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SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT!
I've started posting to the community blog on a wonderful site for baby boomers called ThirdAge.com. I urge you to check it out. It's lots of great information on a variety of topics and many community features, too. I'm posting there once a week on Wednesdays, hoping to provide additional insight on astrological topics and events. Click here to visit the ThirdAge blog.
Each month, shortly before the sun moves into a new sign (which usually happens around the 20th or 21st of the month), I'll suggest a way for your sign to take advantage of the opportunities provided by one of the solar month's major astrological features. In addition, you can read a short article on one aspect of putting together a horoscope forecast that will give you more insight into how to interpret your own chart.
Finally, I'll provide a list of keywords for some of the planets, signs, and houses that make up a horoscope so that you can further customize your horoscope.
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Happy Birthday, Gemini!
This year, during the month of your solar return, the inner planets are busy shifting around in the sky. Mercury, your ruling planet, will hang out in your sign for a couple of weeks until June 3 when it will shift into Cancer--on the same day Mars moves into Leo. Venus enters Taurus on May 29. So, like last month, the inner planets are spreading themselves around, rather than congregating into energy hubs. This means, I think, that your best friend this solar month is the sun itself.
Hopefully, having the sun in your sign all month will boost your creativity. Not necessarily as in doing something artsy-craftsy this month, although that would be fine, but as in what do you want to create in your life over the course of the next year. What do you want to come into being between now and your next birthday?
The power days for making your birthday wish are the new moon in your sign on May 27 and days following it. What kind of things should you wish for this year, what should you create? Well, you know the circumstances of your own life better than I do, but I'll give a general overview of what it is that Geminis were born to create.
The deep life purpose of the sign of Gemini isn't really about creating anything tangible. There are other signs for that. What the sign of Gemini has is a spark of divine ability to create ideas. The ideas that Gemini can come up with are the means by which the sign helps support all us other humans on the planet. Gemini has the ability to suggest things. It has the ability to communicate things. It has the ability to extract meaning from disparate small events and pieces of information. Gemini needs ideas and concepts to be happy, and therefore many actual Gemini people do too.
I don't mean by this that you should ignore the tangible. If you need a new car, wish for a new car. If you need a love companion, wish for one. But don't stop there. Use your brilliant brain this month to create an idea of what your life is about, should be about, will be about, what you want it to be about. Your Gemini sign gets energized and made cheerful by these kinds of ideas, and when it gets energized and cheerful it shares its pleasure. When it does this, it makes the other people around it happy. When other people are happy, your sign gets even happier. It's what's called a virtuous circle--when one thing goes right, other things follow naturally.
I realize some of you are being hammered by squares from Uranus in Pisces to your natal planets, and you may not even feel all that cheerful these days. But really, honestly, squares or not, if you can come up with even just one idea to sustain you, you'll prevail. Just treat yourself to one idea for what you want your life to be about this coming year, and the seed will be planted at the right time, and you'll get further along in making that idea manifest in reality than you might imagine right now.
Be happy! Celebrate your birthday and the gift of your wonderful mind. Celebrate the summer if you live in the northern Hemisphere; celebrate that spark of divine stuff in your head and the way its energy can propagate like a wave to the people around you--making you, in your own unique way, irreplaceable.
For some additional keywords you can use to customize your own horoscope - click here. For instructions on how to use the keywords - click here.
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As I looked at the sky this month, I wondered what to focus on for you, Aries. Venus in your own sign, moving into Taurus and your second house of income? Mars, your ruler, moving into Leo and your solar 5th house of love affairs? Those are all pretty good things, but I decided the most important thing is actually the sun in Gemini in your solar third house of communication.
Why? Because your sign's underlying belief is that actions speak louder than words. This month you need to know that words speak louder than actions. Surprisingly, despite your best intentions, people don't always know where Arien people are coming from. It seems like they should because the sign is so straightforward; it likes to make up its mind and do things. Ah, but other humans are funny creatures, sometimes they need and want to have things explained to them verbally--even when maybe it seems like it should be obvious.
