The Astrology Blog – 20 April 2015
I’m back from London and, in spite of being clobbered by the British cold bugs, managed to pack a lot in. The highlight was the first Be Your Own Astrologer workshop last weekend that was a great success. A huge thank you to the fabulous group of students who came along, and who tackled all the material with such enthusiasm and insight. Everyone enjoyed the day and the aims were achieved, to ensure that everyone came away with a deeper understanding of how astrology really works, at both a universal level and a particular level, ie their own horoscope.
The next workshop is being planned for the end of June although I’m still firming up exact dates and venues. It will be either Saturday 20th or 27th June. I’ve already been asked to do a follow up workshop as well so a level 2 event is also being planned, called Planets and Prediction. This will be held either Sunday 21st or 28th June. Do get in touch if you’d like to find out more or reserve a place.
The Greek Island Summer School
11 May – The Crystal Zodiac with Judy Hall
6 of 20 places available
The new season is about to start and there are some fantastic package bargains up for grabs for Judy Hall’s week.
The pick of the bunch is with Cosmos Holidays. They do a selection of hotels in Nidri but the best deal is at Costas and Sophie’s Studios, which is set back from Nidri high street down a very quiet lane, own pool, English speaking owners, all very comfortable and relaxed. Other students have stayed here before and loved it. For 2 people sharing the price for the week is £211 each, which includes your baggage allowance and your transfers from and to the airport. Bargain!
They’re also offering the Avra Beach Hotel (yes it’s on the beach!) for £219 each which also includes breakfast. If you want to book a room per person allow about another £40 a head. Here’s the link –
http://www.cosmos.co.uk/search-results/package/package/eg/egl/eglni/gllc/2015-05-10/0/0/7/lgw/1/1-2-0-0/0/0/default
Olympic Holidays have dropped the price again and are offering £244 for your flights, baggage allowance and accommodation at Demetra Studios, a beautifully maintained small block of rooms on three floors, family run, set in its own gardens with its own pool and poolside bar and right on the seafront. The price is the same whether you have your own room or share with a friend – no single person supplement. You will need to allow about 20 Euros each way for transfers – to be arranged by me – DO NOT book Olympic’s own transfers as they’re over priced! Here’s the link to see more about the property:
If you’re searching for other deals or flight only the destination airport is Preveza, the name of the island is Lefkas or Lefkada and the name of the resort is Nidri.
What’s happening this week?
All times are stated in BST.
I love this time of year in Greece. Spring always starts rather suddenly – the winter rains just stop, the sun comes out, everything starts bursting into bed and the temperatures start climbing. Nidri is the usual buzz of activity when getting ready for a new season, and our local airport opens in two weeks time. Hurray, for the next six months there’ll be no more trekking via Athens or Corfu for UK trips!
The change from having doors and windows closed to having them open is wonderful, and the garden beckons. This is the week that we get to the garden centre for all the cuttings and tiny pots of primulas and petunias that, once potted, take off at a rate of knots. In a couple of weeks time everything will be a riot of colour. The evenings are just starting to light up with the flashing of the magical fireflies and all of this for me fits beautifully with the arrival of the Sun in Taurus, sign of fixed earth that rules nature and produce, and is associated with all things sensual –
Monday Sun ingress Taurus (10.43)
The Sun doesn’t pick up any aspects from the other planets until next week but is nevertheless now the backdrop for the next four weeks. The rest of the astrological picture for this week is actually very busy, proactive and not without some contention, but if you want to capture the Taurus vibe then think in terms of making things materialize and using all your resources – time, money, love, affection, hands-on help – to the best possible advantage. This is a Venus ruled sign so think about what you truly value, and spend time with the people you truly care about – cook them dinners, go out for drinks, go shopping with your girlfriends – or enjoy connecting with those who bring something very real and sweet into your life.
This message is strongly underlined by two other planets also now travelling through Taurus, the mind planet Mercury and the action planet Mars. They will meet up just as we go into Thursday, and both make a trine (harmonious) to Pluto in Capricorn, another earth sign, before they conjunct each other. Here’s the sequence –
Tuesday
Mercury square Jupiter (05.17)
Mars trine Pluto (22.32)
Wednesday
Mercury trine Pluto (14.26)
Thursday
Mercury conjunct Mars (00.04)
The Mercury – Mars – Pluto dance is intriguing and potentially very powerful. With whom are you in contact now, who is helping you, or who needs help from you? Mercury may be the planet of communication but as he travels through earthy Taurus there is a sense that words are not always enough, or even completely necessary. Set store by those who aim to deliver, who make a promise and do their best to see it through, by those who step in when you really need them, who may not say much but whose actions show their sincerity. At the other end of the spectrum, Mars in Taurus is in his sign of detriment and says steer clear of those who try to bully you, who try to force their own ways of doing things upon you, and stick to the path that you know is right for you. In some situations this will require a lot of courage and persistence but the positive side of Mars in Taurus is refusing to be deterred or derailed. I should know, Mars in Taurus is my own ruling planet! My mantra in life is “never give up”, and it’s served me well over the years.
