If you want to go straight to this week’s blog just scroll down past the course information and horoscope links.
Courses
If you want to explore the fascinating subjects of astrology or tarot, combined with a week’s holiday on this beautiful Ionian island of Lefkada, The Greek Island Summer School is about to enter its 13th year. Owing to demand the maximum number of students has been raised to 8 per group, and there is an additional tarot week running 5 May. Private tuition is also available by arrangement from May to October. Email me for all enquiries or bookings on joannaw@otenet.gr
Here are the course dates for 2014:
Working with Tarot
Choose either:
w/c 5 May 2014 ( 7 of 8 places available) or
w/c 19 May 2014 (2 of 8 places available)
These courses are suitable for all levels. We revise the traditional divinatory meanings of the 78 Tarot cards and contribute our own. You will also learn a variety of spreads so that you are equipped for answering any kind of question. Throughout the week we also explore the nature of working with clients so you will hone both your divinatory and counselling skills, with theory and with practice readings.
More details on the website here
Discovering Astrology – foundationcourse for beginners/refreshers
w/c 2 June 2014 (4 of 8 places available)
Lift astrology out of the Sun sign columns and discover horoscopy, the symbolism of the signs, planets and houses. Take your first steps in chart interpretation and making predictions, for the day do day things of life and for the major cycles that show important life events, such as relationships and vocation. Throughout the week we will work on your own horoscopes as well as celebrities that interest us and case histories from my own practice.
Check out the website for more details…
Astrology & Tarot – how to combine both skills
w/c 8 September 2014 (3 of 8 places available)
REVISED COURSE DESCRIPTION!
This course is suitable for the student who has already ventured into studying both tarot and astrology, but you certainly don’t need to be an expert. Whether you are a refresher/intermediate student the aim is improve your tarot skills through deepening your understanding of the card meanings and learning how to work with different spreads. Re the astrology we will revise the signs/houses and the nature and cycles of the planets. You will learn how to use the Ephemerides – the tables that follow the movement of the planets day by day – so that you can move easily between the past, present and future. By adding the astrological bow to your arrow you can offer your clients extra guidance in terms of their current life cycle, and enrich the accuracy of your readings with key dates for unfolding events.
Details on the website…
Good Timing – Predictive Techniques in Astrology
w/c 22 September 2014 (4 of 8 places available)
REVISED COURSE DESCRIPTION!
This course is suitable for the student who has already completed a beginners’ course or who is familiar with the basic symbolism of the nuts and bolts of horoscopy – signs, planets and houses. The aim is to pull together all the threads of natal interpretation, to deepen your understanding of aspects and to learn how the “natal promise” within each individual horoscope comes to life through the predictive techniques of transits, returns and progressions. You will learn how to use the Ephemerides effectively, to work with “retrodiction” (what has already happened) as well as prediction, what is happening now and in the future. You will learn how to conduct your consultation so that you are fully equipped to offer a professional service to your own clients.
To read about the week, check out the website…
If you have any queries or would like to reserve a place please contact me direct here
Horoscopes
For an overview of the month and your January horoscope here’s the link to the column on Network She:
http://www.networkshe.co.uk/category/horoscope
The Astrology Blog – w/b 20 January 2014
Okay it’s all aboard the bus of the magical mystery tour with the Sun’s ingress into Aquarius in the early hours of this morning. This is, in my view, an incredibly complex sign so let me start with an overview of the Aquarian nature and concerns.
Firstly in traditional astrology this is the Sun’s sign of detriment as it’s the opposite to Leo, where the Sun blazes away in his sign of dignity. Aquarians are therefore not especially known for warmth and can come across as cool, detached or even indifferent. The truth is, however, that they have very strong feelings and even stronger opinions.
Leo represents the power and creativity of the individual, but Aquarius looks above the concept of self in favour of the collective. Leo is subjective, Aquarius is objective and concerns itself with the bigger picture. Communism, and organizations such as Greenpeace or Amnesty International, can all be said to be Aquarian.
