Living with the Stars

  For some odd reason (which in my sphere is not odd at all), the importance of the Leo season has been somewhat brought to my attention in a number of ways. Walking past a jewellery shop, there was a display of 'the age of Leo' range of rings and more. Switch on the TV, and the Lionesses chase a ball. That and other small but significant signs. And I'm a Leo native. It's Leo season. The month of July brings with it what is known as the 'dog days' - the intense heat associated with the 'dog star' Sirius, whose heliacal rising occurs this year on the 29th July (but I bet you can feel the fire too - temperatures here in the Med are crazy hot). Sopdet Taken from Wikipedia This fixed star, known as Sopdet to the ancient Egyptians, was a celestial herald of renewal, appearing just before sunrise at the time of the flooding of the River Nile. In this respect Sirius - associated with the goddess Isis, signified a life-giving event that marked the beginning of t...

As the sun sets on the western horizon this evening, the Full Moon rises in the East, reaching culmination at around 10:30pm. This is a Full Moon in the earth sign of Capricorn.  Full Moons are rather like a pause button, a time for reflection. What started as a New Moon on the 25th June (in Cancer) now asks us to take stock of our thoughts and actions since that time. What plans did you want to implement concerning hearth and home (Cancer)? Those plans may have been 'OTT' given that Jupiter, the planet which encourages expansion, was one degree away. Now that we have a Full Moon in the more practical sign of Capricorn, ask yourself the same question through a more practical lens. How much of your plans were you able to implement? Because the Moon reflects the light of the Sun at the full moon, it throws light on what was inspired at the new moon. Let's have a look at what the sky story is. Patterns in the sky. The chart here shows a triangle formation which pulls in all th...

  The cosmos is stirring up a storm - yes, a storm - as the planet associated with rebellion and innovation changes sign from Taurus to Gemini. Yesterday, 7th July, we bid goodbye to the presence of Uranus in grounded Taurus and witnessed its entry into the communicative Gemini, where it will reside for the next 7 years. Uranus orbits once around the Sun every 84 years, which roughly means that at around that age, you may witness a Uranus return to its natal position in your chart. But what does all this herald?  Uranus is what is called 'an outer planet', meaning that it is one of the planets which lies outside of Saturn's orbit. Until the late 1700s, there were only seven planets known to mankind. With the discovery of Uranus in 1781, astrologers began to attribute certain traits to the planet. It was a time of revolution, new ideas, freedom and individuality. Let's not forget the Declaration of Independence of 1776, and the French Revolution of 1789. Even our tiny is...

If you've been feeling something is in the air tonight (with apologies to Phil Collins), you are probably right. Over the past two weeks, we have had very significant changes in our sky stories. This, coupled with the Full Moon on the 11th June, made it all very interesting and it all has to do with Jupiter and Saturn. Firstly, gone are the days of Saturn (discipline) in Pisces (spirituality). On the 24/25th May, Saturn changed sign and moved into Aries from the watery sign of the fish. Now, that energy will want to be expressed differently. No more building of inner boundaries.  In astrology, Saturn represents discipline, structure, responsibility, and karmic lessons. It governs time, maturity, and the development of wisdom through challenges. Aries, on the other hand, is the fiery, impulsive warrior of the zodiac—bold, independent, and quick to act. When Saturn finds itself in Aries, we encounter a paradox: the planet of patience and caution colliding with the sign of raw energy ...

  So yes, this is quite late....but I'll get this information out there nonetheless.  On the 12th May, just after sunset, a Full Moon rose in the East. This is the Full Moon in Scorpio, where we found ourselves drawn into the depths of transformation, mystery and intense emotions. Scorpio is the sign associated with the 8th House, the house of hidden truths and secrets. It's also associated with what lies beneath the surface, and as the light of the Full Moon illuminates what lies in the shadows, we could discover hidden treasure in all forms.  Looking at the chart for the Full Moon, Mars, the natural ruler of Scorpio, lay at the highest point in the chart at 11 degrees of Leo. Mars represents the warrior energy in a chart, what motivates you to get out of bed in the morning, and in this Full Moon chart it may well symbolise the gift of the skies this lunar cycle - the energy to pursue what we need to be our authentic selves with others.  So what was the sky story on...

  Welcome to the New Moon in Taurus, happening on the 27th April at 21:31. In astrology, a new moon symbolizes fresh beginnings and opportunities. It marks the start of the lunar cycle, occurring when the moon aligns with the sun in the same zodiac sign. This phase is associated with setting intentions, planting seeds for future growth, and embracing change. The energy of a new moon encourages introspection, helping individuals connect with their inner selves and clarify their goals. It’s a powerful time for manifestation and renewal. It's a good time for planting new seeds not only in terms of setting a new pattern, but also a time for sowers to plant seeds (just in case you like gardening!).  At the time of writing, a pope is being given a send-off. Pope Francis' funeral will be the main focus of attention this weekend, with many dignitaries flooding the Vatican Square, many of whom are controversial figures in their own right. Twelve reigning monarchs will be attending (sur...