Thursday, January 25, 2007

When I was a young lass


When I was a young lass, still in my Queenly training boots, there was a show on T.V. called Liewe Heksie - it was about a young witch who lived in a flower filled land, where the villains were ugly and the goodies were pretty. Everything was pretty much as it seemed. As I grew into a young adult, i realised that I continuously surrounded myself with the real life character versions of that childhood fable. Here are the characters and their human representatives in my land:

Liewe Heksie - Wessel
Mattewes Kat - Marilu
Fee Prinses - Tish
Koning Rosekrans - Hernes
Griet - Morne'
Blommie Kabouter - Charl
Karel Kat - Carel kat
Kwaaitjie Kabouter - Lukas
Geel / Persheks - Ree
Kerrie Gifappeltjie - Gert
Borrie Gifappeltjie - Daniela
Kwaai babatjie - Willem
Rissiepit - Melody

if your name is here and you can read this, it means that we share a childhood ideal and that's probably why we became attracted to each other as adults. Perhaps I am still stuck in Blommeland, but it's just so pretty, why would I ever wish to leave it! Thanx Verna Vels for creating a realm for me of my very own!

Ps. the photo is courtesy of Dirk

Monday, January 15, 2007

QR.com

It's funny how the internet used to be my refuge - to whence I could escape and just assume an identity - not the real me, but someone who could provide me with an escape from my real life. Now my real life and identity has become the cyber me and as I go about my waking life in the real world, it is as if I don't really exist there anymore. I dawn the shroud of anonymity and walk the earth like a ghost. I am more real and alive within the infinate and boundless environment of the www and my human body only exists when I have to see to its by now routinised needs, always in keeping with a tight shedule.

Friday, January 12, 2007

Feelin Lucky

I feel ree-borne. I guess it is partly to do with the book I am reading (courtesy of Dandilion) Princess by Jean Sasson - the true story of life inside Saudi Arabia's royal family.
I don't think I have ever been so truly aware of how incredably fortunate I am to be a western woman. The freedom that I have always taken for granted, along with the many opportunities and comforts I am given, is a whole world apart from that of the lives of so many others.
I speak often of hating myself for being so ungrateful, but it had never truly sunk in how grateful I really should be. Here I am - a free, independent thinking and living Varsity near graduate (a mere 0.whatever of South Africans fortunate enough to have had a Tertiary education), with no handicap save my own weaknesses (that can easily be overcome with the right mindset) and friends and family who love me unconditionally.
What do I have to be sad about?
NOTHING!

So, I have decided (and I can only imagine how many of you are sighing in relief at the very mention thereof) to quit complaining and start enjoying my life, appreciating every fortunate moment of it. I came to this conclusion last night as the rain was singing me to sleep. I had nearly cried myself to sleep, because I had just watched Brokedown Palace - the movie about the two girls who are tricked into being Mules and are thrown into a Thai prison. Very good film.
Very sad and very terrifying. I really should thank my lucky stars!

Here's to New Beginnings!

oooooooooo! PS. I did 14 laps the other day in the pool! and today I'm going to go for 16!

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

Is Patriarchy to blame?


US air strike 'kill' Islamists
09/01/2007 11:48 - (SA)

Mogadishu - A United States air strike in Somalia that targeted an al-Qaeda cell wanted for two 1998 US embassy bombings killed large numbers of Islamic extremists, said government officials on Tuesday. The officials said the attacks, by a heavily armed AC-130 gunship, came after the terror suspects were spotted hiding on a remote island on the southern tip of Somalia, close to the Kenyan border. It was the first overt military action by the US in Somalia since the 1990s and the legacy of a botched intervention - known as "Black Hawk Down" - that left 18 American servicemen dead. Deputy prime minister Hussein Aideed said: "The US was trying to kill the al-Qaeda terrorists who carried out the bomb attacks on their embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. They have our full support for the attacks."

US sends air carrier to Somalia

The US air strike came 16 days after Ethiopia forces invaded Somalia to prevent an Islamic movement ousting the weak, internationally recognised government from its lone stronghold in the west of the country. America and Ethiopia both accused the Islamic group of harbouring extremists, among them al-Qaeda suspects. Ethiopian troops, tanks and warplanes took just 10 days to drive the Islamic group from the capital, Mogadishu, and other key towns. Meanwhile, the US military said on Tuesday that it had sent an aircraft carrier to join three other American warships conducting anti-terror operations off the Somali coast.

