Astrology It’s Element - ary, My Dear Watson
What kind of RAT are you?
The Five Chinese Elements are WOOD, FIRE, EARTH, METAL & WATER. If you are a Water Rat, you are not the same sort of Rat as your friend who is a Wood Rat. Ditto Fire Horses. Fire Horses are feistier and more obstreperous than calmer, more serious Earth Horses. Here’s how it works:
To allow for movement to occur and bring about change, Chinese philosophy calls upon the five elements as agents of change and reaction. Change, the Chinese think, derives from the influence of the five main elementsWood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Wateron the basic Yin or Yang energies. Like in the old rock, paper, scissors game that we played as kids, each of these five Chinese elements has the ability to control and/or destroy the previous element, and is capable of producing the element that directly follows it. In the regenerative cycle of the elements, Water engenders Wood. Wood begets Fire. Fire burns to Earth. Earth creates Metal and Metal gives way to Water.
Wood is characterized by the color green. Wood heralds the beginning of life, springtime and buds, sensuality and fecundity. Wood’s influence affects the liver, the gallbladder and, by extension, the digestion. Wood needs moisture to thrive. Its two opposite yet equally emotional forces are rage and altruism. The Wood person will be expansive, outgoing and socially conscious.
Wood, in its turn, can create and nourish Fire. Fire’s signatory color is red. Fire is hot weather, satisfaction of nature, aridity and dust. The tongue and the small intestine are the centers of attention in the Fire person’s body. Fire makes heat, which either warms or burns. The Fire person must constantly seek to balance a tendency to explode and possibly destroy, against a desire to create coziness and warmth. Passionate by nature, this impatient, ebullient person must strive to keep his flame under control.
Earth is created from the ashes of the Fire. Now we are in the soothingly satisfying late summer cycle. Earth’s favorite color is yellow, which represents the equanimity between beginnings and. endings. The weather of Earth is mild or temperate. In the human body, Earth influences spleen, pancreas and mouth. Earth’s two opposite but equal forces which need to be kept in constant balance are enhancing and smothering. On the one hand Earth gives care and allows for growth and improvement. On the other, Earth buries roots and snuffs out breath. Earth people are gifted for fairness and have the ability to commit themselves to protracted projects and complete Herculean tasks with ease. They must struggle against a penchant for worry.
The Earth grows Metal in her veins. Metal says white and autumn. Metal is cool, crisp weather. Metal’s effect on the body centers in the lungs and respiratory system. It only secondarily rules the large intestine and the nose. Metal people like to communicate. They need to keep discord and harmony in constant balance. Metal signifies the onset of winter. Its influence can sometimes add sadness or gloom to an astrological chart. Two of Metal’s emotional forces are melancholy and romance. I see Metal as Wagnerian. Metal people must guard against a tendency to wallow in nostalgia.
Lastly, Metal begets Watergroundwater trickling its way through layers of the Earth’s ore. Water’s color is blue. Its season is full-blown winter. Water is always moving, fluid, and mutational. In our bodies, water’s influence affects our plumbing systems, the kidneys and the bladder. The ear, too, comes under the spell of Water. Hence people born in Water-ruled years are frequently musical. They pick up on everything. Be it good or bad, they never miss a vibe. Water-ruled creatures are always very sensitive and sometimes even mentally fragile. The downside of Water’s influence, then, is a stressful nervousness. To balance that fidgety, squeamish, overly sensitive side, Water endows its subjects with the noblest quality of all, kindness and sympathy. Sometimes too permeable, the Water-ruled must take precautions against drowning in the chagrin of those they see as less fortunate than themselves.
So, the five elements cause a lot of the commotion and are responsible for creating and maintaining both balance and imbalancefor moving things around and making life interesting. These purveyors of change can be controlled or not, depending on how one manages them.
Each animal year of the Chinese zodiac has been assigned one of the five elements. That element turns up twice in the cycle going away for another ten years. The five elements are always presented in the above order. Once we know this, we can understand how the elements directly affect us and pertain to individual characters.
For more information on which of the five Elements enhances your Chinese animal sign, Google Suzanne White.