Want to take advantage of opportunities for love and income? You'll need to say so. Want to push along a pet project at work? Communicate that. Not just your decisions and desires but your thought processes. The more you communicate this month, the more people will understand your true Arien self.
That's a good thing because when people know your true self, they like you. When they don't, they sometimes think your sign is arrogant or egotistical or bossy, even dictatorial or a bully. They don't need to think things like that because that's not your intention. So explain your intentions this month--talk it up and be political if need be. You'll be furthering your own agenda in the process.
For some additional keywords you can use to customize your own horoscope - click here. For instructions on how to use the keywords - click here.
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This month's new moon on May 27 is in the solar house associated with you--the second house of financial, physical, and emotional security. Taurus above all other signs instinctively craves security. The entire subject is both fascinating and disturbing to Taurus. Fascinating, because your sign values security. Disturbing, because the very concept of security means that there are things you need to be safe from.
This month, with a new moon in this area and Venus in your own sign from May 29 on, you have an excellent chance to pay attention to what you need to do for your own financial and emotional security. Follow your instincts here, but do give the matter some thought. Do you need to make some investments, or change the ones you have? Think about buying or selling a home, or preparing for retirement? Do you need to mend fences with anyone you have an emotional attachment to? Whatever it is that can make you more secure, place it firmly in mind in the days following the new moon, and then take action. It's almost guaranteed to make you feel good.
For some additional keywords you can use to customize your own horoscope - click here. For instructions on how to use the keywords - click here.
I guess this could be a moody month for you Cancer. Your sign is known as a moody one anyway, and the sky's in a bit of a restless state. Mars is in your own sign, giving you a dose of nervous energy that sometimes tends to fluctuate when in your sensitive sign. Not only that, the new moon, the sun, and for a brief time, Mercury, are all in Gemini in your solar 12th house of subconscious nervousness. Things are not necessarily what they seem this month, as the inner workings of your sign are getting all stirred up in preparation for your solar return next month.
On the other hand, though, there's a nice full moon in your solar 6th house of work and service. The full moon in my solar 6th house is my favorite full moon of the year because it often means an opportunity to wrap up something at work. I always feel better when I get something wrapped up and off my to-do list in that sector; you may very well feel the same. This full moon takes place on June 11. Try turning your attention to getting things cleared up and completed in this sector and it may help you ride out any overstimulation in other areas. Not long after that, the sun will enter your own sign and you'll have a birthday new moon to look forward to on June 25. So, soon things will be a little clearer for you, I hope.
For additional keywords you can use to customize your horoscope - click here. For instructions on how to use the keywords - click here.
Hello, Leo. This month I suppose you need to prepare to deal with your emotions. Mars enters your sign on June 3 and meets up with Saturn on the 17th and 18th. Mars is a significator of strong emotions, and I have no idea what it's going to feel like saying to Saturn when they have a conversation mid-month. There may be a feeling of pressure that goes along with this configuration.
You might try hanging out with your friends or participating in a group or club to siphon off some of the energy. You have a nice new moon in Gemini in your solar 11th house on May 27. The 11th house is the house of friendship and sociability and group participation. You may want to take advantage of it because, with Saturn in your own sign for awhile, you kind of need an outlet for your emotions anyway. A place to blow off steam. You've got planets on all the angles again this month, and the sky just seems to keep wanting to pull you all kinds of different directions.
You may not have had as time for socializing under this fixed sign pattern as you normally would. So this is the month to correct that, and just get together with people and do something fun, or useful, or interesting. Laugh, bitch about your life, share, organize, whatever you feel like to just release this heavy Mars/Saturn combination. It's practically your best chance all year to get involved with something because the good side of Mars in your sign is that it can give you more physical energy than normal. So even if you're tired, carve out some time to get away and be with people outside your day-to-day circle of responsibilities and just let your hair down. That's my advice--take it for what it's worth!