US warships had been seeking to capture al-Qaeda members thought to be fleeing Somalia in the wake of Ethiopia's December 24 invasion. The US attacks took place on Monday afternoon on Badmadow island. The area was known as Ras Kamboni and was suspected to be a terror-training base.

Most Islamic fighters 'killed'

A government spokesperson Abdirahman Dinari said: "The strike was carried out after it had been confirmed that al-Qaeda members are hiding there in the area. "We don't know how many people were killed in the attack, but we understand there were a lot of casualties. Most were Islamic fighters." Witnesses said that at least four civilians were killed in the attack, including a small boy. The claims could not be independently verified. Mohamed Mahmud Burale said: "My four-year-old boy was killed in the strike. The plane was firing at other areas in Ras Kamboni. We could see smoke from the area. We also heard 14 massive explosions."

After two days of fierce fighting, Ethiopian and Somali forces said they were on the verge of capturing Ras Kamboni, where they said the Islamic movement was cornered. US officials said after the September 11 attacks that extremists with ties to al-Qaeda operated a training camp at Ras Kamboni and al-Qaeda members were believed to have visited it. According to one of the convicted bombers, the alleged mastermind of the embassy bombings in East Africa, Fazul Abdullah Mohammed, escaped to Ras Kamboni.

(Copied and pasted from News24.com)

OK, now I am the first to admit that I know nothing about Politics, nor do I care to know – since in my humble opinion, its all just a pissing contest that the Patriarchs instituted to determine who gets the best parking spaces… but can somebody please tell me what gives the US the right to just bomb things? “Oh, no we sort of think that they were harbouring terrorists, pity about the civilian casualties…”

Am I alone in feeling slightly nervous about these trigger-happy so-called leaders of the free-world just having the right to bomb whatever they don’t understand or suspect or are afraid of? I bet Michael Moore agrees with me…

I know! Lets just kill everyone who doesn’t agree with us along with any one who gets in the way of that mission!”

As a child of the western world – ok, I’m a tree-hugger hippie feminist – I can sympathise with the need to make the world a safer place, but surely there are many other ways to go about it!

How many other countries are in dire need of some help from their more affluent neighbours? Are we forgetting Zimbabwe? Imagine for a second what it must be like to wake up every day, not have any decent food or shelter, hostility all around you, kids - starving and afraid for their lives.. What about the way woman are still treated in the non-westernised world? who is in charge of fixing that? Why the hell are they not doing their job!

What the hell is going on? The rich getting richer, the poor getting poorer – even in South Africa (supposedly the gateway to the rest of Africa) the amount of homeless people and the people begging at intersections have increased drastically in the last 2 years… I’m not saying lets redistribute the wealth equally in a Communist fashion, but there must be another way than the general apathy doing the rounds.. Who is supposed to take care of things like that? Our Government? Ha!

I’m sounding like a pessimist, but I assure you I am not. Things are bound to get better – albeit slowly. Imagine for a second what the world would be like if people stopped being so selfish and learned to communicate/compromise better. Are we truly so incapable of sharing the planet as a species? Would it be better if Mother Earth purges us once and for all, seeing as though we only cause pain and destruction where ever we settle? Can you believe that killing baby seals is considered a sport? I am outraged at the arrogance of those fuckers who decided that! And what's with the fuckers who let them get away with it?!

Sometimes I wish I had become one of those Greenpeace vigilantes… Are human beings truly nothing more than a virus, Mr Smith?

And another thing!

In Kwazulu-Natal, they are soon beginning construction on a new airport. Yeah! Progress!

Pity that the area that they want to build it on (the La Mercy area) is the only place in the world where many different Swallow-species come to breed! Sorry Nature! If you get in our way, we’ll just make you disappear.. Am I alone in seeing this as wrong? How do these people get their building permits anyway? Is there not some sort of investigation that is supposed to take place? Did they get the permits through corrupt channels? Or is the government aware of the situation and simply does not care? I don’t know which scenario is worse..

What to do, what to do….

Tuesday, January 09, 2007

The quest for Arcadia

I want to learn how to “contemplate silence”. Maybe I should lean how to meditate! Cam anyone give an obsessive compulsive overindulged lunatic a few practical guidelines?

I wish to learn how to block out certain impulses… “…things that tantalise and infuriate the mind and which also blot out of perception things subsequently seen.