Note that Pluto loves to make “no going back” changes but Mars in Taurus can signal eitherresistance or obstacles. Mars is the god of war – but Venus ruled Taurus tends to take the option of anything for an easy life – so there is definitely a conflict here in terms of what is worth fighting for, and what isn’t, or a conflict of personality types – such as proactive v avoidant. If you think you’re in the latter category in any sense, and if you want to move your life on in a very definite way, now is the time to be brutally honest with yourself – what am I avoiding, and why, why am I procrastinating, what am I afraid of? If I were really to speak my mind what would happen? Would it really be so scary or awful? Taurus actually loves getting things out of the territory of unknown and into the world of black and white. So feel the fear, and do it anyway. If you’re in the former category be careful not to bulldoze but continue to carve out your own niche and stay practical – Taurus rules money!
A brilliant example of this symbolism is happening right now for my niece, who sadly is getting divorced which is hard enough, but also having to find ways to continue a business on her own. Yesterday she started a “go fund me” campaign (I’d never heard of this before!) to start raising the money that she’s going to need to relocate to a new studio and to equip it. Everyone who makes a donation to the fund gets something in return – from discount vouchers to actual goods, depending on the level of the donation. This completely captures the Mercury/Mars/Pluto and Taurus themes – especially as her business is textiles. The link is here –
http://www.gofundme.com/innerspiral Go Sara, so proud of you!
What else? Mercury trine Pluto in particular asks some very deep and searching questions – now’s the time to answer them. Be prepared for some arguments or some friction. Mercury conjunct Mars is a verbal punch up – in any sign – but if there are resentments simmering or contentious issues to address then midweek is a gloves off time and it’s better to clear the air rather than body swerve the things that you may already have been avoiding for too long. On a more positive note this aspect is fantastic for final decisions, psychological insights and new answers to old problems.
Remember that astrology can work at a very physical and literal level – especially in Taurus! If ever we’re going to feel up against our physical limitations it’s now. I have a colleague whose partner is a chef (Taurus profession) and who has broken his hand (part of the body ruled by Mercury) after a car accident (Mercury rules transport). He’s now facing surgery (ruled by Pluto) and may have to have a metal plate in his hand. So the Mercury – Mars – Pluto alignment can be anything from barbed words and deep thoughts, to injuries that stop us in our tracks. Please take extra care this week with driving, machinery, knives – Mars in Taurus is a wound that can cut deep, psychologically or physically, but Pluto’s presence signals healing and regeneration.
On a much lighter and easier note the other player this week is Venus, the love and pleasure planet, now on her way through playful and inventive Gemini –
Wednesday
Venus sextile Jupiter (19.42)
Sunday
Venus sextile Uranus (22.32)
The sextile is considered in traditional astrology to be the most harmonious aspect, formed when planets align at the same degree but two signs apart. Jupiter is the bringer of luck, opportunity, generosity and anything that makes your world a bigger and better place. Uranus is the bringer of change of the spontaneous, unexpected or unusual variety. Both are associated with moves and events that are liberating or exciting. With Venus in the sign of the Twins also look out for themes of duality or choices, especially with regard to matters that until now have been slow moving. Remember that Jupiter has just recently turned direct after his period of 5 months in retrograde motion and is now starting to pick up speed again. Relationship issues, house hunting, holiday hunting, all things related to overseas or education, money matters, special hopes – all of these things are gathering pace and even something that had seemed totally stuck or irresolvable could now get sorted surprisingly quickly. Finally, the Venus – Jupiter – Uranus combination also spells fun – so do what makes you happy and make a point of finding time to set aside your concerns and enjoy yourself!
Until next week, with love from Greece
Joanna
My son has his sun in Gemini and his Moon in Taurus, conjuct, born on 21st May
This week his place of work ( a Cafe) has been set on fire, arson, his car engine seized almost blowing up, and he has had a massive falling out with his Aries girlfriend!! Mars at work??
Sounds like Uranus at work too!