For keywords you can use to customize an alternate interpretation- click here. For instructions on how to use the keywords - click here.
VIRGO: AUGUST 23 - SEPTEMBER 22
Hello, Virgo. So this month your rulling planet, Mercury, starts out in Gemini in your solar 10th house of career and ambitions. On June 3, it moves into Cancer and your solar 11th house of socializing. This provides you with a couple of good opportunities.
The first is an opportunity to up the fascination factor in your career. Virgos need mental stimulation from their work anyway. This is the month to think about how to keep it interesting for yourself. A bored Virgo is not a good thing! This effort doesn't need to be anything heavy; it could be as simple as doing a little networking so that you meet some new people in your field. Lots of people don't like networking when it seems like they're trying to get something tangible out of it. But networking as in just introducing yourself to some new people to see what they're like--that would be an excellent use of this month's energies.
Take that same energy into your social life as the month progresses. Hang with out friends, acquaintances, be willing to meet some new folks. Talk it up, make contact, check in with people--all of these are good ways to keep your ruling planet happy this month. It's also good for you as an overall strategy these days anyway. This continues to be a year of transition for you, what with eclipses in your own and opposite sign and Uranus still squaring your sign. Being sociable is a good way to deal with the ups and downs of Virgo life these days. It gives you an outlet and a different perspective and it drains any excess energy that might be stirred up (this month, for example, Mars is stirring up your solar 12th house, not always comfortable). So hang out and have fun. After all, it's almost summer! Enjoy!
For keywords you can use to customize an alternate interpretation- click here. For instructions on how to use the keywords - click here.
LIBRA: SEPTEMBER 23 - OCTOBER 22
I continue to think this is an excellent year for Libras, overall, although I realize that personal chart factors for some of you may make you think I'm crazy. But for the sign itself, things look good. This month has a nice treat, too. The sun and Mercury start out the solar month, until June 3, in compatible Gemini in your solar 9th house. This is excellent for Libra because it indicates stimulation of the mind, and Libras actually love intellectual stimulation. You can seek out knowledge, study something, or do some research.
But you really don't have to do anything formal. You can pick up a nice historical novel, and start reading it early before your summer vacation. Rent some epic movies. Dive into Joseph Campbell and his fascinating tales of myths from around the world. Brush up on your astrology studies. Just whatever you'd like to entertain your brain. It'll make your Libra mind happy.
After June 3, Mercury will leave the sun to enter Cancer. Here there's a bit of a need as well as an opportunity to address any restlessness and dissatisfaction in your career. If you're not making the progress you'd like, now's the time to turn your thoughts toward improving the situation. If your problem is overstimulation instead of boredom, this is the month to think about what to do about that. When the sun moves into Cancer on June 21, you'll have a chance to put your thoughts into action. But first you need to think them! So go ahead and about what you'd like in the career sector and get ready to make your move later in June.
For keywords you can use to customize your horoscope - click here. For instructions on how to use the keywords - click here.
SCORPIO: OCTOBER 23 - NOVEMBER 21
I have this feeling that I've been hammering the love theme at you off and on for awhile, Scorpio. Well, I'm back at it this month. Venus, the love planet, will begin a tour of your 7th solar house of relationships as of May 29. This is your last chance for 7th house energy all year, so take advantage of it.
I should explain what Venus in the 7th house does. It does not deliver your soul mate to your doorstep. What it does is try to persuade you that romantic involvement is a good thing and that you'd like some. If you're already in a committed relationship, it suggests to you that now might be a good time to appreciate it and nurture it. In other words, it tries to (gently) open you up to the love possibilities in your life. Venus is not a loud planet like Uranus in your 5th house of love affairs; it's actually fairly quiet. But if you listen real hard and you like the opening up to love feeling, then this is your chance to capitalize on it. You've still got Jupiter and Uranus on your side in the quest for romance (if that is indeed your quest), so feel free to use all the good energy at your disposal, and to convince yourself that you've got it, even if it doesn't feel like it. If the love sector hasn't been going all that well this year in spite of all the good astrology, try affirmations like "I am open to love in my life." Couldn't hurt. Meanwhile, if romance is the last thing you want, it's still a dang good month to spread harmony and generally loving positive feelings around while Venus is encouraging you to.