Because for something to be seen requires consciousness and if the mind is dwelling on a previous detail, it sees nothing afterwards but its own thoughts and reactions.


And so much remains always unseen where there is much that fascinates the mind and eye….


..A whole philosophy lies in the paradox, a life lived at speed, with many gaps in perceived reality, many things and events not looked at properly or deeply, which would later haunt one as fragments of dreams. A life viewed all mixed up with, with dreams unclear.

Life tending towards dream.

Like the swift mysterious life of Alexander the Great. A life, which, because of so many mental puzzles, so many incidents to report, to perplex, leads the mind towards a preference for stillness.

Preference for a life where things are given time to unfold, to reveal their hidden wonders or terrors.

Preference for a life where seeing is just as difficult, because it requires such stillness of heart, such patience, such concentration, such quietness of mind, such motionlessness of spirit”. Ben Okri in In Arcadia.

I can sense that there is something I must discover, in order to set my mind at ease – a message – a revelation of some sort… and much needed tolerance for major and minor annoyances…

Thursday, January 04, 2007

On the road again...

So here's a little story to cheer us all up! I like to call it, Ree's adventure on the Bus over the Christmas holiday.

It all started when I had to jump on a bus to go to Durban, so that my mother could pick me up and take us both to Ballito, where we were to enjoy the Christmas holiday together as a family. Image the Queen on this bus for a moment.... oh come on, it'll be fun!
Strapped into an uncomfortable seat with 50 other unlucky souls in close proximityto her, breathing in their farts... jingle bells, jingle bells....... Irritating the crap out of me with their cellphones, jokes and obnoxious illegal drinking on the bus (thanx useless cabin attendant!) ... dashing through the snow...........

So anyway, after possibly the worst bus experience of my life (for which I deserve a fucking medal not having killed anyone!) we finally got to our destination.
Now, as many of you know, I had made plans to go to Rustler's Valley for New Years with some friends. This meant that I would have to leave right after Christmas, again on the bus, cause there were no available flights, to meet the others and drive together to Rustlers.

Now, I admit that I was stupid for not planning this trip better, but to make a long story short, there were no more bus tickets available for the time I wanted to leave. I had to
leave on the 26th!!!!!!!!
What's more is that all the other busses were taken, so I had to go on the SA Roadlink. I did not enjoy this thought at all, but then again, I hated all the other busses by this time, so one bus was just as good as the next one.
Thus I left for the bus station with a hangover on boxing day, having spent only 3 days with my family and being completely exhausetd.
It did not help my nerves at all that the SA Roadlink had had an accident that killed 12 peolple only a few days before. What can I say...... desperate times........

So I bravely get on the bus, clutching my rose-quarts tightly in the hope that we wouldn't have an accident.When we were just outside of Petermaritzburg, our bus was pulled off by the traffic cops, who arrested our driver for drunk driving. (It turns out that he was not drunk at all, their little blow maschine-thingie was faulty). So they take him to get his blood tested and leave us by the side of the road for 45mins.
When they finally returned, we thought Hey! here we go!

No such luck.

Instead they escourted us to the PMB testing station so that they could test the road worthiness of the bus. It would have been great if they had done all of that before the bus had left its destination in Durban....

Anyway, so we get to the testing station and join the que of about 15 busses infront of us who were suffering a similar fate - and about 20 more behind us eager to jump the que.
Each bus takes about 20 mins to test and all the passengers had to get out and wait outside - where I might add, there were no descent fascilities, no working vending mascines and no shade.
As some of the busses failed their roadworthyness test, the general morale was becomming increasingly aggitated. Luckily ours was fine and we could be on our merry way, after waiting at least 2 more hours. I felt so sorry for the poor passengers who now awaited the replacement coaches hopefully being sent by the bus companies.

When we were on the road again, we were stuck in traffic for about another hour and only then saw what the hold-up was.......... was it an accident or a road-block? NO! No it wasn't!
As we drove past the Cash-in-transit car lying on its roof - Police all around - I took a sedative and tried to sleep through the rest of the trip. My nerves just couldn't take any more.
It is ironic to reflect that regardless of this ordeal, it had probably been my most comfortable bus trip ever, with the best service! Thanks SA Roadlink! May you never have another accident!

I do think however, that flying would be the best option for those who can afford it. Public transport being what it is in sunny old SA does not leave you with a lot of other alternatives....

Maybe once the Gautrain in running..............................................

