Ask Archie

Nancy, I set up a chart for when I received your question, but it wouldn’t give me an answer. I suspect, despite your urgency, that you’re not quite ready to make a decision. Perhaps you should ask me the question again, but when some more facts have come in?

Still, it might be useful to look at your horoscope, but you haven’t give me a time or place of birth. You can email them to me, if you want.

Jolene,

All of us, when we first get involved in astrology, get excited about transits. Even when I started working professionally, I’d still get excited about them, and predict wonderful events. However it soon become clear to me that transits were not as important as many astrologers made out.

In fact, it’s only in the last a hundred years that transits have take on a central role in predictive astrology. Traditionally, transits were not regarded as being a big deal – astrologers would instead work with other predictive techniques, the most important being primary directions.

Jupiter transits in particular can be very deceptive. We get excited about them, but in most cases, nothing much happens.

Indeed in my practice as an astrologer, I pay very little attention to Jupiter transits, and I can do a whole reading without referring to them.

If you do want to use Jupiter transits, I would suggest that you regard them as a clue to timing. The big events in one’s life will very rarely be marked by Jupiter transits, but the transits might tell you what day they occur on.

Tapan,

Thank you for the question, and I am sorry I didn’t reply earlier. Clearly it’s a tough situation, when you’re completely focused on the quest for a job, yet your destiny appears to be entirely in the hands of other people.

I have looked at your horoscope, and until 2023 you are going through a period of life ruled by Mercury. And until June 2012 you are going through a sub-period of Mercury ruled by Venus.

My overall feeling is, that both Mercury and Venus need to be strengthened. Though maybe you should start by focusing on Mercury.

To do this, it might be a good idea to make Wednesday special, and to wear a green gemstone. You might also want to say a Mercury mantra – there are plenty of places on the internet that you can find such mantras, though of course you could consult a local priest.

Yet I don’t want to encourage you to spend money you can’t afford, paying someone who might not be reliable to help sort out the problem. A bit of self-help can go a long way.

So to conclude, you perhaps need to go into your horoscope, and strengthen the appropriate planets.

Work on Mercury, and see what happens. You could also try doing charitable work on Wednesdays.

Janicke,

Thanks for the question. It seems that right now you don’t feel very powerful, and you don’t feel able to take control of the situation. Having said that, the relationship is losing its strength, and I feel that you and the boyfriend are slowly but surely going your different ways.

Still, it might be best if you take it slowly, and you avoid doing anything sudden. You don’t want to aggravate the situation, and it’s possible that your boyfriend has got a bit of a temper.

In late July you are going to get your power back in a major way, so it’s possible that you’ll be free of your boyfriend in late July or August.

Astrology aside, why don’t you try this simple exercise? Write you boyfriend’s name down on a piece of paper, roll it up into a ball, and put this ball of paper somewhere that you never use or visit. For example at the bottom of a drawer, that you never open. This exercise won’t cause any harm to anyone, and you’ll be telling the universe that you want to break your connection with your boyfriend.

Alexandra,

This is perhaps a standard Aries-Libra relationship. In other words, an attraction of opposites. He is probably a typical Aries, wanting everything to happen on his terms, while you, as a Libran, want to make everyone happy – and you don’t like saying no.

However from your point of view, pressure levels are rising. Saturn is close to your Libran Sun, and you realise that something has to change. Also, your ambitions are becoming intense – at some level, you want to push yourself to the limit- especially in terms of your career, as you’ve already suggested.

If you stay with him, Saturn is likely to cause further problems, and I suspect that it’s time to move on.

Of course I’m only working by Sun Signs – I don’t have your years of birth, so that rather limits what I can say.

Prakash,

Can you please give the time and date of your birth? Thanks.

I feel that your approach to selling your house may not be right, and that you need a change of strategy. And once your strategy has changed you might enjoy better luck.

Also, from the point of view of your Hindu horoscope, there was a change at the beginning of February of this year. You became more focused on selling your house, and perhaps your eyes are now opening, and you realise what needs to be done. And I do feel that between now and April 2011 you have an excellent chance of selling your house. This is because this 14-month period is ruled by Venus, and in your Hindu horoscope Venus is strongly placed, in the sign Libra. It’s also in the Fourth House, an area of your horoscope connected with real estate.

After the New Moon on May 14 it might be time to find a new estate agent, and put together a new plan. This should, eventually, lead to a successful outcome.

Amanda, I don’t think that the situation is anything like as bad as you’re making out. Your fundamental position is strong, though clearly financial issues need to be addressed as soon as possible. Indeed there appears to be come kind of financial crisis coming to a head, where you have to confront the matter head on. However I believe that you will come through unscathed.

Yet the fundamental issue underlying your question seems to be one of communication. Maybe you’re keeping something to yourself? Or you have been delaying passing on a message? Once you’ve delivered the message, I think you’ll feel a whole lot better.

