CHINESE NEW YEAR – THE BROWN EARTH OX
The Chinese Year of the Brown Earth Ox begins on the 26th January at the Aquarian new moon. The Ox is the second of the twelve animal signs of the Chinese zodiac. Those born in 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985 and 1997 are all born in the year of the Ox. Oxen are traditionally stable, persevering and tolerant individuals with very strong wills. They carry out their day to day responsibilities without complaint, knowing they will succeed through hard work and sustained effort rather than short cuts and quick fixes. Pragmatic and down-toearth, Oxen have little respect for lazy or careless people. They are extremely trustworthy and reliable and hate to feel dependent on friends and family. They would rather find an answer or a solution themselves than ask others for help or guidance.
2009 will be a year when Oxen can really shine, both personally and professionally and overcome any recent setbacks or obstacles. The rest of us have the chance to prosper in the Year of the Ox through hard work and focus, working with money and resources in a sensible and non-extravagant manner. This will set the foundations for 2010, the Year of the Yang Metal Tiger!
NEW YEAR ECLIPSES
There is a solar eclipse at the Aquarius new moon on the 26th January and a lunar eclipse at the full moon on the 10th February in Leo. Eclipses have a tendency to intensify situations and bring hidden energies to the surface. It is wise to avoid making major decisions or starting new projects just before an eclipse, as new information often comes to light at the time of the eclipse, forcing us to revise our plans. We also have the chance to break out of old patterns and embrace new opportunities. The Sabian Symbol for the solar eclipse degree of 7 Aquarius is ‘a child born out of an egg – a fresh projection of the creative spirit.’ This suggests that a major theme for 2009 will be the ability to direct our creative energy in new and visionary ways. This theme is further emphasised by the conjunction of Jupiter in Aquarius with the eclipse degree.
Use the new moon energy to meditate on how you plan to direct your creative energy in 2009.
2009 ASTROLOGY & TAROT COURSES
If you’ve always dreamed of learning astrology or tarot you might like to check out my 2009 courses. I’ve posted full details on the website where you can download a brochure or booking form. Just go to www.stellastarwoman.com or www.tarotforthejourney.com and follow the ‘Courses’ links. Bookings are essential. Courses start in early February.
Or you can call Stella or Antonella from 7th January onwards on 03 9534 5021 and we’ll mail you a brochure and be happy to answer any questions.
ASTROLOGY
Astrology for Beginners (starts 9th February) will have you reading birth charts for friends and family by the end of the year, while Practical Chart Reading & Predictive Techniques (starts 17th February) is for more advanced students who really want to get to grips with the nuts and bolts of astrology.
“Stella’s extensive experience and knowledge, combined with an ability to understand and communicate how and where to look for the themes in a chart, helped to consolidate my years of study and practice and bring me to a place where I feel ready and confident to practise astrology and to call myself an Astrologer. Thank you so much Stella!”
TAROT
Tap into Tarot (starts 9th February) will turn you into a confident and competent tarot reader – many students have gone on to work professionally after completing my course.
“Stella presents tarot in a logical and easy to understand way. Her classes are fun and enlightening. She always answers questions with easy explanations and examples. She has much psychological knowledge, so the readings are very meaningful.”
HAPPY BIRTHDAY CAPRICORN
From the 21st December to the 20th January the Sun travels through earth sign Capricorn, noted for shrewdness, self-discipline, determination to get ahead and respect for tradition and authority. Capricorn is the tenth sign of the zodiac with keywords “I aspire” and “I persist”. Capricorns have practical and executive ability, are very responsible and love status. They are prepared to work incredibly hard to achieve their dreams and goals. Those born under the sign of the Goat often lead a solitary existence, feeling burdened by the responsibility they carry and struggling with the limitations of material life. At best they use their leadership skills to serve the community and act as pillars of strength for friends and family, believing patient hard work brings its own rewards. Negatively, Capricorns can be selfish, mean, ruthless and materialistic with a tendency to arrogance and autocratic or controlling behaviour. In medical astrology, Capricorn rules the skin, knees and bones and also has a reflex action on the stomach. When Capricorns are out of balance they can suffer from rheumatism, arthritis, skin complaints such as rashes and boils and digestive disturbances. There can be a tendency towards pessimism and depression. The Capricorn colours are brown and black. Capricorn’s greatest lesson is to lighten up and express their feelings.
How to handle a Capricorn
Capricorns work very hard and have no hesitation tackling the north face of Everest or equivalent. All you have to do is stand back, admire their achievements and possessions and ask them how they did it. Act with integrity and politeness and you can’t go wrong. The goat enjoys quality and status, so don’t be cheap and avoid tacky behaviour.
SEDUCING A CAPRICORN
TIPS FOR MEN
Money, Money, Money! Yes, these girls like the pleasures of financial abundance so make sure you've got plenty of your own. The Capricorn female has impeccable taste and appreciates expensive, thoughtful gifts. Take her to dinner at a top restaurant and tell her about your career plans. Play it straight. She admires hard working ambitious people who are clear about their goals and future plans. She also likes pleasures of the flesh - a good bottle of red, a night in a posh hotel, a home cooked dinner - use your imagination!