Tuesday, January 02, 2007

007 is upon us!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!

Now that I've gotten that out of my system...
There can be no one living on this planet that is gladder that 2006 is over, it was such a horrid year! It was very exciting and I am by no means saying that I didn't learn a lot and enjoy a lot of it. There was lots and lots of that too. Lots of life and lots of love.

Well, the clocks have reset and now I have a whole new chapter to write!
I even have some New Years resolutions, but I'm not going to bore anyone with those - especially since most of them are aimed at creating a better me and thus is of a rather sensitive and personal nature. Suffice it to say that there's gonna be some changes. For the better.
My whole attitude is one of unquencheable optimism and I feel sure that this year is gonna be great. I spent New Years at Rustlers' Valley in the mountains with good friends and had a really good time. Am NEVER camping again. My 12 'o clock moment featured me surrounded by friends infront of a fire/drumming circle. I am thankful for all the love in my life. it will get me through the hard times. Love like that is eternal and unconditional and that is the way that I love. Even Milan Kundera would agree that that is the only way that works.

I would like to focus more on my career, now that I've got one. I was given an amazing opportunity and refuse to squander it.

To all of you out there in the world, Love as much as you can.
A good friend of mine gave me this advice: Make out with as many people as you can, but don't shag them immediately.
Another wise sage said: the greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return. As I am posting this, I am also chatting with a good friend about eros love. I've come to the conclusion that love given freely does not need to be returned. I don't want to have someone disappoint my expectatons - that's why I don't have any of them. It is not unreasonable to expect ones love to be returned, but I do not need anything returned. I just need to feel it right now. Something to dream about, to obsess about, to cry about....

The moral of the story? Love as often as you can and as hard as you can! There is enough hate and sadness in the world, there is no need to add to it.

Oh! and I made a new friend. When we met it was a pure act of desiny.
This next section is for all my little Leo brothers and sisters and for you Melody, my cosmic cousin.
LOVE YOU!!!

2007 Horoscope Forecast


Leo the Lion in 2007

will & determination,

combined with optimism

It's a year of two fires for you, Leo. First, there's the slow burn of Saturn, measurer of effort, in your sign. Then, there's the wildfire blaze of Jupiter in Sagittarius and your solar fifth house. Saturn will urge you to keep focused, take authority or responsibility and stay on the path of your chosen goals or ambitions until he moves from your sign in early Sep. This is the fire of will and the determination to see things through or get where you know you have to go. Hard work, obligation or even solitary action may be the price. These is a weight that comes with Saturn

However, the fire of giant Jupiter, the lord of fortune, will uplift you, bringing optimism, enthusiasm, a slice of luck and a desire for humour and enjoyment. Jupiter is expansive and alerts you to the wide variety of stimulus, knowledge and exotic flavours that are just waiting in the big wide world for you to come and find them. Though the fires of these two cosmic giants are compatible, the dynamics of their operation are different. You'll have to run a line between the more conservative and mature demands of Saturn and the wildfire of Jupiter as the year unfolds. More especially so because Jupiter spends a good portion of the midyear in a holding pattern of tension with the Lunar Nodes, indicating that if you let the urge take you, you could go too far, too fast without the backing or foundation you need to support your efforts. Don't stretch yourself or your finances too far or the month of September will find you out. Don't let that caution dampen your spirits though. Jupiter still wants a party. Give him one. Jupiter moves in reverse on Apr 6th and forwards on Aug 7th.

On Jul 27th, Venus turns retrograde in Virgo. There may be a downturn or setback affecting matters of money or love. There may be interruption or delay in close relations or dealings. You may experience a temporary separation, a delay with someone returning or a block with funds. Old contacts or situations may return. Matters from the past may need examination and resolution. You feel withdrawn or you may feel someone is withdrawing from you. Float along. Don't worry too much. Take it quietly. The solution you're seeking to any problem or concern is one of personal response. Venus will move back to your sign on Aug 9th. You may revamp your image, change your approach or work to improve your relations with others. Venus moves forward again on Sep 8th.

Dec 19th brings a new cycle of contacts, associations, partnership and close relations as the Lunar Nodes move out of Pisces and Virgo and into Aquarius and your sign. Get ready for some exciting, juicy stuff.

