Astrologically Speaking

Leo 2002 edition ...

Leo The Sun moves through the twelve zodiacal signs in a year, I have chosen to write my astrological monthly column for those twelve periods rather than the arbitrary calendar month. Each planetary transit (for instance the Sun's passage through a zodiacal sign) has events that we recall in hindsight and themes that are tough to remember after the time has passed. If you think back to last year do you even remember what the period from July 22 to August 21 was like? Typically not unless an event of some kind took place, you might remember what the weather was like, in particular if your holidays occurred then. But every year the time when many of the inner planets (Sun, Mercury, Venus and Mars) are in a sign there is a theme that forms the back drop for your astrological month. At 5:06 PM PDT on the 22nd of July Sun moves into the regal, gregarious and theatrical sign of Leo.

As the Sun changes signs Mercury and Mars are already in the fun-loving, boisterous sign the Sun claims his own. Leo is the home of the Sun astrologically speaking. During the Leo month we have the dog days of summer. In the northern hemisphere this is when we are the most likely to have a stretch of hot and sultry weather. The period was named after Sirius, the dog star, which rises with the Sun during the hottest time of the year by ancient reckoning of astronomer-astrologers. The dog star is presently at approx. 15°Cancer. It has moved forward with the speed of approx. 1° per year. In Egypt the pyramids were constructed so that the light of the bright star Sirius reached the inner chambers. It was considered an omen of a good harvest, and this period coincided with annual the rising of the river Nile. The star is in the constellation of Canis Major.

To skip intro just read signs: Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces.

Our holidays during this time tend to be more for fun and romance. We are more likely to head to an exotic destination rather than those Cancer-type destinations summer cottage and camp ground. It is the time to PLAY and have some FUN.

Jupiter the planet of luck and MORE or plenty enters the sign of Leo on August 1, 2002 for a year long period. It has just spent a year in its sign of exaltation, Cancer, and it has been a potent time. Jupiter tends to be the planet of great expectations, wherever it transverses by house in our charts tends to be the area of life where we simply want more. More money, better job, or even that elusive lottery win. Jupiter does tend to deliver but we may not truly notice as what it delivers does not meet with our expectations. Let's say that you have Libra rising or to a lesser extent happen to be a Libra Sun - in the next year you might truly believe that you deserve a major pay hike while Jupiter is in your 11th house of income from career. You are blowing the amount out of proportion with reality, you after all want enough to stay way ahead of your expenses so when that nice increase happens it is too little and perhaps even too late.

Jupiter can be easy come AND easy go, we just ignore the easy go part. Jupiter in Leo out there in the world is likely to inflate the price of gold (a Sun-Leo ruled precious metal), and the entertainment industry is likely to bring out flashy, big productions for our watching pleasure. This is just a year, not a really long cycle. Maybe gold coloured cars are making yet another comeback. Be the colour as it may, the new models are likely to have more luxury features. Leo loves luxury on any scale - to a Leo their house or den is always their castle. The Leo's favourite chair is always more than a chair it is his/her throne, it may just be a lazy-boy, but it is a throne; want to test this - try and place a claim on it.

The sign of Leo is also associated with children and while Jupiter of more and better is in this sign, children's issues are likely to surface more prominently. Leo is the sign that likes to claim centre stage, it does come naturally - I have yet to meet a Leo who did not know that astrologically speaking they were a Leo.

Jupiter in the same sign is approx. a 12 year cycle, varies a little as Jupiter spends more time in certain signs than others. So if you have your 12th, 24th, 36th etc. birthday coming up, you are experiencing a Jupiter return, which traditionally brings in a good year. With Jupiter you always need to bear in mind, that it's the great expectations that tend to dim the reward not that the streak of luck isn't there; we simply tend to hanker after more.

I am writing this slowly during an unusually lengthy stretch of hot, sultry days and my usually enviable ability to stick to deadlines has evaporated in the heat. Economy of words has also won favour, could be the fact that Venus is in the sign of Virgo. Virgo is the sign so very capable of choosing a few select words to express what might amount to a paragraph's worth of information. Virgo is the sign of discrimination not just criticism.

