things apart mentally. You may be something of a hypochondriac also. You must learn that you do not have to rationally understand everything in order for it to be valid, and also to relax your unnecessarily high or strict standards.

It may be difficult for you to play spontaneously or just let your hair down, for you tend to inhibit that side of yourself by being too self-conscious and concerned with the impression you are making.

You may work very hard at some sport or creative medium in order to excel, for you want very, very much to be noticed, acknowledged, and recognized as special in some way. Though you may indeed be outstanding, you also need to learn to relax and enjoy yourself more.

You prefer to work alone rather than with other people. Content by yourself, you tend to become inhibited when you are with others, especially women. You may feel that the effort required to be with others is too great and probably not even worth it.

You are inclined to be rather serious and withdrawn. Feeling very uncomfortable in the presence of others, you shy away from social contacts and prefer to be by yourself.



Now we will discuss patterns of behavior which you instinctively and habitually revert to when under stress - a mostly unconscious process and one which you are apt to overdo because it is so familiar and thus easy for you. The direction you need to follow in order to develop balance, greater awareness, and wholeness is also described.

Your path lies in cultivating idealism and humanitarian feelings, being concerned with how your actions impact the world at large, perhaps becoming more aware of the social implications of your life style and personal choices or becoming active politically. Participating in organizations that support your ideals is one way to do this.

When under stress you are likely to become overly focused on yourself and your own little world.

Instead of "how will this benefit or hurt me?" your focus needs to shift to "how will this affect us all?".

Ideally, you need to strike a balance between doing for yourself and doing for others, by discovering how your unique gifts can contribute to the good of all.

The arena you are most likely to wrestle with these issues is in developing a personal vision or philosophy of life, whether this be through religious or philosophical studies, a broadening education, or visiting and drawing upon the wisdom in distant lands or cultures. Cultivate the qualities described above in this endeavor. Long distance communication and involvement with foreigners is likely to be significant to you.

You tend to have far-reaching associations and have a strong desire to be involved with people of high society. You are likely to achieve great success through joint ventures with others and could do well in some political activity.

You seem to have an innate sense of cosmic awareness and are likely to have strong psychical or metaphysical talents. You are inclined to join some parapsychology groups where you may share your unusual experiences with other people.

Astrological influences analyzed in Chapter 8:
Saturn in Virgo
Saturn in 5th house
Saturn Opposition Moon/N. Node
Saturn Opposition N. Node/Asc.
N. Node in Aquarius
N. Node in 9th house
N. Node Conjunct Jupiter/Pluto
N. Node Conjunct Neptune/Pluto



Chapter 9: Originality and Imagination
Areas Where You Are Creative, Unique, Unstable, or Compulsive

You have unusual, even eccentric friends, and you are likely to join groups, communities, organizations, or clubs which promote progressive or unconventional ideas, social change, or innovation in some form. You are dynamic and creative in business affairs and in organizations.

You are a very idealistic person, and you want to see your ideals, hopes, and dreams made concrete and real in the everyday world. You are driven to put your ideals into action.

When young you may be rather aimless or confused about your place in the world. In early adult life it is likely that you struggle to find ways to express your imagination, fantasies, and ideals in your career. Work that involves compassionate service (such as medicine or the ministry) may be your calling. If you lack personal integrity and honesty, you quickly go to the opposite extreme and you can con others through dishonesty and trickery. Music, art, film-making or entertainment are also areas in which you are well-suited.

You are a person of great depth and have a deep interest in the hidden or darker side of life. Issues and experiences others shun, you are drawn to and compelled to examine. The use and misuse of personal, social, and political power intrigues you. Death is also an area you are fascinated with and may explore in depth. You may have many experiences in which you are forced to burn your bridges and start over again.

Astrological influences analyzed in Chapter 9:
Uranus in 11th house
Neptune in 10th house
Pluto in 8th house



Chapter 10: Generational Influences: Your Age Group

In this chapter we will discuss characteristics and traits of your generation. Of course, you may not share all of the characteristics of your generation, but you are greatly affected by the tone that is set by your generation.