Love and Money

Personal charm and physical magnetism make you the centre of attention, which of course is very much to your satisfaction... An ardent lover, your enthusiasm and passion must be returned in equal measure, or you may become bored and dissatisfied with your wimpy partner. A weak partner invites you to completely dominate the scene, a situation which is less than ideal for both parties. In every case you need to keep your ego under control, even when surrounded by admirers and sycophants.

Leo, a masculine sign, is self-sufficient, confident and tends to bravado. Most of you fabulous cats have a positive attitude to love and sex, but there are those among you who suffer excruciating pangs of anxiety in relationship.

Why, you ask? Well, simply put, it is fear that the reality may not live up to the unduly grandiose image that you seek to present to the world. Sexual anxiety may become so intense in some cases as to generate frigidity or impotence. So in a relationship, Leo loves to be the central, pivotal point around which all things revolve. A romantic and a dreamer, you make your dreams come true because you have strength, determination and a blithe faith in yourself - a faith which can overcome obstacles with that characteristic ease which seems so remarkable to more introverted souls.

Some Leos can find themselves clinging to bad relationships or mistaken beliefs, because their egos simply will not allow them to admit to being wrong. However, such typical tenacity becomes an asset when shown as loyalty to friends, or as patience and determination to succeed.

Leo's emblem is the noble Lion. This dignified king of the jungle symbolises the regal disposition of the Leo personality. However, standing on your pride when insulted or abused, you rarely forget a slight (unless of course your detractors sincerely, humbly and grovellingly crave forgiveness, whereupon you may magnanimously deign to pardon the miserable creatures). It must, moreover, be said that you are quite forthright in your opinions, which themselves need have no close relationship with the facts - and you certainly like to have the last word in any discussion.

In the art of lovemaking, Leo is ardent and willing, although not necessarily particularly creative. Your performance is usually considered by you to be generally excellent, but a worthy partner (who has a little more slyness and cunning than you would ever stoop to) can improve the quality and variety of your lovelife by smoothly introducing new ideas without seeming to ruffle your pride.

This is a year of romance for the Lion. Jupiter in Sagittarius decrees it. Those of you in a relationship may up the ante with emotional commitment or you may aim for a lifestyle that gives you time and space for shared activities and adventures. You may fall in love with each other again. Children may feature for some. Social activity, creative projects or exciting ventures or journeys will be on the agenda for others. Those of you that are single will find you're in the zone for romantic encounters. Entertainment or social activity will run hot and there'll be plenty of interest with the people you're meeting and greeting. Some singles may opt to play the field, not wanting to be tied down by commitment. Others may meet 'the one' and take it from there. Those you do encounter may be people from interesting or exotic backgrounds. Artistic people, people from other cultures and 'larger than life' characters will play their parts in the drama of social or romantic life. You may branch out into new fields of recreational endeavour. Anything from travelling for sporting or cultural interests to a dash across the dance floor or a dabble in amateur theatre. Get out there and do it, Leo!

Money's in focus in the coming year. Three eclipses and Mercury retrograde will affect your financial houses before Saturn moves to Virgo on Sep 2nd, urging you to get it right with personal spending and resources. Sound management and attention to detail will be important. Planning and preparation will get you on track. Keep savings aside to deal with small emergencies. Don't overextend and leave yourself with nothing in the kitty. You may need to train or learn new skills to open new lines of income. With Saturn in Virgo, the means by which you handle money and personal spending will have to change. Opt for a thrifty approach. Stick to the basics. Target the purchase of what you want by cutting out what's not important. No frivolous spending! If you wish to buy something of value, work towards the purchase by recognizing how many working hours will go into the purchase price. Make sure that what you buy will have a practical use. In the two years that follow, build resources and spending power through hard work and good money management. Some of you may learn about 'doing without' during this time. Some of you may put personal resources or money at risk in order to gain a greater prize. Saturn moves forward in Leo on Apr 19th and into reverse motion in Virgo on Dec 19th.

Home and Family

Change or development at home will be the upshot of Jupiter's recent transit in Scorpio and Saturn's continuing movement in your sign. You may have upgraded at home or you may have undergone major change of circumstances with family or fittings. There may still be work to be done at home. There may be boisterous or dynamic activity there. Males or vigorous tasks may feature. At times there will be tension or high emotion and you'll have to work to settle things down. There may be excitement or activity and you'll need to give it time to clear. Don't be slack with chores. Run a tidy house, even if that's sometimes against the odds. Activities at home may alter the dynamic of your household. There may be guests, family members or visitors involved with study or overseas travel or that hail from foreign climes. For some, new romance or sexual activity might be the dynamic. It could be hot but feisty. For others, new activities or interests will add to the atmosphere or the action in the domicile. One way or another, the home base will be touched by excitement or change as action, dramatic events or dramatic people set the tone.

