Sensitive viewers may find it difficult to watch the The Cove, the documentary that exposed the slaughter of dolphins in Japan, but the tears shed are well worth it if it means that through creating awareness, something can be done to halt this atrocity.

It is a tragic and heart-breaking story which exposes one of the many consequences of man’s desire nature, filling you with a sense of shame that rocks you to the core; yet it is thought provoking and insightful and offers a glimpse into the ramifications of the senseless slaughter of innocent animals entrusted into our care by God.

The Mercurial thread that dominates these events cannot be ignored from an astrological perspective. The ruler of thieves and tricksters rears his ugly head throughout, and his rulership over speech, communication, the hands and the nervous system is highlighted in the diseases depicted as most likely to manifest in man as a result of the ingestion of dolphin flesh.

While most of us prefer to blame others or our circumstances for the restrictions placed on our potential, it is often we who are the wardens. There are most certainly those who are born into, or placed in dire circumstances which are almost impossible to overcome, but this does not hold true for many of us. The late Leo Buscaglia sums it up succinctly when he says "get out of your way", a phrase we would all do well to heed.

Superior quality essential oils blended in an aqueous base to balance the temperament while moisturising the skin. Essential oils are highly aromatic plant oils used in aromatherapy; they work on the body, mind and spirit. A person's essence consists of all four temperaments: sanguine, choleric, melancholic and phlegmatic, with the majority of people displaying a dominant one; balancing the four temperaments (humors) enhances emotional, physical and spiritual wellbeing. The scent of the essential oils in the Body Balancing Cream is familiar to the body and brain on a profound level and the fragrance settles: it does not clash with any perfumes like most fragranced body creams. The combination of essential oils protects the skin, the body's first line of defence against illness.

Minerals and rocks may not change our inherent tendencies, but they may help us to understand and alter them. All matter on earth is ruled by one of the seven traditional planets; the combination of astrology and minerals, rocks and crystals is a powerful one and when applied correctly, positive results are inevitable. Gem Stone Therapy has an effect on the body, the mind, the spirit and the soul assisting with healing and promoting balance in the human body on a holistic level. The desired outcome is optimum health in all facets of life. This expertly and carefully selected set of seven gem stones, each ruled by a different planet, is used in conjunction with the days of the week: each day is ruled by one of the seven planets.

Healing gem stones and crystals do not have the same properties when blended in water as they do when used externally or worn in contact with the skin; it is for this reason that gem water should only be ingested when blended by a professional practitioner. Gem Stone Water Blend is therefore a healing aid, similar to Bach Flower Remedies and homeopathic preparations: once ingested the effect needs to run its course, unlike wearing a stone which can be removed immediately if there is an adverse reaction. Extreme hygienic conditions are necessary in the preparation process and only certain apparatus can be used. The standard available blends are: rejuvenating blend, balance blend, purification blend, sensuality blend and the five-element blend which is also used as a diagnostic tool; prescription blends are formulated on request and may be prescribed during the medical astrology consultation.

The message for 2011 is about balance between what has gone before and what is yet to come; we will need to strive for equilibrium between what is tried and tested and which has stood the test of time, and that which is new and innovative and which may be more beneficial or effective. The adage of not throwing the baby out with the bath water will hold true for 2011, with the baby being either the old, with its firm, solid and secure parameters or the new which possibly still has to define its boundaries. 

This section contains articles on a variety of topics - from relationships and health to politics and sport - which provide enough scope to be of interest to a broad spectrum of people. These articles should instil a respectful attitude towards the craft as it is meant to be applied, as well as pique the curiosity.

Medical astrology is an ancient methodology used to determine the cause and treatment of existing conditions (as well as the efficacy of prescribed treatments and attending physicians) and to formulate individual wellness and lifestyle programmes to achieve optimum health. Therapies derived from planetary signatures are prescribed such as Gem Stone Therapy, Tissue Salts, Essential Oils and Bach Flower Remedies. Individual nutrition, weight loss and exercise programmes are derived from the temperament (humors) as well as treatments for existing illness. A body work programme based on Polarity Therapy is offered: all of these assist in the facilitation of healing; the efficacy is heightened as the programme is derived from the individual birth or horary chart – it is not one size fits all.

The quality of our minds, combined with our emotional natures, determines our outlook on life and our interaction with others. We are all predisposed to certain moods and conditions, be they upbeat or depressant, and using knowledge gleaned from the nativity, we can enhance the positive elements while securing assistance for the negative ones.

The branch of medical astrology is vast and requires an individual module to do it justice. This course provides the student with a solid medical astrology foundation and practical tools with which to assist their clients. While it is illegal in South Africa to diagnose from an astrology chart, a medical astrologer is able to provide practical insight and is able to facilitate healing even when other medical disciplines are unable to do so. This specialised course is offered by invitation only to students who have excelled in the previous 3 levels of tuition.

The natal chart is the palette of colours provided at birth: identify and maximise this potential to paint the most beautiful picture with this gift of life. The natal chart is able to provide insight into self-defeating behaviour on all levels: all facets of the person and the life are contained in the chart together with the solutions to these sensitive points. Astrology is a superior navigation tool and the natal chart is the road map of the individual life within which free will is contained: natal charts can be directed into the future and these forecasts are weather reports; if heeded, and the free will is applied prudently, unnecessary suffering can be alleviated - man does not only have to learn by trial and error. 