The first topic is "The Subconscious and Emotional Drive of Your Age Group". In this section we will describe a deeply felt urge, even compulsion, of your age group. This deeply felt drive comes to the surface with great force and power, and consequently leaves in its wake considerable upheaval and change. The second topic is "The Ideals and Illusions of Your Age Group", that describes the dreams, fantasies, and spiritual aspirations of your age group. The third and last topic is "What is New and Different in Your Age Group", which describes areas in which your age group tends to be innovative, inventive, unusual, and also where it may be unstable and unreliable.

The characteristics described below may affect a group of people for anywhere from a few years to about 30 years. There are one or more different astrological factors described in each of the three sections below.

The Subconscious and Emotional Drive of Your Age Group

You are part of a 15 year group of people who have a very strong practical and realistic attitude towards life. You are an ambitious group also and you work hard to improve business, commerce, and other practical affairs. There always seems to be lots of hard work that needs to be done when your generation comes around, and your generation is ready and willing to do it.

Your age group is marked by its precociousness and seriousness. However, it is also as if you were somehow cut off from many of your inner feelings. There is very little of the "child" in most members of your age group, and you have a much cooler, more detached attitude to life than other age groups. You are mature, but also rather aloof. You are ethical but tend to lack empathy and heart. For many members of your age group, it is as if they were cut off from their deeper, emotional side. Naturally, it is important not to let this tendency become too unbalanced, as it can lead to a harsh, insensitive attitude, and a tendency to become involved in corrupt and unethical practices.

The Ideals and Illusions of Your Age Group

You are part of a 14 year group of people that are progressive and broad-minded in religious philosophy and spiritual attitude. You are not a mystical bunch, but you are not skeptics or cynics of mysticism either. However, you generally do not follow a religious philosophy unless it appeals to your sense of logic and reason. The more ancient and intuitively based religions are of little interest to your age group, and religions undergo much "modernizing" during your lifetime.

Your generation blurs the distinction between science and mysticism; your scientific discoveries are carried on with a spirit of awe and wonder, and the discoveries that are made only serve to increase that sense of awe and wonder. The dry, academic approach to science fades out during your generation.

Science fiction is also popular with your age group. Also popular are abstract artistic styles, which reflect your progressive imagination.

What is New and Different in Your Age Group

You are part of a 7 year group of people who are very creative in the arts, music, literature, and philosophy. Your age group draws upon some new inspirations and has a talent for weaving many seemingly disparate styles into a new, refreshing synthesis. Much of the creative inspiration of your period is very refined and sensitive, and some of the greatest artistic and literary works of your generation will receive full recognition only after many decades have passed. You are a group that is primarily concerned with the quality of your creative endeavor rather than its distribution and marketing.

Astrological influences analyzed in Chapter 10:
Pluto in Capricorn
Neptune in Aquarius
Uranus in Pisces

17 June 2009

Weekly Karmic Love Scopes and those who feel I am 'disrespecting' them

It's a very sad state of affairs that I must write a blog about such a silly topic - seriously, I have much more constructive things to spend my time on, but I feel a need to set the record straight so that I may (hopefully) avoid being attacked, threatened, and basically 'disrespected' by my own site visitors in the future!

My websites are a labor of love. My offering the Karmic Scopes for the past 2 years has been a labor of love, one in which has cost me emotionally, energetically, and financially at times. I am NOT A CORPORATION! I am for the most part a one woman show - the entire site including the writing, the horoscopes, the site updates, customer service, rituals, calendars, articles...all of it are the work of me, myself, and I. I have one person who updates the weekly scopes and tarot when I can afford to pay her. It is a tremendous labor particularly in addition to my actual paid work, my clients, my family, my other sites, and my health. I do not have on the weekly scopes or tarot - "Guaranteed free weekly scopes (or tarot)". I have never misrepresented that I will, come rain, shine, hell, or highwater that I will do the horoscopes each and every week. Sometimes I simply can't, physically, mentally, or otherwise! My work can be extremely draining, especially with my neck/spinal injury due to the car accident I was in May 2005...sometimes I am unable to regenerate and focus enough to accomplish all my paid work and the free work. Of course my paid clients must be put first - business is business! Though I have actually been attacked for doing this! LOL See why I feel I must discuss this here publicly? I am 100% certain that if you were my client and I was failing in energy and needed to cut back on something that you would not want it to be your own reading, that you paid me for and trusted me to accomplish on time.