Don’t you deserve to know who you really are? Are you a Rat, Ox, Tiger, Cat/Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog or Pig? Are you a shrinking violet Earth Pig? Or perhaps you will find out that you are a bossy Metal Rooster or a picky Fire Dog. Whatever your Chinese animal sign, it is governed by one element and that element modifies your basic character - big time!
Find out all about who you are, what the future holds and what other animal signs you are compatible with. Which animal sign years should you have your kids in? What is it about you has been causing you so much stress? Which of your characteristics makes certain people recoil from you? What signs are fatally attracted to yours? There’s a world of information to for you on Ms. White’s web site. Google Suzanne White and see for yourself. Suzanne White’s books and consultations will open all the doors of perception that you will ever need to walk through to find peace of mind and true felicity.
Visit Suzannewhite’s web site. It’s named after her. Find out which is your Animal sign and what Element you were born under. Put that sign and its element safely into a corner of your mind and don’t ever leave home without it again.
Suzanne White says: “I like to count my readers among my friends.”
Suzanne is the celebrated author of 4 best selling Astrology Books. Ms. White is American. She lives in Paris and Buenos Aires. Suzanne White offers private consultations: http://www.suzannewhite.com
Happy Birthday Leo - It’s Deja Vu - All Over Again
Well of course there is always something disturbingly familiar about getting older every year, but that’s not quite the Deja Vu that I am talking about. This year those Leo’s born before August 13 - will experience the effects of Retrograde Mercury in their Birthday Chart and this will have a major impact on the next Solar year (the year between Birthdays) of your life.
Each year is a new page in life. On the day near your birthday (sometimes a few hours before, and sometimes a few hours after) the Sun returns to the exact degree in the sky where it was when you were born. If you were born at 9 degrees 18 minutes of Leo, then your Solar Return happens in the day, hour and minute when the Sun Returns to 9 degrees 18 minutes of Leo. The entire impact of a Solar Return happens over the course of about 5 days; two preceding the return to 9″18″ Leo and two following it, plus the actual day of the Return.
These 5 days are very powerful and potent. You can - and should use them to set an intention for the whole next year of your life. Take some time to meditate or walk alone and contemplate what you want to do, be and accomplish this year. The influences will be felt for the entire next year of your life. It is as if the Universe has handed you a set of tools and materials and said. “Here are your resources for the next 12 months - do what you can with them.” But of course, it is up to you to use them constructively. We can use an electric saw to build a house, or we can use it to cut down the only bridge into town. The choice is ours.
This year almost all of the Leo’s in the world will feel the impact of the Retrograde Mercury in their Solar Return Chart. This makes it a very unusual and important year for Leo’s. You have been handed a special tool to use this year called Retrograde Mercury. It is up to you how you use it! But there will definitely be a set of experiences that come along with this tool. It is different to use an electric saw than it is to use a set of knitting needles! I can promise you that this is true, since I have used both of these. But don’t underestimate knitting needles - they were the subject of a rather nasty murder fantasy scene on ‘Desperate Housewives,’ and Airlines will no longer allow them on board a commercial flight. So much for harmless fun! In fact it would be easier to smuggle a power saw onto your next flight.
What has this got to do with you? A lot. This year Leo’s have been handed a set of knitting needles. And your thoughts (Mercury) will determine what those needles create. This particular set is kind of boomerang shaped, and will bring things back to you. You know how a boomerang works right? The harder you throw it away from you, the faster and more furiously it returns. This year your thoughts and beliefs will operate in much the same way. People from the past return. Old conversations come back around. And the feelings that you have towards others land back in your own lap. It’s Deja Vu, all over again.
When contemplating writing this message for you I was shown two animals - these are the Totems representing the energy you will confront this year. First is the Mountain Lion - much like your Leo symbol. This is showing me that you must face any fears, questions and issues that stand in the way of you taking a position of leadership. Lead with your heart, find your courage and speak your truth. Issues of power and abuse of power may confront you. Your job is to be a leader, hold compassion (especially for those who attack you) and act with the utmost respect for yourself and all living things. Above all, do not fall into the trap of stooping to the level of petty tyrants - even if they plague you at every turn. Yes, you may very well have to deal with a syndrome that I call PTS - Petty Tyrant Syndrome. The other side of this coin is that by rising above PTS, can can will rightfully magnetize your proper community and tribe of people around you. And there is power in numbers.