As far as relationships are concerned, your partner seems indecisive, and may not be expressing themselves very well. However they do want to talk, and if you make yourself available there should be progress.

Remember also, you’re not alone. There are lots of people around you, and if you give them a chance they can help you to sort things out.

Patty,

You’re already committed to your project, so I am not going to look at the question of whether it will succeed or fail. Can you tell me the ABSOLUTE earliest and latest dates the project can start?

Sandra,

I’m sorry things are getting difficult for you in South Africa, and clearly you’ve got to make a decision.

My immediate concern is, that for one reason or another, it might be difficult for you to leave South Africa. There are things to deal with, obstacles to overcome. And perhaps your concern about which country to move to could hold you up.

So if you really feel that it’s not safe for yourself and your daughter, you should leave the country, and then worry about the fine details of where exactly you should go to.

As far as whether Italy or Australia is the best place for you, there is an astrological technique one can use. I don’t trust it a hundred percent, but I’ll nonetheless tell you about what it says.

As far as Australia is concerned, it’s a big country! Western Australia, for example Perth and Albany, looks good, especially from a career point of view. Eastern Australia, by contrast, could be more argumentative, and it’s possible that you find it difficult to get on with people here. When I say Eastern Australia, I am talking about a coastal strip – Tasmania, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.

As far as Italy is concerned, it looks OK – you were born there, close to Sunrise, with the Moon well-placed in Cancer in the Tenth House of career. In other words, your birth place could suit you very well.

So all things being equal, Italy and Western Australia look OK, but Eastern Australia needs to be treated with caution.

However I must emphasise that the technique I am using is not completely reliable.

Sharmila,

There are a number of differences between Vedic and Western astrology. The most significant is the Zodiac. Vedic astrology takes into account the precession of the equinoxes, which means that at the moment the Western Zodiac is about 24 degrees ahead of the Eastern/Vedic one. So if the Moon is 23 degrees Taurus in the West, it will be 29 degrees Aries in the East.

There is also the house system generally used, which differs from the house system used by most (but not all) Western astrologers. A whole sign is used for a house, so if one degree Virgo is the Ascendant, everything in Virgo is in the First House, everything in Libra is in the Second House, and so on.

As far as accuracy is concerned, Vedic astrology is certainly a powerful tool, but it’s easier to make mistakes with it than with Western astrology. Still, if you’re interested in hard and fast predictions, I would have said that Vedic astrology is more accurate than Western astrology, especially the kind of astrology that’s very psychological, and overly dependent on transits and secondary progressions.

Angela,

Thanks for the link, and thanks for the kind words. Obviously I’ve heard of Boris Johnson… I even wrote an article about him at the time of the last election for mayor. In the article I was really looking at the Gemini connection.

Astrology aside, I can’t see Boris ever being PM. Isn’t he too much of an individual?

Lynda,

I would guess that having surgery isn’t a fun prospect, even at the best of times. So it’s possible that the bad transits are simply reflecting the fact that you’re having an operation.

Also, transits can impact on the way you feel. Being in hospital could have a negative impact on your state of mind.

Though perhaps what you’re fearing is that the bad transits will lead to a negative outcome.

Well, transits are probably an over-rated predictive system, and I don’t think one should predict anything major just on the basis of a transit.

But as I’ve just said, the transits are probably describing what you know you’re about to experience. In other words, they’re nothing to be afraid of!

Lynda,

It’s easy to get overwhelmed by transits, and to be struck by how many are coming together at the same time. And then to get afraid. Or, in terms of good transits, to believe that something wonderful is about to happen. And so often, it turns into a damp squib.

I would be very weary of cancelling an operation because of astrology. Obviously I don’t know what kind of operation you’re having (and I’m not asking) but very often the earlier that something is found the better – assuming there is anything to be found.

Having said that, all things being equal, the Moon is not a great time for Scorpio to be in, especially for Scorpio areas of the body, but I suppose one in 12 operations will have this Moon sign, and in most cases things turn out fine.

Vidya,

All things being equal, having Saturn as ruler of the Seven isn’t the end of the world. Especially as, all things being equal, one in six people will have Saturn ruling their seventh house.

As a broad generalisation, someone with Cancer or Leo covering the First House might well attract someone who is older and perhaps rather slow and boring.

In terms of the person you have met, he might well fit the bill. And just because two people don’t have much in common doesn’t necessarily mean that a marriage isn’t going to work. Though I haven’t looked at this precise question astrologically. There’s no harm in a bit of spontaneity!

Mona,

I wouldn’t worry! Capricorns like to do their best, and whatever they’re doing, there can be a lot of self-doubt. But if you’re worrying about the quality of your research, that’s surely a good sign? it shows that you are not being complacent, that you’ll be able to go above and beyond the call of duty.

