Anne Massey’s astrology blog

On leave

Friday, January 27th, 2012 | astrologer's diary | No Comments

I am away from my office for another two months or so. I will be back to teaching, consulting and blogging after the Spring Equinox. I will respond to emails, return calls, etc. at that time. My world changed on November 22 and I am unable to work at this time. I will be launching a new column “We are starlight…” at the Equinox; it will be non-astrological, in the meantime I have loads of reading material at www.astrologicallyspeaking.com

Virgo and Libra

Tuesday, September 20th, 2011 | Ask Anne, Astrology Students, Astrology for You, astrologer's diary, astrology basics | No Comments

Reader question: I have a question for you – I have had my chart done a few times. I have heard different opinions on my rising sign, 29 degrees Virgo – 1st house. Some astrologers say, it is essentially the same as Libra rising. Others saying no, Virgo…antithetic

Anne’s response: There is a big difference between the last degree of Virgo rising to the first degree of Libra rising. We cannot change your Ascendant to be a Libra or imply that it almost is.

If the final degree of Virgo is rising, we tend to find a person, who is very driven to accomplish something in life and has worked diligently toward the perfect presentation of self—always putting the best foot forward, or knowing your most flattering side. (Ready for my close up…)

Antithetic means diametrically opposed, which is the complete or exact opposite. So that cannot be true. Libra is opposite Aries, and Virgo is opposite Pisces. Virgo and Libra are adjacent signs, their connection or lack of one, was called an aversion by classical astrology. Aversion is a polite way of describing we truly don’t like something, and have little or nothing in common. The energy between the two signs is actually mitigated by the fact that they are of equal ascension, meaning they rise for the same length of time each day—so the two actually work together, maybe somewhat reluctantly. › Continue reading

My interview with Rob Hand

Tuesday, September 20th, 2011 | Astrology Students, astrologer's diary | No Comments

Over the course of the summer, I had the priviledge to interview Rob Hand. I first posted this piece on the www.astrologyguild.com website. Rob will be at the Guild in October for two talks and a workshop, if you are in the area, I highly recommend the events.

“Astrology is a discipline which is rooted in a pre-modern, in fact pre-medieval concept of the world. It very strongly implies, that we consider the universe an aspect of a living, conscious, and sentient being. “—Rob Hand

It is interesting to think of a historian, computer software writer, author, lecturer, professor, philosopher, translator and a scholar with the Sagittarian bent for the truth—realize how complex that sounds—and then identify the person as Robert Hand. At a recent conference Rob was introduced as the Stephen Spielberg of astrology, and I asked him how he felt about that. “I don’t like being regarded as the Spielberg of astrology, I am just a human being who has a deep interest and understanding of astrology”, was Rob’s comment during. In fact he might prefer be likened to Johann Sebastian Bach, ‘whose work was revered for its intellectual depth, technical command and artistic beauty’ (comment about Bach sourced from Wikipedia—AM). On second thought just a human being, who happens to be a well-versed and learned. › Continue reading

Gemini, butterflies and Mars in Gemini

Monday, June 20th, 2011 | Astrology for You, astrologer's diary, astrology basics | No Comments

I just posted a column about Gemini and Mars in Gemini at www.astrologicallyspeaking.com/Gemini2011.htm — it is a rerun of a column I wrote in 2003. The horoscopes in it are updated. “Geminis are like butterflies fluttering from flower to flower, always looking for new tastes and new experiences; breezy and blithe not allowing life to stagnate as that fosters boredom. Read more by following the link above.

Jupiter in Taurus

Friday, June 3rd, 2011 | Astrology for You, astrologer's diary | No Comments

Jupiter moves into Taurus June 4, 2011. I just posted a column with individual horoscopes on my website, find it at www.astrologicallyspeaking.com/JupiterTaurus.htm

Amidst all the earth changes, it is nice to concentrate on some beneficial energy. It is also nice to see the pragmatic, solid Earth energy gain some influence. My at a Glance for 2012 is hot off the presses and I will be posting a link to the sidebar in the next few days. For now it is featured at my website www.astrologicallyspeaking.com

Harper, Ignatieff and Canada’s chart

Sunday, April 3rd, 2011 | Canadian Politics, astrologer's diary | 5 Comments

The rhetoric is heating up, the advertising campaigns are difficult to avoid on Canadian networks. Not quite below the belt but… and then on the news the same sound bites and media clips on each channel. I don’t follow tweets, twitters, etc but assume that the same 140 characters are going out from each source. I have been driving around Surrey and Langley in the past week, there are prominent (big), and blue roadside signs for the Conservatives and lots of smaller orange signs for the NDP candidates. I have no idea who the Liberal candidates for the four ridings near our house are —the signs are absent from the landscape—the only red signs are for real estate agents. Incidentally there are no signs for Green party candidates’ either.

I am going over charts with a fine-toothed comb, the first one is that for Canada and where the emphasis is and what integrated patterns are formed. In our chart the Moon and Mercury (shown in light grey) don’t form major connections, thus are not particularly well integrated into our national identity. Thus they operate without input from the other planetary energies.