The paradox of this sign lies in the fact that Aquarians prize their own individuality and often feel “different” from the rest of the world, often from a very early age. The ability to detach is a double edged sword and becomes a distinct handicap when it comes to fitting in and forging personal relationships. Aquarians are often easily embarrassed or just plain uncomfortable with displays of emotion and can be disconnected from their own authentic feelings. Intimacy does not come easily to them, even though they may secretly crave it. A matter of fact approach can all too easily give the wrong impression of needing nobody, which results in their feeling unneeded. Aquarius has to learn the art of seduction and courtship from Leo who simply claims attention as a birthright.
The rulership of Aquarius is shared by two planets:
The Saturn symbolism describes the Aquarian who is serious, disciplined, organised, deadly logical and highly systematic. Most Aquarians are, for example, compulsive list makers and place great value on their own particular way of doing things. In this respect they need to guard against inflexibility.
The Uranian symbolism describes the other type of Aquarian who is the rebel with or without a cause, the misfit or the mad professor – unusual, eccentric, quirky and way ahead of their time. Or in the words of one of my Aquarian friends, “it’s not me who is strange, it’s everyone else”.
Both types believe that they are right. Absolutely. If you’ve ever persuaded an Aquarian to change their minds about something they feel strongly about please write in and tell us how you did it.
Back to the present moment it will pay to look at the world through Aquarian eyes for the next few weeks. Be especially alert to situations that need dispassionate decision making. Try to go with what makes sense rather than acting purely on personal preferences or desires. Friendships also climb up the scale of importance under this sign – the time is right for catching up with friends, making new ones or arranging any kind of group activity/joining a group for leisure or work interests.
Single? If you want to take a leaf out of Aquarius’ book – especially while Venus is still retrograde in Saturn’s other sign of Capricorn – focus on a meeting of minds. The most successful relationships will now spring from friendship and intellectual equality rather than from lust! If you’re in a relationship remind yourself of the things that you love about your partner and put shared interests/mutual friends higher up your list of priorities for a while. Venus will be turning direct again at the end of next week and the more effort you invest in any important relationship now the better.
What else? Mercury is also in Aquarius and is the other key player this week. Here’s the sequence:
- Mercury semi-sextile (a minor but harmonious aspect) Venus – Tuesday 09.28 GMT
- Mercury trine (harmonious) Mars in Libra – Friday 14.58 GMT
- Mercury square (inharmonious) Saturn in Scorpio – Saturday 11.57 GMT
Remember that all aspects are at their most potent as they are “applying” – ie becoming exact. The 48 hours prior to the aspect becoming exact are the most important. Once the aspect has happened it is then said to be “separating” and therefore losing its potency. An aspect will be past its sell by date 48 hours, usually less, after being exact. (nb a longer time period can be allowed for aspects from the major planets, the 48 hour time period applies to the personal planets – Sun, Mercury, Venus and Mars).
So, note that Mercury rules everything under the communication umbrella – decisions, news, ideas, discussions etc. And now that he’s in Aquarius, sign of technology, emails and texts take on greater significance. You can get a lot done or spread the word. If you have a website now’s the time to use it to much greater effect. Get your stuff updated and share links. Look out for news/help/business deals with women first (Venus) and then men (Mars) later in the week. Otherwise these first two Mercury contacts are great for your social life, having fun, lots of chat and creative thinking of all kinds.
The Mercury – Saturn contact at the weekend is of a slightly different flavor. Saturn moving into the picture under a difficult aspect signals delays, obstacles or bad news. Look out for cancellations or changes of plan, and avoid putting yourself or anyone else under pressure. Pushing for answers under a Mercury – Saturn square is pretty much guaranteed to engender resentment or to produce a big fat “no”. If someone doesn’t want to talk, or fall in with your plans, leave them be. Similarly, don’t allow yourself to get talked into anything that doesn’t feel right for you.
Also this aspect operates a bit like a retrograde Mercury – double check that someone has received information sent earlier in the week, don’t travel if you don’t have to, and watch your personal possessions, especially phones, keys, tablets, cameras etc. Bide your time with any important issue that hits a sticking point. You won’t have long to wait. Next week brings a surge of major activity – you will see why something was barred to you or why it was good to give in gracefully and unemotionally – and using the weekend to ease back and conserve your energy will be no bad thing.