The second totem is Raven. This is power, sorcery and magic. Something of great mystery, the unknown and mysticism is possible - in fact it is necessary for you this year. Raven asks you to confront any fears that you project outwardly onto others, and demystify them. Confront your inner demons. Be ready to experience and embrace the magic and mystery in life. A super consciousness experience is very likely, and such a moment will change and open your entire outlook on the world and how it really works. It’s through the looking glass for you my friend! And if Up is Down and down is Left, then what is Right? The only possible answer to that question is: whatever lights up your heart and makes you feel joy, love and courage. The great gift of Raven is to remind you that miracles are everywhere; especially now. Never give up on your dreams or destiny.
So we can boil it down to a few key elements for your year: pride vs courage/compassion and fear vs magic. Living in the realm of courageous and compassionate magic is the sweet spot for you Leo’s for the next 12 months. May tenderness, joy and self-respect rain down upon you this year and bring you the tribe of cubs that rightfully belong in your Lion’s Den!
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Aura Galadriel Wright, Author and Astrologer writes for numerous magazines and can be found online at AstrologyChick.com ~ Find great Gifts for your favorite Sign at my Store http://www.cafepress.com/astrologychick You can also print a FREE PDF version of this article to give your favorite Leo as a gift by clicking http://www.astrologychick.com/?p=23
Tags: astrology, Astrology Sign, Birthday, Birthday Gift, horoscope, horoscopes, Leo, star sign, sun signDon’t Be Taken In By a Horoscope
You know the old adage, ‘If it sounds too good to be true, it is’? Astrology is probably one of the most prevalent practices where this saying holds true. You can run into scam artists in many areas of life, including health, herbals, and jewelry. But astrology, with its nebulous interpretation of celestial body juxtaposition that is largely subjective, remains an elusive art that unfortunately can be manipulated for preying upon unsuspecting victims.
Astrology has to do with plotting meaning from the spatial arrangement of planets, the sun and the moon, and certain alignments that feature key designs of cosmic proportions. Those who study celestial bodies and try to interpret their movement and positions as having a bearing on human life are known as astrologers or astrologists. While it may be difficult if not impossible to earn an accredited college degree for this skill at most major universities and colleges, many people pick up a few tips on the Internet, read a few books on the topic, or learn from those who have been in the business for a long time. They may use charts, telescopic readings, and constellation study to offer interpretations of their meaning and how these apply to people’s lives.
The next step that many practitioners take is to advise their clients on lifestyle changes to make in order to escape calamity or enhance the potential for success. Many famous rulers and wealthy people, along with celebrities, have sought the advice of astrologers. Some of these persons include Queen Elizabeth I (in the 1590’s), Princess Diana (in the 1990’s), and a host of other household-recognized names. Though some of these people purport to be religious, they secretly meet with an astrologer, which is forbidden by many Christian denominations as a form of witchcraft, to inquire about future prospects.
As with any part of life about which the general public understands little, those who study astrology typically fall into two groups. The first comprises those who earnestly seek to disclose the secrets of the universe by reading the heavenly bodies and understanding their unique relationships to each other, and then transferring the insight gleaned from those observations to human-interest events on earth. The second group of so-called astrologers includes charlatans who are trying to make money from the simple-minded and those eager to throw money at practitioners who pretend to understand the cosmos and proceed to tell clients what they want to hearfor a hefty fee, of course.
“Buyer Beware!” is a useful slogan as far as soliciting the services of a stargazer. Some questions to ask before requesting assistance include where or how the person learned the craft, how long he or she’s been practicing, which specific techniques and tools are used, and the degree of accuracy promised. Also ask specific questions about your life that a bona fide stargazer should be able to answer in a meaningful way.
For more helpful information on the uses and misuses of astrology, visit Astrology Study at http://www.astrologystudy.com
Tags: astrology, deceiving, horoscopes, internet, metaphysics, misleading, scams, spirituality, zodiac signs