Those of you who know me, have been my clients, have came to the site for the past 8 years know that I do my very best - that I love my work, my clients, and my visitors (whether they ever pay a dime or not). Yet over the years I have been personally attacked by site visitors who become disgruntled if I made a mistake or error on the hundreds of pages of Through Night's Fire or fail to continue offering a service, free or otherwise.

Let me make this clear...I do not welcome threatening emails, emails tearing into me about me 'disrespecting' my visitors by failing to do the free scopes every week, or any other rude or ignorant complaint. I don't take kindly to being called names or threatening language - implied or direct. I DO welcome constructive feedback and having my visitors letting me know when I make errors on the pages. There is a difference between being helpful and being downright mean. I do not need or welcome unsolicited business advice by those who know absolutely nothing about my business or my life. I will not tolerate being treated unfairly, rudely, threatened, or attacked.

Having said all that, the majority of my visitors are lovely, evolved, and loving people who genuinely enjoy and appreciate the site and who get to know me over the years. I am here to be of service but I am not here to be trampled or enslaved. The wise reader/server of humanity knows instinctively that to be of any use to others that they must first take care of themselves. When I am unable to do any of the free services (or even the paid ones!) on the site, it is because I MUST take care of myself or be useless to anyone. It is unfortunate that some do not understand - or CARE - that I am also human and must regenerate. I work hard but when I must rest, I must. That is the nature of my life, the nature of my own astrological chart (which can be found posted on the site).

Regarding the Weekly Karmic Scopes, I have, in the past, asked for donations to help keep them going (it would be nice to at least be able to have enough donations to pay the lady who does the updates for me) and out of 3500 - 5000 visitors I have at the weekend to those pages guess how many donated anything? If you guessed ZERO you certainly win the kewpie doll. Now I am putting up the donation button again. This is my last attempt to keep the Weekly Karmic Love Scopes alive and Free. If no one chooses to donate (and the visitors can choose any amount!) then that will tell me that the scopes aren't all that valuable or appreciated (despite the web traffic to the pages). I will revisit this again in 1 month and at that time determine whether it is worth it for me to continue to offer them...I may elect to go to a paid service or just drop them from my weekly task list. It is now up to you, my visitors, to decide whether you value this service enough to occasionally toss a buck in the kitty to keep it going or not!

With love, light, and blessings,

Dena

22 April 2009

Mercury Retrograde - May 2009

It's that time again! We enter the Mercury shadow period TODAY...Happy Earth day :D

Mercury is retrograde from 5/7/09 - 5/30/09


We will enter the Mercury retrograde 'shadow' period at 22’52 degrees of Taurus on April 22, 2009 - Mercury will return to this degree again and pass over this point May 30, 2009 as he stations direct and prepares to leave the storm on June 10th. Prepare to rethink, redraw, replan, renegotiate, etc something that happens over April 22nd around then (May 31 - June 8th)! This Mercury retrograde will stir up the most trouble...

Read more about the current Mercury retrograde period here

21 February 2009

In the process of becoming…Venus retrograde - March/April 2009

I love Venus…her intricacy and depth, the precision of her movements, the spiritual intensity and awakening we experience through her transformation from Evening to Morning Star. In much of modern western astrology we see Venusian energy watered down and formulated into key words and relatively light interpretations that are shameful sacrilege to her true essence. In my own recent journeys on the net I have read several interpretations of the upcoming Venus retrograde and while most of these contained valuable information, I felt that they failed to touch upon the true essence of the upcoming retrograde.

I’m not going to rehash all that others have written - what retrograde means, in particular. If you are here reading this, you already know what retrograde means. Nor am I going to get into explaining all of the astrological, metaphysical, or astronomical terminology I use as this distracts from the purpose and intent of this article (which is to discuss the possibilities and meaning of the Venus retrograde).