For keywords you can use to customize your horoscope - click here. For instructions on how to use the keywords - click here.
SAGITTARIUS: NOVEMBER 22 - DECEMBER 21
So Sag, there's just something about your sign and the 6th house of employment. Although many individual Sagittarians are excellent employees, your sign itself doesn't really care for bosses, structures, routines, efficiency, or any of the dreary stuff it associates with the 6th house. Often, while you are busy being an excellent employee, your sun sign will be sneaking around behind your back trying to stir up disgruntlement in your work situation. How it does this, you may not quite be sure (it often has something to do with your often irrepressible frankness), but it does like to upset the apple-cart. Of course, you aren't the only sign to suffer from things like this, but I do notice it for many Sagittarians.
This month is your one chance of the year to take advantage of Venus in Taurus to counteract that effect. Venus is Ms. Unity, and she generally tries to work the room, creating good feelings as she goes. Get her to work for you in your life as an employee or volunteer and reap the benefits. If any disharmony has built up in the workplace, this month is your best chance to clear that up without accidentally offending people you weren't really intending to offend. It's a good month to express affection and good will and getting alongness with the people you work with. Bond with your co-workers, be nice, be social, chill, and enjoy a good vibe as best you can. You may or may not like your job, but this is your best month all year to say "well, at least I work with a lot of nice people."
By the way, it's also an excellent month to accidentally go off your pre-summer, "how am I going to get into a bathing suit" diet. Venus in Taurus is awfully fond of candy, treats, fine dining, and putting on the pounds. If this isn't in your plans for the spring, take note, and adjust accordingly.
For keywords you can use to customize your horoscope - click here. For instructions on how to use the keywords - click here.
Oooh, Capricorn, Venus in Taurus in your solar 5th house of love. Sounds like another good month for romance to me. Feel free to indulge in the quest for romantic, sexual, or even creative connection. The 5th house also governs creative efforts of all kinds, and Venus is favorable to all kinds of creative prettiness. Decorating, getting new make-up, buying new clothes, being artsy, and having fun are all favored. Try to carve out some time for these things even if you feel like doing something entirely different, like working yourself to death. Venus here also bodes well for establishing harmony with your children. Much as we'd all like to experience nothing but harmony with our kids, issues and worries do crop up for most of us from time to time. If you've experienced this, take some time this month to iron things out with your offspring, and establish family harmony again.
Hopefully, it's been a good spring for you so far, Capricorn. If it hasn't, resolve to turn that around this month and enjoy some of the pleasantness this season can bring.
For keywords you can use to customize your horoscope - click here. For instructions on how to use the keywords - click here.
AQUARIUS: JANUARY 20 - FEBRUARY 18
Hi Aquarius. So first I'll mention Mars in Cancer in your solar 6th house of work. I probably should have mentioned it last month, but there's something in me that makes me think this is not all that noticeable an influence for many Aquarians. The reason that I think that is because this placement encourages being a conscientious and hard worker. All the Aquarians I know are already such conscientious hard workers on the job that I don't see how they can tell when they've got Mars in this sector. Still, Mars has been making favorable angles to other planets so if your conscientious hard work on the job has been paying off lately, be sure to give Mars some thanks. If, on the other hand, you've been extra busy and you're getting tired of that, look for some brief relief after June 3. Mercury will actually enter Cancer then and the sun will follow, so I'm not saying that you'll be completely off the hook as far as hard work goes, but maybe some relief. Finally, if you need to make a big push on some work-related project, try giving yourself an internal deadline of June 3. Mars will do its best to give you the energy to see it through and get things completed.