The stressful aspect of the Saturn-Pluto opposition travelling hand in hand with the nodal axis of the Moon (that is where the eclipses occur) continues to bring stress into our lives for a few months to come, eases up in October). That in English is that there are forces at play in one area of your life that you feel you have no control over, the past, the inevitable, crushing type of change whether it be that people around you are changing, the corporate structure is changing, etc. This causes most of us of unidentifiable stress and perhaps even fear of what is to come. Globally I think this is for example the hardest adjustment the stock market is facing in our lifetimes. Old structures and ways of doing things are crumbling. On the other end of the axis is the future, and that isn't being made terribly clear either - how do you build new foundations and structures with limited information. May recommendation is to stay flexible, keep all of your options open, and just change your mind-set about that area in your life. If it is work for example, then start keeping your eyes open for other opportunities, easy to say, I know. It might be easier to work backwards and look at the list of your "don't want"-items first.

Aries

For Aries the (planetary) activity is all in the house of FUN for the year mind you. Play, take a holiday or few, and loosen your grip on those deadlines, half of them are self-imposed. If you have to work, it is an excellent time to organize your schedule for the next fall and winter. Learn to delegate, that'll free up your time to pursue life's pleasures. Any stress is most likely to manifest in the areas of communication, remember the forest echos what you shout - you are the one who needs to make the adjustments not vice a versa. Be kind to yourself, however, don't judge yourself any harsher than you do others.

Taurus

This is family time, entertaining at home and acquiring a few luxury items for the home, the bigger and flashier the better not just this month but all year long. Stay alert on the work front, deception is possible. Keep tab of the pennies and you'll gain control over the dollars. Concerns are most likely in the area of money, possessions and the value of your time - it is an asset, you know. When you re-assess your priorities and get more focused on the big picture, it will be easier to get life on track. Make it your track not something that is imposed on you. Take pleasure in what you have in your life be it material or spiritual assets, don't focus on the lack, unless you are prepared to implement the changes.

Gemini

It looks like a busy year, starting off with a busy, busy month. Lots of short journeys (it's all relative), and increased communication and contact with cousins, siblings and similar relatives. If learning something new is of interest to you know, pick something that takes no more than a year for better success, as your interest may wane when the planetary influence shifts next August (2003). The last couple of years have been and continue for a while longer to be of change and continuous adjustment for you, it is as if you are busy trying to discover who you are and why you are here in the first place. Stress might occur in relationship areas particularly if you excluding others from your thought processes and ideas for your future.

Cancer

"I want more, I want more, gimme, gimme more" might be your new chant. New ideals, new preferences and new choices coming your way all year long, but the impetus starts now. This is when we typically have money luck, not for free but through your own efforts. The craving for new possessions can be strong, and its price often is a second job, or a change into a better paying one. Word of caution, try not to take on more than you can handle. Also if you want to save more, learn to spend less. This is a year of expansion, both literally and figuratively so do stick to a diet and/or exercise regimen. The self-confidence booster of the next year will go a long way to alleviate the doubts and concerns you have been having regarding future and your reason for being.

Leo

The planet of plenty and of luck is in your sign as are most of the inner planets, truly your year to shine, check above re diet and exercise, too much of a good thing can be too much of a good thing and assist in not only gaining stature in your worldly pursuits but if not careful also gaining girth. Even money matters look promising provided you keep a tight reign on them, and make discriminate choices. Praise and/or monetary gain from career type pursuits may feel limited or even limiting at the moment, time to revisit those 5 and 10 year plans, or perhaps we should call it twelve. It is easy to say and harder to swallow, but life is ours to mould and events and happenings are something we can choose to respond to differently. Romance and all the sensual activity that goes with it is making a major comeback. It does qualify as exercise.

Virgo

Research financial investments with even more care than normal, there are no get rich quick schemes that are proven to work. The proverbial guardian angel is looking out for you, and you will experience times when you feel saved in the nick of time. Enjoy the providence and the feeling that you are like the cat always landing on your feet. Faith and convictions, your beliefs and inner life become a strong back drop for the year to follow. Explore your subconscious, learn from your dreams and trust your hunches. The stress might be at work, with the boss or with people who have power over you, exploring meditation, yoga or simple stress reducing exercise might be just the ticket.