Work and Health

With Venus and Mercury in Capricorn as the year begins, there'll be another side to relationships this year, a working one. There'll be focus on negotiations and dealings with co-workers or staff. You may find that internal relations in work will occupy your time. The social aspect of work will be important. Be clear, responsible and mature in dealings with people and situations related to your work or daily life. Develop your communication skills. Increase your knowledge or information load through education.

As for work itself, seek advancement through additional duties or promotion until early Sep. Through the year, opportunity or fortune will guide you to a new arena of endeavour if you're prepared for a risk. Investment, new ventures, creative expression or activities may contribute. If you want to get somewhere, do something to get moving. Some may put money into a business or creative venture, stepping away from the workaday world. This will mean dramatic change in lifestyle or work routines. You'll have to be disciplined. Others may set sail for a different risk, using earnings to finance lifestyle activities or interests. Take care the outgoings don't exceed the income. You'll know if that's going to be so by Sep. On Dec 18th, Jupiter enters Capricorn, urging study or opening the way for education, advancement or improvement with work or health conditions.

As far as health is concerned, these last years will have been testing and you will have had to focus on energy management and good routines. That's still the case till Sep with Saturn finishing his journey in your sign. You won't be able to burn the candle at both ends without being burned. Take breaks. Engage in necessary recreation as you manage your work time or your efforts. Exhaustion may be a concern. Recognize the signs and discipline yourself to take the right action. If you're suffering, even from minor concerns, get yourself treated.

Saturn's move to Virgo on Sep 2nd will take some of the personal pressure off. There may still be concern or worry over money but it won't be to the same extent as the pressure or burden of recent years. It's important for the coming 'two year' cycle of Saturn in your solar second house that you learn and apply the simple management techniques of ordinary healthcare. Look after yourself better with exercise, diet and self-nurture. Find the right balance between a little self-indulgence and proper restraint.

The last cautionary note for the coming year is to do with Jupiter's transit in Sagittarius. This could easily lead to excess or indulgence. Don't let it. It's important to enjoy yourself and relax but it's equally important to keep a sane and healthy boundary as to how you do so.

Career Matters

There are twin influences with career, professional matters and responsibilities. Firstly, Saturn is set to complete his journey in your sign. From Jan till Sep 2nd, Saturn in Leo will keep you focused on personal responsibility and authority. Deal with situations, people and decision-making in a mature manner. You will still have a load to bear and will rise or fall on your own choices. It's up to you to carry the burden. But this also means you'll reap the rewards. However, the other side of the coin is the journey of Jupiter in Sagittarius and your solar fifth house. It's onward and upward with new ventures, projects or recreational activity. You'll want to take a risk or a trip to a destination that's new, exciting or different. Whether it's to satisfy you or for a professional concern, embrace your creative ability. Do something with dance, drama, music or artistic expression. Some of you may think of teaching or entering a qualified profession. You may learn a language or skills with foreign cuisine. Others may simply find new avenues on which to travel the road of life. Make an art of socializing. Attend the theatre, the ballet or the opera. One way or another, you need to take or make the opportunity to enhance your lifestyle and fulfill yourself through creative or recreational or romantic activity. Embrace the romance of your life, Leo. Take a punt or a risk. Put yourself out there.

On Nov 15th, warrior Mars turns retrograde in Cancer. You may meet opposition with professional aspirations or in dealings with authority. Males especially will feature. You may review your action style, your methods or even your career. Something you've done or worked on may need review. Your cycle of responsibilities may require a new look. Go back over old ground. Find a remedy for problems or redo old work. If there is ill-feeling in someone because of the past, sit down and work it out. Give others time and opportunity to let off steam. Watch tension with a young or emotional male. There may be anger from females or family members over authority issues. There may simply be delay or frustration with professional goals or responsibilities. If feelings boil over in a professional situation, keep a lid on them till later. Work them off in private. Mars is in reverse as the year ends.