Okay, enough about work. Now it's time for me to go back to being a broken record on the subject of your relationships. When Mars leaves Cancer it will enter Leo, the very sign where you've had Saturn parked for awhile. Mars and Saturn will actually meet up on June 17 and 18 or so. Leo is the sign of your 7th solar house of relationships, so once again, they're in the spotlight in June. Partnership and relationship energy has been something of a driving force in your chart for awhile and it's not done yet. If you're single and you don't want to be, you simply must take advantage of this energy to put some real effort into changing your status while the sun is also in Gemini in your solar 5th house of love. The new moon on May 27 is a new love moon so work through your issues, be determined, and don't let anything hold you back.
In the interests of full disclosure, I must also mention that when Mars enters this sector a fair number of people suffer through arguments, quarrels, and general conflict vibes. If this occurs, it is merely a signal that something needs to change in your existing relationships or approach. Mars will simply try to point out to you that something has been getting on your nerves, or on the nerves of those closest to you. Not a signal to call anything quits, just a signal to make some changes.
The bottom line in June, as it has been for awhile, is that your relationships (including business and professional partnerships) need attention and energy to succeed. There are other things in your life that want attention and energy too, but this sector needs your attention. If you give it your attention, all kinds of things can happen. You can clear out old issues stemming all the back from your childhood or previous relationships. You can figure out where you've been rigid in your dealings before and learn how to be less rigid. And you can gain, through effort, a deeper sense of love and connection than you've had in years. In my experience, working with Saturn in the 7th can make a person happier in love than they've been in their whole life. Neither Saturn nor any other big planet with clout is going to visit this sector again for decades, maybe never again in your lifetime. From now until the middle of next year is a last chance for all Aquarians to get this area right. Don't miss out on it.
For keywords you can use to customize your horoscope - click here. For instructions on how to use the keywords - click here.
PISCES: FEBRUARY 19 - MARCH 20
Hi Pisces. So you've still got a little bit of sexy Martian love energy in your solar 5th house of love this solar month. Mars will still be there until June 3, so please feel free to take the initiative in this sector if you'd like to something to happen.
The other thing I'd like to mention this month is your work life, because I feel like I've been neglecting it. When Mars enters Leo, it will meet up with Saturn. Saturn's been in your solar 6th house of work since the middle of last year and it has its mind made up that you need to be a disciplined and hard worker for another year or so. You may not be in the mood to be a disciplined hard worker, but Saturn is not the sort of planet that asks for anybody else's opinion. When Mars enters this sector in June, you may feel like just grinding your teeth. If there have been work issues, it can up the ante and your frustration level. It may make you feel like you have to do something to make your work life more bearable.
On the other hand, Mars may say to you, "look you've been doing all this work, why not capitalize on it by taking the initiative on something. You're going to be working hard anyway, why not make a splash at something and increase your chances of attention, reward, and a promotion?" If you do feel like making a splash, proposing an initiative, taking on something challenging or rewarding, or otherwise trying to get your hard work to pay off--this is the month to do it. Start now. Your solar chart just has an excess of nervous energy in this sector and it will help make you feel better to do something with it. So do something at work this month. Whatever you need to do, don't just sit there and steam or brood or daydream--do something.
For keywords you can use to customize your horoscope - click here. For instructions on how to use the keywords - click here.
THE SIGN OF GEMINI
Gemini is a mutable air sign. Planetary ruler: Mercury. Season: Spring. Associated with the 3rd house of communication. Its symbol is the Twins.
Gemini as the sign of the Twins is also the sign of siblings in general. This month I'm going to talk about an aspect of Gemini that doesn't get discussed too much. The concept is embedded right in our typical experience of siblings and the concept is rivalry. I don't run across many astrological texts that celebrate Gemini's association with the aspect of human relationships that consitutes rivalry, but for most of us, rivalry is an integral part of life.