From the point of view of sun sign astrology, at the end of July Saturn goes into Libra. Saturn is the ruler of Capricorn, and Libra is a sign in which it works very well – indeed in the Capricorn solar chart, Libra has a special association with career and status. So perhaps there’ll be a few more doubts, which will spur you to work even harder, and as the Summer progresses things will really come together for you. And you know what? I think you’re already past the worst, and from now on, things are slowly but surely going to get better and better for you.

Lisa, thanks very much for you question. You haven’t given me the time and place of your daughter’s birth, and I understand that you mightn’t want to reveal that on a public forum. So, I will have to just work with the birthday. And also with the horoscope I set up, for the time I read and understood your question.

Now, when you read what I say, please take it with a pinch of salt. I may be wrong, and I don’t want to create any self-fulfilling prophecies.

First off, it seems that you and your daughter have a very strong connection. Of course mothers and daughters tend to have strong connections, but in your case it’s particularly powerful, and you do make each other feel strong. So together I believe that you can make the right decision.

I should also say that I am not worried about your daughter. Whatever is decided, she’ll come out of it fine.

To be more specific, the horoscope for the time I understood your question suggests that in some way your daughter will be ‘rescued’ – moving from a bad situation to a good one. And I suspect that that rescue will come from you, and my feeling is that home schooling is the way forward. As you say, the private school will be expensive, and in the short-term at least, you can’t afford it.

Now, you say ‘or just home school her’. Well, it’s not really ‘just’, is it? That’s a major step. The horoscope for the question you asked suggests that part of the underlying issue might be higher education, and if you want to home school her, you yourself might have to go back to school, so as to keep up. Nonetheless, I get a strong signature of ‘you the educator’.

Turning to your daughter’s chart, and I actually feel quite confident that home education is the right thing to do, provided you’re able to put in the effort.

She’s a girl who is very independent-minded, and really likes to do things her way. She has got the Sun, Mars, Mercury and Saturn in Aries, and the Moon, Venus, Uranus and Neptune in Aquarius. She can be a rebel and a non-conformist, and this could make her vulnerable to bullying. Especially over the next few years, when Saturn aspects her Aries planets. Indeed, in late 2009 and early this year it already started to happen.

Put simply, if any child can benefit from home-schooling, then surely it’s your child?

Though bear in mind that I don’t have your daughter’s birth chart, and I am writing this answer quickly, and I might be jumping to conclusions.

Lisa,

I haven’t looked at your horoscope. I’ve instead looked again at the chart for your question. I do feel that you can do it, and something that’s been holding you back has only just slipped its grasp of your.

By the way, you mentioned your daughter being depressed. Well, I think while Saturn is aspecting her Aries planets, over the next couple of years, she needs to be in a secure and nurturing environment. A school where is being bullied is not the place to be… though I am weary of what I’m writing and the impact of my words. She needs support, and an environment where she can express herself. And that’s probably at home.

But what does your daughter think? Surely, with all those Aries and Aqurius planets, she’s got an opinion on the matter?

Ines,

Thanks for the question. I didn’t set up your horoscope, I instead looked at the chart for the time I received your question.

It does seem that your career is bothering you at the moment, and you perhaps find your working environment to be completely stifling. However I think that things are past their worst.

As far as what you should do now, I suspect it might be a bit early to make a decision. Also, nothing is quite as it seems. So before rushing after the new job, make a few enquiries. You might then discover that something is being hidden from you.

However I must emphasise that it’s probably too soon to make an absolute decision. The situation you’re in needs to develop. And once you’ve got the facts you might be in a better position to make up your mind.

If you want to ask the question again, you can… but wait a few weeks, until you really know what you’re asking.

Having said that, my hunch is that the new job isn’t quite as wonderful as it seems on the surface. However the chart for your question doesn’t allow me to give you a clear answer.

Gabi,

Thanks a lot for the question. Your description of the Ascendant and Descendant seems to me to be a better description of the North and South Node of the Moon – the North Node being where we’re going to, the South Node where we are coming from. Of course that’s just my opinion, and I hadn’t really thought about the Ascendant in the way you describe.

My basic conception of the Ascendant, at least in a psychological sense, relates to ‘the persona’. It is the mask that we wear as we go through life, the mask in which we feel the most comfortable. It is not necessarily the true self. As far as the descendant is concerned, it’s the area of our life that we’re least conscious of, that we’re most likely to ‘project’. So if you have Virgo on the Descendant, that might represent your desire for order, that you’re not fully aware of (though maybe you are aware of it, because you are a Capricorn!). Under these circumstances you might be presented with your suppressed Virgo personality traits via one-to-one relationships.

At least that’s one view – though I am not trying to describe your personality!