Everything that is ‘born’ can have a birth chart: while we do not play God, if the event in question will occur anyway, election astrology provides the entity with the best possible chance of success by assessing the potential depicted by the movement of the planets, enabling right action to occur at the right time. The optimum time is found for the birth of future entities such as a marriage (providing a psychological tool for solutions to possible potential problem areas) or the launch of a new business (having a birth chart for a business facilitates prudent future planning and strategizing). The optimum time to undergo surgery, host an event, travel or immigrate can also be derived.

Horary means ‘on the hour’: the horary chart is the birth chart of the situation, providing specific answers to specific questions which cannot be obtained from the natal chart. Horary is also the ideal astrological tool for those who do not have their birth time. While horary is seen primarily as a tool for prediction, its greater value lies not in its ability to forecast the outcome of any situation, but in its ability to provide a clear and succinct analysis of that situation, empowering you to act accordingly. Any question may be asked provided it is specific: location of missing items/people, career choices, financial investments, relationships questions, medical questions, the outcome of sporting events, etc. Horary is practical, accurate and provides deep insight into murky situations.

“To honor the self is to be in love with our own life, in love with our possibilities for growth and for experiencing joy, in love with the process of discovering and exploring our distinctively human potentialities.”- Nathaniel Branden, Honoring the Self

Introduction

In the hand of cards we are dealt, we all have a winning combination and a losing one, and how we play the game of life depends on our free will. In every hand there is one exceptionally good card, and in the natal chart that planet is called the Lord of the Geniture. This simply means the ruler (Lord) of the chart and is the planet that has the most essential dignity. Every planet enjoys varying degrees of dignity or debility in each of the twelve signs through which it traverses, and the one with the most essential dignity gets to wear the badge of Lord of the Geniture (LoG). There are the few exceptions where the native does not have a LoG as none of the seven planets in the nativity have any essential dignity. Even though this may appear pretty dismal at the outset, the skilled astrologer can still find a positive and helpful way forward for the person, but this is done without the assistance of the biggest ally in the chart, the LoG.

The word fertility is immediately associated with conception, but to an astrologer the term provides broader connotations as well as applications. There are many areas where fertility is applicable and understanding the basic astrological premise on which fertility is based is essential to its application: investments, careers, relationships and health are but a few examples.

Modern medicine happily dismisses this ancient knowledge - but if we think that our ancestors went to the doctor for remedies that consistently failed to work, we can only conclude that they were seriously stupid. Ancient tradition also views illness as necessary to burn off the bad humours which are afflicting the person, and illness is thus a form of alchemy, if seen in that light. It is with this mindset that the traditional astrologer approaches a medical chart, and this approach provides one of the reasons why the illness, which possibly cannot be determined by the physician, may be found.

“It is better to hide my pain from pretentious physicians, perhaps I will be cured from the ‘Treasury of the Invisible’.” The Persian poet Hafiz.

The ‘Treasury of the Invisible’ referred to in the quotation is with reference to the “Divine Order” where the archetypes of all manifestation are to be found. It also refers to the vertical cause in contrast to the horizontal causes with which the ordinary physician is concerned.  As we know natural medicine, just like astrology, is concerned with the vertical causes – “the inter relation between the domains of the spirit, the soul and the body”.  Two of the most well known remedies available to treat the body on a vertical level are the Bach Flower Remedies and tissue salts – both of which have a direct correlation to the craft of astrology.

The essence of true healing is not simply to remove the physical suffering; it is to assist the person to come to terms with the cause of the illness, on all levels of the vertical plane, and to understand the significance of the illness as a result. This is precisely what astrology offers – a natal chart in the hands of a qualified and skilled astrologer can yield insights relating to this vertical plane that very few other crafts are able to do.

The word stress is synonymous with modern times, so much so that we tend to forget that it is nothing new. Certain stressors may have changed over the centuries, we do not need to run away from the very animal that we are hunting for food, nor do we have to deal with constant exposure to the elements anymore, but these stressors have been replaced by more modern ones. There are two types of stress, identified by the endocrinologist Hans Selye, published in 1975 – that of eustress and distress. Eustress is the stress that enables us to react in a positive way, and is labeled as such when the stress enables us to function positively. Responding to deadlines, thus having to work that little bit harder and having to dig deep on a physical level when participating in a sporting event, are but two examples. Distress is persistent stress that is not resolved through coping or adaptation, and manifests in various ways both physiologically and symptomatically, such as in anxiety, high blood pressure, increased blood sugar, irritability, headaches and so on.

This is the branch of astrology that enables us to choose the best moment to act or to give birth to a venture. The underlying factor in electional astrology is that we can only apply this to all things that are possible – it then goes without saying that we cannot assess the best moment to act for that which is impossible. True electional methods are assessed using the natal (birth) charts of the individuals concerned – if it is not scripted in the natal chart that you will win the lotto there is no point in electing the best time to purchase a ticket. If you are about to launch your new web site or start a new business however, it is wise to consult an astrologer in order to elect the best time for the birth of that entity – this affords it the best possible chance of success. The premise upon which electional astrology is based is that everything that has a beginning (or birth) can have a natal chart – this applies to people, animals, business ventures, a marriage and to most major events that occur within the lifetime.

Introduction

I am presenting a very simple horary question to highlight the dilemma of rulerships between astrologers of the tradition and modern astrologers. When I presented this chart to my students, two out of twenty four were able to find the aspect required – the problem being that they did not know the ruler of electricity. That was my reason for presenting them with the chart – to highlight the importance of knowing your rulerships. An electrical circuit blew at my complex and after being without power for 24 hours, I needed to see when power would be restored so that I could plan my schedule.