Of course, rivalry that goes too far can become destructive and poisonous, but that's not what the sign of Gemini intends it for. Indeed, in real life, we are often most rivalrous with those that we are most similar to, and to whom we are the closest. We compare ourselves to those we are like, and something inside wants to be a little bit better than them, or at least as good.
Our best rivals are often our best friends, the people we can't help competing with and commiserating with both. In men (and women, too), a bit of friendly rivalry encourages bonding, builds ties, provides glue and spice to a relationship. Rivals motivate us, frustrate us, spur us, and force us to remember that we want to win sometimes. Rivals make us try harder; they make us try to figure out how to be resourceful to get what we want; they encourage us to try for our fair share of attention and glory.
Friendly rivalries make the routine and mundane less boring and more exciting, more worth doing. When I was a boss in an organization, I used to sponsor a meaningless competition each day, with the prize being Hershey's kisses. I did this because my staff had to perform some pretty menial, uninspiring tasks that just had to be done. Turning them into a competition made the tasks bearable, even fun. People laughed and joked and prodded each other and kept track of who won the most, accused each other of cheating, and developed strategies for being the fastest or the best at an otherwise dull activity.
You see, the reason Gemini is the sign of rivalry is that rivalry is at heart about stimulation--which is what the sign of Gemini is all about. Human beings need stimulation to perform--that's why so many of us down a caffeinated drink or two each day. Stimulation keeps us from being bored, and Gemini is dead-set opposed to boredom. Stimulation, competition, games, rivalries--they keep us perked up and engaged, they give us an opportunity for rewards when life is otherwise not coughing any up. Sure, there's a lot to be said for sensible hard work and serious attention to business, but there's a lot to be said too for turning tasks into games, competitions, and a chance to test ourselves against our rivals. Check your own chart to see where the sign of Gemini falls to see where you are naturally drawn to a sense of games, competition, and rivalry. This is an area where finding a competition buddy (your metaphorical twin) may pay off for you.
The sun's in Gemini this month; spring is springing, and the days are getting longer. It's time for all of us to perk ourselves and each other up. See if you can dust off some friendly rivalries this season. Pull out the softball equipment and make a team affair of competition. Bet a friend that you can lose five pounds by the end of the month. Choose a walking buddy and race each other (within moderation) around the block. Pick someone at the gym who's a little better than you at the treadmill and resolve to beat them before the end of the month. Plan a vacation that will make your co-workers feel rivalrous. Tell your best girlfriend that you've always felt a rivalry with her, and thank her for it. Grab your best male buddy and challenge him to something. Get in an intellectual argument with someone and strive to win it on points. Pull out your old Trivial Pursuit game and host a party. This is a light-hearted time of year in the Northern Hemisphere, indulge your inner games-loving kid, and enjoy it with some old-fashioned "I bet I can beat you at that" fun.
Some additional keywords for Gemini: The intellectual arts and activities, inner conflict, siblings, verbal sparring, quick shifts in attention, daily moods, communication, versatility, superficial concerns, curiosity, intelligence, and chattiness.
Some keywords for the sun: Creativity, the true self, the self-concept, one's inner core, the kind of person you are, the father and his influence, self-expression, self-preservation, personal concerns, self-centeredness, the ego, and egotism.
Some keywords for Mercury: Writing, the mind, ideas, thinking, communication, perceptions, persuasion, the sense of humor, manual dexterity, mental focus, siblings, and language skills.
Some keywords for the Moon: Instincts, emotions, fluctuating moods, gut reactions, responsiveness, memories, the subconscious, and perceptions.
Some keywords for Venus: Love, unity, harmony, pleasure, laziness, relationships, beautiful things, money, the arts, femininity, and aesthetic taste.
Some keywords for Mars: Energy, aggression, conflict, driving determination, strong emotions, male energy, keen competitiveness, sexual drive, and assertiveness.