Venus will station retrograde at 15’27 Aries on March 6, 2009. She will be moving very slowly in preparation for this shift and will linger at 15 degrees of Aries from March 2 - March 11. The Sabian Symbol for 15 degrees of Aries is “An Indian weaving a blanket.” What does this image suggest to you? The weaving of a blanket calls upon the energy of yin and yang, the blending of passive and active energies that can bring about a balance…in the process of weaving, the warp and weft creates an item of worth, something to keep us warm when the sky darkens. Likewise, Venus stationing and turning retrograde at 15 degrees of Aries will help us create an ‘item of worth’ as our struggles and insights during this time will help refine our souls. During the retrograde period Venus will shift from her masculine Evening Star phase to her feminine Morning Star phase…this is a process of transformation and some may have to deal with the bloodier aspects of this becoming. This is not just a simple ‘time to go inward’ nor is it a time where we can nonchalantly minimize this energy down into a few simple guidelines and suggestions to get through. Because Venus herself has been so misunderstood and minimized to Goddess of the arts and love (which is a very loaded word to begin with, though most want to keep it on the happy and harmonious side), it is easy to understand why the advice given seems to focus so much on love relationships, finances, and creativity…but Venus is a dualistic goddess who can create a war as easily as she can bring about harmony and compromise. This war will manifest as an internal war for most of us, an inner conflict between what we truly feel and value and what we think we feel and value due to learned beliefs. In the chart for the exact time of her actual retrograde (12:17 PM EST) we see the Sun at 16’16 of Pisces approaching Uranus (22’15 Pisces) and trine the Moon at 17’58 Cancer…the Moon squares Venus. The Sun conjoins Uranus on 3/12 - 3/13 at 22’36 Pisces…approximately a 2 degree orb from the recent Saturn-Uranus opposition we experienced on February 5th. The Sun’s movement to conjoin Uranus will activate the energy of that opposition so if it has seemed relatively sleepy in comparison to November 2008’s Saturn/Uranus opposition, you may find that situations start to perk up in March, ready or not! In addition, Pluto stands out in the Venus retrograde chart as he is not making a major aspect…this suggests that his energy isn’t integrated and therefore can become a dominant yet hidden force (perhaps becoming noticed in late June when the Sun salutes this point from Cancer). Click on the chart below to see the Venus Retrograde chart:



Venus in her masculine Evening Star phase - in Aries! - will certainly dredge up primal energy while also initiating some of us into her deeper, darker energy through the shadow side of Love…Hate. We will be dipped into our unconscious and what lurks inside there isn’t likely to be a lovely woman standing on a half shell; no, I think quite a number of us will see her rising from the underworld covered in blood and guts. Whether literal in the form of terrorism, violent weather, relationship violence, or figuratively in the shape of past demons (thought patterns, memories, thoughts of old lovers) coming back to hound us, Venus in Aries as the Evening Star will aggressively push us forward no matter what that takes in whatever area of life denoted by where she is passing through our personal charts…but don’t expect this to all happen suddenly (though it is possible for those with direct planetary strikes, especially if you have planets from Pisces 20 - 22 and 29 degrees and Aries 7 - 15 degrees). It will take several months before we realize the full ramifications of this retrograde period, though we may start to have a good idea approximately 50 days after the New Venus on March 27th at 7‘15 Aries (Sabian Symbol: A man successfully expressing himself in two realms at once).

I expect we will see shifts in relationships on a global scale, which can lead to bloodbaths just as easily as positive change. Although I would love to see nations joining together in harmony and concern for one another, this isn’t quite a natural expression for Aries. Let’s face it, Aries can be very impulsive, very selfish, and driven by a desire to show off as well as show who’s boss . If Venus retrograde in Aries feels vulnerable, is she more likely to talk things through or take immediate action? Aries is much more physical than mental and doesn’t take kindly to being questioned, refused, or disobeyed. On the positive side, this energy also presents an opportunity to start anew and to develop a new perspective and improved relationships with others who are different and hold a different view of the world…it is how the energy is used that will determine the outcome. Blind faith would paint a joyous and happy picture of world peace emerging from compromise and a striving to really do what is best for all concerned…reality may present a much more somber experience.