The blue planets belong to Harper, and we can see at a glance how his planets connect closely with those in our national chart. What is interesting to observe is that Harper’s planet of responsibility sits at the top of our chart; the position of the leader, manager or boss. The polls tracking this election campaign measure who Canadians would prefer as the manager of the country, Harper has 109 points, Layton is number two and Ignatieff holds third place. The top of our national chart and the Saturn in Harper’s chart, have been under ‘attack’ from Pluto, one of the agents of change. However, Pluto will not actually reach that position until late in 2012, signalling a change at the top ranks of our government. It does look as if Harper will retain his job. › Continue reading

Majority or Coalition

Friday, April 1st, 2011 | Canadian Politics, astrologer's diary | No Comments

Coalition is a Venus concept, because it is about the ability to co-operate. Ignatieff has Venus with Mars in Aries, the sign that wants to go it alone. Think of Sinatra’s song “I did it my way”.  The pair of planets falls into the first house for Canada, indicating that he believes he is able to be the voice of Canadians. He is a Taurus Sun, just like Harper and both men also have the Moon in Aquarius. Venus is in charge of the sign Taurus. I don’t see him really wanting to form a coalition; he wants to be in charge. At the time he was declared the leader of the Liberals, Juno the contract-maker was influenced by Pluto of control, power and hostile take-overs. Now that same energy is being influence by rebellious Uranus, and if he fails to meet the expectations of winning his majority, not a coalition, I think he will walk away.

Harper has his Venus in Gemini, close to the Venus in Canada’s chart. Gemini is an adaptable and flexible sign, less so when we remember the tenacity and obstinacy that are strong traits in a Taurus person. He would form a coalition more readily, as his planets strongly tap into the innate energy is the national chart for Canada. He would adjust in order to have the country on secure economic footing. Harper’s contract maker is in Libra, the sign of co-operation, which is currently under the influence of Saturn, which would spell out that he would form a coalition but under duress. If he ended up with a coalition, I suspect he might pull away from his leadership role within a year or so. › Continue reading

Ponderings

Monday, March 14th, 2011 | astrologer's diary | No Comments

There is such a strong contrast between what is going on in the world to what is going on in our private lives. Since the first Gulf War that broke out in January 1991, world events have come to us live. Many of us were glued to the screen as we watched war in real time. In 2001 the twin towers collapsed in real time and now another decade later we watch the devastation in Japan in vivid digital images. It is hard to watch and not feel upset, under that rubble there are thousands of bodies. As a cosmic joke there are advisories for movies that state that there is violence, coarse language, etc. and viewers should be aware. There are no advisories for news that show real lives being destroyed…not the make believe of movie-land. › Continue reading

Inspiration I need to find you

Thursday, March 10th, 2011 | Current Planetary trends, astrologer's diary | No Comments

Mercury moved into Aries yesterday and will be there until May 15, 2011. There is an elemental theme to the actions of Mercury, and for 2011 it is about rekindling our inspiration, Mercury spends half of the year in the element of Fire. Read my annual Mercury write up at www.astrologicallyspeaking.com/Mercury2011.htm  it has the horoscopes for each of the signs for each of the periods. When Mercury spends extra time in the fire signs, there is a backdrop of enthusiasm and well as the need to act fast, to rush. Aries is the spark that ignites quickly and goes out with equal speed. There are so many things that demand our attention or grab our interest, and it can be more difficult to stay focused on what we feel we need concentrate on. Leo is like the roaring bonfire or the controlled forest fire; the intent is to get us stoking the flame of passion within us. The third fire sign is akin to the eternal flame, nothing can distinguish it. This internal, eternal flame creates an ongoing quest to understand our reason for being on a non-verbal level. In order to get there, we may travel or study extensively, try out different religions and/or belief systems—and ultimately break free of outdated convictions. › Continue reading

Uranus changes residences

Wednesday, March 9th, 2011 | Current Planetary trends, Financial Cycles, astrologer's diary | 6 Comments

“WHEN YOU DISCOVER YOUR MISSION, YOU WILL FEEL ITS DEMAND. IT WILL FILL YOU WITH ENTHUSIASM AND A BURNING DESIRE TO GET TO WORK ON IT.”—W. CLEMENT STONE

We live on a natural flight path; eagles, hawks, gulls, crows, swallows and sparrows fly above and I am able to catch glimpses of the more exotic ones once every few days. Today I saw a hawk, a young one testing out his wings. It is also the wind alley behind our north-facing back door. Anything that flies through the air is associated with the element of air. Air is about flights of fancy, ideas, logic, rationality, thinking, speaking, writing, and expressing our thoughts. That young hawk reminded me about the upcoming changes. The ones that begin this month are with us for seven years. This is therefore a process not a singular event.

Uranus or Ouranos, the sky god is changing residences. Over the past few months, and especially over the past month or so, most of us have felt very distracted—too many irons in the fire or being stretched too thin, faced with too many obligations, etc.—the words you choose tend to reveal your elemental make-up. There is a lot of de-cluttering that must be done when we get ready to move, and that is what the big move Uranus is about to make is creating for each one of us; an urgent need to clear up space, finish things and get ready for the next seven years. › Continue reading