Some Keywords for the 1st house: Individuality, identity, the body, independence, the ability to initiate or start things, the ability to take action, personal style, your leadership qualities, and what inspires you.
Some keywords for the 2nd house: Financial skills and attitudes, spending patterns, business concerns, accumulation, financial gain, money, resources, stability, tangible items, permanency, the ability to structure things.
Some keywords for the 3rd house: Communication, study, siblings, the use of language, ideas, opinions, focused attention, mental activities, wit, the ability to deal with daily life, and humor.
Some keywords for the 4th house: Who you live with, one's home base, family, the parents, resting, the inner soul, domestic atmosphere, one's past conditioning, one's history, patriotism, and the ability to bring things to closure.
Some keywords for the 5th house: Who you attract, romance, children, creative self-expression, fun, love affairs, sports, recreation, love affairs, and gambling and speculation.
Some keywords for the 6th house: Employment, health, psychsomatic illness, the daily demands of a job, workaholism, service, the nature of the workplace, co-workers, employees, scheduling, and the ability to establish priorities.
Some keywords for the 7th house: Marriage, partnership, commitment, close relationships, counselors, how you relate to people in general, the ability to attract others, what we feel we lack, what we like and dislike in others, and the ability to resolve conflicts.
Some keywords for the 8th house: Psychic abilities, the potential for wealth, sexuality, money management, joint resources, marital finances, divorce, the partner's financial contribution, debt, bankruptcy, loans, and investments.
Some keywords for the 9th house: Travel, academics, spiritual teachings, higher education, the higher mind, ideals, ethical beliefs and standards, the right brain, and the ability to gain perspective on events.
Some keywords for the 10th house: Career, achievements, authority figures, the corporate world, the father, the ability to garner admiration, honors, contributions to the communty, fame, vocation or calling, and professional accomplishments.
Some keywords for the 11th house: Friendships, groups, clubs, the ability to create systems, visionaries, scientific thinking, humanitarian impulses, the brotherhood of man, and hopes & wishes.
Some keywords for the 12th house: Secrets, self-sabotage, the unconscious, solitude, one's ideas of heaven and paradise, the desire to escape, the ability to experience unity, the desire for wholeness, mysticism, bliss, ecstasy, and inner peace and serenity.
HOW TO USE KEYWORDS: The essence of learning astrology is understanding how to mix, match, and blend the concepts associated with signs, planets, and houses to figure out what is or will be affecting you at a given point in time. This takes practice and practice is exactly what you're going to have a chance to get if you use the keywords each month.
Keywords can be used to plan and take action using the month's energies, to explain events or to make predictions. Scan for keywords that seem relevant to situations in your own life. You'll have 3 sets of keywords you can blend, one for the planet discussed, one for the sign it's in and one for the solar house it's transiting. Pick the keywords that interest you most and create your customized horoscope!
For example, if the Sun is in Aries in your solar first house, if you want to plan or take action you might pick the Sun keyword 'power', the Aries keyword 'initiating', and the 1st house keyword 'self-expression' to create an intention for yourself that you have the power to initiate actions to express yourself more fully in ways that you desire. You'll know what 'self-expression' means to you. It works best if you pick keywords that 'speak' to you or that coincide with elements of your life that already concern you. To receive astrological benefits, it's not necessary that you obligate yourself to do something huge - it's only necessary that you take one step in the right direction at the right time. Astrology concerns itself with when things are born, and if you start something at the right time, you're riding on the energy that's already available to you in the universe.
You can also use the keywords to try to figure out if something that is affecting you is 'in the stars'. For example, let's say you find yourself wondering why you're getting drawn into conflicts with people at your church. You scan the keywords and realize 'Aha! The fiery energy of Aries is currently being activated in my 12th house of faith-related matters!' If the energy is uncomfortable, you'll have a gauge as to how long it will be prominent (oh good, it should ease up next month!) or if it's a good energy you'll know which planet to thank!