On a more personal level, take a look back about 8 years to March 9, 2001 as the 2009 retrograde is a continuation of the Venus cycle in Aries. What happened between March 2001 and June 2001? You may find that the current retrograde eerily brings up situations that were happening then, but you are not the same person now, are you? Venus has been working her magic on you and helping you in your personal process of becoming. What - and potentially who - was important to you then may no longer suit who you are or the person you are becoming. Your values have changed and will continue to shift, perhaps noticeably, over the next four months. As you dip down into the depths of your own inner being you may find that you are no longer satisfied toeing the line your elders have set for you. Indeed the realm of relationships is undergoing major changes, which I see daily in my work…fighting the changes taking place will create a battle within and this may express as anger, aggression, depression, fault-finding, and a deep emotional/mental imbalance. Venus retrograde in Aries is asking a question, and she is asking it very loudly! Are you up for the task of approaching love and life in a whole new way? Can you initiate changes in your personal life that will help you integrate more of your own personal chart/potential for the evolution of the human race? Are your values in line with who you (and we) are becoming, or are you caught up so tightly in the web of the past that you will struggle and fight with outmoded beliefs and desires, some of which aren’t even your own? During this retrograde cycle it is your obligation to explore your deepest most personal needs, those needs that inspire you and light the flames within. Instead of focusing on faults in your relationships, keep an eye on the positives. If the positives are far and few between…well, the New Venus offers a long-term opportunity to make progress and start anew. While Venus remains retrograde it is better not to take action but rather to contemplate and consider what needs to change…then when Venus is fully in her Morning Star phase and visible to the naked eye in the morning sky (mid-May), begin to implement the necessary changes that will lead to a truer you.

The Venus retrograde will affect each of us in a unique way, depending on what aspects she makes to our natal and progressed charts, what house she is traveling in , and our own individual upbringing, worldview, societal imprint, and personality. During this 4 month time period (March - June) we will experience an awakening that is very personal. It is a time of discovery…if you shy away from exploring, you may find that the energy is thrust on you from outside yourself. Those who fight the need to look within and refuse to do it will have to deal with more sudden manifestations of Venus in her raw form. At the inferior conjunction, as the Sun approaches Venus from behind (this conjunction is the New Venus and also when she begins the shift from Evening Star to Morning Star) some of us may find that the dead has arisen from the grave and is walking about looking for closure, understanding, or renewal. Is this Zombie a part of your own inner being you have denied? Is it a lover who you miss dearly but denied in the past out of fear of true relating? Is it a dead value or an outdated view of who you are? Discord and discontent will plant the deeper seed of consciousness now that will grow and bloom in June…be it an anemone or a rose! Both have value when it comes to the shaping of the Spirit.

This retrograde period ends with Venus taking her time over 29 degrees of Pisces (4/12 - 4/24), turning direct on April 17th at 29’12 (Sabian Symbol: A prism). Order will eventually come out of the chaos, although the retrograde re-entry into Pisces promises a bit more chaos than many would choose to deal with. All the progress we’ve contemplated making for our Self over the retrograde period may suddenly turn back toward making excuses in order to please others. Being what others want or expect of you will be too easy to slip back into, but it will be a temporary back-step. Once Venus crosses over 15 degrees of Aries again on May 20 - 21 it will be more difficult to play pretend and deny your own needs.

I find it interesting that the Sabian Symbol at the beginning of the retrograde is about finding the right balance to create something (someone) of worth and the symbol as Venus turns direct is a prism…if we are able to find the necessary balance through the lessons Venus is helping to teach us we will be able to see the many nuances of being, within ourselves and within others…how we are all separate but important manifestations of the One. As the Mayans, who based their own Spiritual lives on the cycles of Venus, greeted one another, “I am another like yourself.”