Libra

This is a social month and year for you, first and foremost. Recognition and even monetary gain for hard work in the past year. This year is for laying long-term goals and plans, where do you see yourself 5 years from now, 10 years from now, etc? How are you planning to get there? It has to start sometime - now might be good. The desire to study, explore, travel may be hampered right now, could it be because you aren't clear about what you truly desire? Just don't go throwing out the baby with the bath water - it will all clear up by the year's end. Life tends to become more complicated when your mind is analyzing everything at warp-speed. And by the way love is supposed to be blind, we don't find it - it finds us. If the new love of your life is still there in December, he/she might just be the one.

Scorpio

Career and its rewards and costs - yeah - everything has a price tag so to speak. Now whether it is welcome recognition or the extreme opposite, I couldn't say. If the writing is in the wall you know what to do, you are the most resourceful of the signs. The typical thing to say would be luck at work, but sometimes that is a change to another one rather than the one you hold, because you tend to crave more during these times. Which ever it is you'll be working and networking MORE. That is the only guarantee of Jupiter - you gain more of what ever is coming down the pike now. On the other front your personal resources, possessions and money could be less than you feel comfortable with. Joint resources are increasing at a steady, slow pace (not your favourite), and the other flip is that your love life requires effort now - don't take your partner for granted they are likely to be having issues of their own to contend with.

Sagittarius

Yearning to travel, to learn, to explore to re-connect with your faith and convictions sums up the back drop of your year. It typically is about all of it at what magnitude is very individual. This is the time to learn yoga, comparative religion, become a travel agent or learn a new language. Middle eastern studies is experiencing a boom - learn arabic. Doubting your abilities can be a stumbling block, things worthwhile are seldom that easy. The stress is you vs. the world, has been for a while and it isn't over yet. Personal relationships thrive only under watchful eye and by you putting the work in. When something isn't working, change it not throw away. Lots of new people may be coming into your life, variety is the spice of life, right. Try to lighten up a little bit, don't take yourself so seriously.

Capricorn

"I've been working on the railroad..." tune pops into my head when I look at the current planetary activity for you. You know that those railroads were eventually built, it just took a lot of work. The tail end of this "pleasant" trend is here, you should be able to see light at the end of the tunnel. If you haven't been working with those dreams and/or nightmares you have been having, perhaps you should consider it. Our inner lives are rich and those dreams are simply your higher self trying to assist you to cope with life. Where's the fun and expansion for you? That would be either in the bedroom or in the area of finances (includes debts, taxes and mortgages) or both. This typically coincides with a year long search for answers to life's overwhelming questions - such as why are we here in the first place. Studies such as astrology, criminology, psychology and accounting surface as intriguing at this time. Read those financial statements this year and avoid headaches down the road.

Aquarius

Well, it is about others - are you putting others first and not just out of curiosity. People are interesting yes - but now is the time to walk the talk not just talk the talk. You may crave more out of your relationships but remember that in life the forest always echos our words (read actions as well). You may view some parts of life through rose-coloured glasses, and this isn't the norm for you, you may idealize or idolize something or someone who may not live up to your expectations, willing to compromise? Romance and serious relationships require constant nurturing and hard work for them to thrive. In other words, don't just say it SHOW it. You may feel unusually emotional and appear to have thinner skin than normal, it may be quite an emotionally charged year that is in the stars for you.

Pisces

Most astrologers who write these type of sun sign columns find Pisces the hardest to write for and Aries the easiest. Pisceans come in two distinctly different shapes, and they are the most sensitive and secretive of the bunch. Work, chores and co-workers, busy schedules and re-organization of your time is likely to form that year long back-drop for you. Whatever you are doing, you will be working hard at it, remember not to neglect your well-being and not burn the candle from both ends. Your physical constitution even under a healthy body is not the most robust. Remember it is your castle for this life, keep it well-maintained. The stress might be at trying to establish a career type setting as opposed to having a job, getting there has its challenges, stay flexible - there is a time for everything - achieving your goals will take a while make interim goals that are more attainable. You may feel that you have earned it already, but the world may have a different opinion. Who knows maybe by November you'll be looking at learning something new or possibly even relocating.