You can also try your hand at predicting. If you check in at the beginning of the month and notice that your house of friendships is highlighted along with some active planetary or sign energies, you might predict for yourself that you will be engaging in a lot more fun and restorative activities with your friends in the coming month. This is basically what professional astrologers do and now you have a chance to try your own hand at it and compare your results with the pros. Have fun!
NOTE: There are a wide variety of potential keywords associated with each sign, planet, and house. I pick different ones each month to give you an idea of the range from the most common concepts to much more subtle ones. Over time, you'll gain an intuitive sense of what kinds of concepts are associated with each element and you'll even be able to generate your own keywords as you get a feel for each of the signs, planets, and houses. Each keyword also inherently contains its opposite as well. For example, if the keyword 'divorce' is displayed, it doesn't mean you'll get a divorce. But it does mean that if that is a concern for you and something you want to avoid you have an opportunity, while that energy is activated, to take proactive steps to deal with potential problems or head off an undesirable outcome. So you can turn 'divorce' into 'keeping a marriage together' or 'illness' into 'taking steps to get and stay healthy'.
Use your rising sign for better forecasts! Most published horoscopes are based at least in part on transits to solar houses. Solar houses are based on your sun sign and are easy to calculate. Your sun sign is your solar 1st house, the next sign in the zodiac is your solar 2nd house and so on. You can always determine what solar house a planet is in if you know the sign. Simply start with your own sign and count around the zodiac until you reach the sign you're interested in. For example, if you're a Gemini, the sign of your solar 3rd house is Leo. Pisces is the sign of your solar 10th house. Astrologers who publish horoscopes use sun signs and solar houses for several reasons: a) almost everyone knows their birthday; b) they're easy to calculate; and c) they actually do have some effect. However, if you get a personal reading from a professional astrologer, he or she will almost always use transits to your natal houses to give you a reading instead. Natal houses are based on your rising sign, which is determined by the exact time, place, and day you were born. Transits to your natal planets and houses have at least as much effect on your life as transits to your solar houses, sometimes quite a bit more. If you really want to know your chart, and get better horoscopes, you should find out your rising sign (also called Ascendant). If you know the exact time and place of your birth, you can do this for free at a wonderful website - www.astro.com. Click on the link near the top that says 'Free Horoscopes'. On that page, scroll down to the link that says 'Chart Drawing, Ascendant'. Follow the prompts to enter the information concerning your birth time, date, and place. You'll get a chart that shows your Ascendant (the sign next to the designation 'AC'). To the left will be a box listing your planetary placements. Next to the listing for 'AC' your rising sign will be listed along with the degree of your Ascendant within that sign. Make a note of that sign and be sure to check the horoscope and keywords for your Ascendant as well as your sun sign!
TRACK YOUR RESULTS! Next month when you come back here for your next horoscope, take 30 seconds to assess the results of the action you took last month as a result of your horoscope. Did it make you feel better? Did it make your life any better? Did it give you renewed energy or did you find your effort blocked, delayed, or ineffective? Judging your results allows you to assess how responsive you are to a particular planetary, sign, or house energy. For example, some people are very responsive to the astrological Sun just the way some people are very responsive to a sunny day. Other people work better with the energy of other planets. Only by taking a moment to gauge your results can you learn which planets work best for you in your life. You may have an 'afflicted' natal Sun that never does much for you, but a raring-to-go Mars that will help you in a pinch every time. Checking your results each month will give you an increasingly accurate guide as to how to use astrology to enhance your life.
The PRACTICAL ASTROLOGY website provides a free, sequential course in astrology with at least one article each month on a particular element of horoscope interpretation. If you want to see any articles you've missed, or to receive each month's update by email, sign up using the link below. The Practical Astrology website does not share your email address with anyone else and only uses it to provide you with information concerning astrology from this website. Sign up!