18 January 2009

Connections...Using Astrological threads to create deeper understanding and intimacy in our relationships

Ahhh, yes...I've been asked to 'teach' so many times in the past year so I have decided to put up an article that was originally published in 2007 in the Australian WellBeing Astrology Guide. It explores three of my own personal relationships and what I've learned through the experiences, along with astrological information and charts to study. Have fun! LOL

Actually I was setting up several in-depth teaching sessions in 2005 when I was torn apart in a serious car accident (May 2005), which I am still being treated for and likely will be for many, many years. I can show the chart for the accident here:



So we will see...perhaps later this year I will get back to the teaching point. Notice how far away Uranus was from my Mars/North Node at the time of the accident. I had been dealing with that transit for almost 3 years and had started to think I'd make it through as I was so careful and aware. Guess Mar/Uranus opposition the Sun wasn't much better, not with the naughty transiting SN on my Ascendent too. Nope...was struck from behind by an idiot doing 55 mph as I was coming to a stop at a redlight. He was looking down doing paperwork and talking on a cell phone and 'thought' he was in the right turn lane. The man never even BRAKED! I somehow managed to stop my car and his full sized truck, barely tapping the one in front of me while knocked unconscious. Lucky to be here, I know it. I could go on a rant here, but I won't. Suffice it to say that due to Florida NO FAULT laws, even with him admitting full responsibility, I received less than a grand in my lawsuit and have to pay out of pocket weekly for my care and can't have needed surgery. All those flocking down here really have no idea what they are getting themselves into. But this is, more or less, an astrology blog so here is the beginning of the Connections article, lol:

Relationships, particularly love and sexual relationships, offer some of our most challenging and yet rewarding experiences in life. Have you ever felt the deep, silent sadness that creeps upon you when a partner grows cold or indifferent? Felt the sharp sting of bitter words during a quarrel? Most, if not all, of us have. I have, but I have also felt the pure solid bliss of understanding, acceptance and mutual love. Without love in our lives we would wither and fade away physically, spiritually, and emotionally. We all need love to grow and evolve; we also need to experience loving relationships in order to understand and really get to know ourselves. Enjoying and exploring our connection to our partner enables us to experience who we are and discover the greater potential within our self.

The intricate connections between two people can be traced by using a compatibility method known as Synastry. Synastry is the study of a relationship between two people and shows the relationship from the perspective of each individual involved rather than simply their combined energy (which is shown with a Composite Chart). To use Synastry we draw up two natal charts (also called nativities or birth charts) and then combine the charts from each individual’s perspective. This gives us a clear picture of how each person views the partner and shows us the intricate interactions and reactions to one another as well as the energy created within the relationship itself.

When working with Synastry we are working with four charts at once, each individual natal chart and two dual wheel charts. The dual wheels are created by placing the partner’s natal chart around the outside of the person’s chart, and then the other dual wheel is created by reversing the order (the partner’s natal chart is used as the focus, with the other person’s natal chart plotted around it). By combining the houses, signs, and planets of two individuals in this manner we can determine the more problematic or smooth areas operating in a relationship. As energy is neutral, even the ‘worst’ aspects between two people can be used positively. Negative or ‘hard’ aspects are the most dynamic and growth-oriented. Without these types of aspects in a relationship things would be quite boring. The aspects often given this dark spin are the conjunction (0 degrees), the opposition (180 degrees), the square (90 degrees), the quincunx (150 degrees), the semisquare (45 degrees), the sesquiquadrate (135 degrees), and sometimes others depending on each individual astrologer’s practice. I prefer to think of these aspects as challenging rather than ‘bad,’ and therefore I consider them transformative in nature. Without enough of these transformative, growth-related aspects in a relationship it is unlikely two people would be interested in forming much of a relationship at all, let alone an intimate, sexual bond.

If two people love, honour and respect one another they will want to make the effort to improve and develop the connection even if they have difficulties between them others may not understand. With this in mind, it must also be noted that the couple must desire the same type of relationship and both must want to make it work if it is to become a long-term union. It isn’t always easy to see how things will work out between two people from the Synastry chart alone, but it does provide a good solid base with which to begin.

Relationships require fine-tuning, lots of practice, compassion, and the ability to laugh even in the darkest moments... Read the rest!