TIPS FOR WOMEN
Bimbos need not apply. He will be impressed by your dedication to work, your BMW, your Masters degree and your share portfolio (particularly if you had the sense to sell it off before the crash!) Capricorn’s sign is the goat so he enjoys lusty sex and a woman who is not afraid to tackle life’s challenges! No tacky behaviour please. Tasteful, well-cut clothes will impress. Buy him a bottle of his favourite Scotch or invite him out for dinner at a top restaurant. He's a sensual creature underneath so brush up on your seduction technique! He enjoys networking so introduce him to your boss.
2009 ASTRO ENERGIES
There is an extraordinary planetary line-up in Capricorn and Aquarius from the end of December to the end of February with every planet except Saturn and Uranus travelling through the Capricorn-Aquarius zone of the zodiac. Capricorn and Aquarius embody the themes of traditional and conservative vs. new and radical. These are signs of collective rather than personal energy, so we enter 2009 with the focus on international and group cooperation. The ongoing opposition between Saturn and Uranus will be with us for the next two years, forcing us to apply the insights and knowledge arising from the technological revolution to solving the practical problems of global warming, population explosion and establishing sustainable supplies of clean air, food and water.
2008 has certainly been a year of surprise and upheaval. Some would say a year of correction for past excess. Here’s a quote from last year’s January AstroUpdate. “An overriding theme for 2008 is the need to sort out our financial affairs and take a more responsible attitude to reducing debt and increasing savings or establishing a firm financial base. With three of the major planets in earth signs throughout the year – Pluto and Jupiter in Capricorn and Saturn in Virgo, it’s time to tighten the belt and get real.”
So what we can we expect in 2009? Certainly more ‘belt-tightening’ as Pluto and Saturn continue to move through cautious Capricorn and pragmatic Virgo, but on a brighter note, Jupiter will be moving out of Capricorn into Aquarius in early January, just two weeks before Barack Obama’s inauguration as US President. Barack Obama is a man of his time, bridging cultures and belief systems. Our bilingual Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is also in tune with the zeitgeist.
Neptune, Chiron and the North Node have been in radical and egalitarian Aquarius throughout 2008 making us realise we cannot continue to operate as individuals or separate countries or power blocs. Black and white; Jew and Muslim; East and West; man and woman; middle class and working class. These artificial divisions have become increasingly meaningless as we come to understand our co-dependence at this time of global challenge.
When philosophical Jupiter joins Neptune, Chiron and the North Node in Aquarius, we will be faced with the choice of clinging to a past of feeling special and culturally superior (or richer or better educated etc) vs. being part of an exciting, yet unfamiliar new world. The current energy is similar to the period prior to the French Revolution which culminated in the overthrow of the French monarchy, the rise of the peasant and middle classes and the destruction of the power base of the nobility. The slogan for that revolution was ‘liberty, equality and brotherhood’. Many of us believe we have moved beyond the concept of a disenfranchised peasant class, yet we continue to import cheap goods and services produced by the modern day equivalent of the ‘disenfranchised peasant’. Just because we don’t see these people slaving away, doesn’t mean they don’t exist!
Jupiter’s move into Aquarius is accompanied by Mercury, a combination that forces us to think deeply and focus on the big picture. Jupiter is the planet of expansion, good will, enthusiasm, law, philosophy, higher learning, religion, nature and environment. So Jupiter in Aquarius will enhance the ideals of social justice, unity, progressive thought, utopian dreams and visions.
Expect astonishing developments in information technology coupled by radical change in the collective mindset. As the stability of the old order (banks, stock markets, pension and superannuation funds, home ownership, dependency on oil, job security etc) continues to crumble, we will start to move towards new cultural and business models. Many fear these changes. Change is never easy, but we can choose to embrace the new possibilities rather than cling to the old… and the possibilities are endless! Bartering instead of cash transactions; on-line trading rather than driving to the local shopping centre, communal living and shared ownership of expensive items vs. one family per block owning every item possible, farmers markets vs. supermarkets. The current economic and astrological climate will force us to share. And sharing is not only practical and sensible but also very enjoyable and a loving thing to do, especially when not fuelled by concepts of limitation, sacrifice and martyrdom. People who have lived through wars and harsh economic times or shortages always talk about how they became more resourceful and how good it felt to work together with others to beat the odds.
The shadow side of Jupiter in Aquarius is fanaticism and totalitarianism. Aquarius always puts the group before the individual and this can lead to laws and systems that threaten personal freedom and choice. Another shadow to watch out for is the concept of technology as a curefor-all. We humans haven’t changed much over the years and our best resource has always been each other. You may like to think about what you would enjoy sharing with others at this time, rather than what you stand to lose. 2009 offers us a new blueprint for a new future fuelled by a major shift in public consciousness. That means you!