Mercury the Messenger

Mercury moves into retrograde (reverse) motion three times a year for about three weeks each time. This phase heralds a time of confusion and misunderstandings that can affect arrangements, travel, transport, appliances, machinery and communications. The breakdowns that occur are a function of neglect, inattention, simple misunderstandings or component failure. They will often bring to the fore the very contingency we should have planned for and didn't. When the retrograde phase occurs, watch out for such possibilities as well as putting off major decision-making or the signing of crucial documents and agreements. We tend to miss things while Mercury is in reverse motion and then have to come back and do them again. A process of review in the retrograde phase can efficiently show where problems might lie and help us with damage control or the mending of things. Double check arrangements at these times! What you think you've said and what others have understood will often prove to be two different things.

Mercury's first retrograde phase begins in Pisces on Feb 14th. Review joint financial arrangements or obligations. There may be confusion over spending or just overspending. Get communications working! Make sure you understand what others are saying and what they expect with money or payment. There will be unexpected developments or a surprise turn of events with money. Stay flexible. Think on your feet. Keep lines of communication open. There may be confusion or change with a point of contact or an institution you've been dealing with over finance. Time and patience will sort things. Lack of clarity could be a sore point. Mercury moves back to Aquarius on Feb 27th then forward again on Mar 8th.

Mercury's second retrograde phase begins in Cancer on Jun 15th. With Mercury in your solar twelfth house, you may wish to step back, standing at a distance from the hustle and bustle. There may be confusion or a misunderstanding in communications. You may have something on your mind and wish to think it over. Be careful, listening to the advice of others. It may not be what you need to hear. You may wish to concentrate on creative endeavours or your inner or spiritual life. There may be something from the past you need to reflect upon. Family or domestic concerns may be prominent. You may not be ready to speak up about a problem or concern. Take your time. Mercury moves forward on Jul 10th.

Mercury's final retrograde phase is in Scorpio, starting on Oct 12th. Domestic or family matters will feature. There may be confusion or difficulty with someone close. This may be a health concern or there may be misunderstanding or tension to be resolved. There will be problems with communication, appliances or people at home. Watch safety with power. There may be testing talk over money or confusion about who was supposed to pay for what. Take a review of domestic matters, both personal and practical. Cooperation is the best solution. Mercury returns to Libra on Oct 24th then moves forward on Nov 1st.

Lady Moon

Your Full Moon comes on Feb 2nd. Expansion, investment, romance and plain luck are favoured by the influences here. A new scheme, relationship or adventure could come to light. You might just be feeling good. There could be stimulating social activities or even something to celebrate. Relationships are favoured. Enjoy time with someone special. If you're single, take a risk with someone new. Enjoy favourite activities and tasty foods with people you love.

Your New Moon comes Aug 12th. There may be something to negotiate with someone close. You may have much to talk about with a partner or close associate. You may need to go over old ground or deal with a past situation. Someone older or in authority may be involved. Verbal communication is important and you'll need to set a clarifying pattern that will create a new dynamic or perspective for an old situation or a persistent problem. You may have to make a new start in an old position.

Eclipses

Eclipses of both the Sun and the Moon often indicate the end of a cycle or a significant change in the direction or pattern of the affairs governed by the house in which the eclipse falls. Eclipses of the Sun may affect work, direction and relations with people in authority. Eclipses of the Moon may affect matters of home, family and emotions as well as relations with women and children. Both may affect your health.

The Full Moon in Virgo on Mar 3rd brings a Lunar Eclipse. Domestic or personal monies may be in for a hitch or a glitch. You may have to review personal spending as something has changed. You may not be able to go ahead with a purchase or an expense. There will be a shift in income or outgoings. A domestic expense may catch you out. Someone you regularly deal with over basic financial concerns may depart the picture. You may have to eat into savings or other designated monies to solve a problem.

The Full Moon in Pisces on Aug 28th brings a Lunar Eclipse. There may be a change or an end with financial obligations or joint arrangements. Someone you've been dealing with over financial concerns may depart or move out of your circle of operations. There may be a hitch or a glitch with credit or overdraft arrangements. Make sure that you don't inflict it on yourself. There may be an interruption or a change with the erotic side of relationships. If you've been in a secret liaison, it may come to an end.

The New Moon in Virgo on Sep 11th brings a Solar Eclipse. An interruption or change may affect your income or primary or personal resources. There may be an enforced shift with spending or money management. Keep savings in place prior to this period. You may need more than is planned for in the budget. You may change or have to change financial institutions or advisers. There may be an end to an expense or an outgoing.




Courtesy of http://www.astrologycom.com/annual.html