Feng shui involves more than just colors and where you place your furniture. The astrology side of feng shui is also intriguing. Here are a little background and some predictions for 2005, the Year of the Rooster.

The Chinese calendar started in 2697 BCE when the Yellow King became ruler. Since then, the Chinese calendar has evolved into 60 year cycles with varying strengths, elements, and animal themes that relate to feng shui. Starting on the 9th of February 2005, we are in the Chinese year of the Wood Rooster.

The Rooster’s strength is in how alert he is to change; his weaknesses include his conceit, how much he worries, and how frequently he is vocal when it’s not necessary. For all signs of the Chinese zodiac, this is a good year to let your actions speak for you. When there is a choice, it’s better to remain silent but do very good works that will shine. This is a year to build strong foundations.

The Rooster is symbolized by small metal objects, especially pointed ones including knives and daggers. Assassination attempts involving metal weapons are possible, since a Rooster year is often unsettled, especially in politics.

As a good example, look back 60 years to the last time we had this astrological combination: It was 1945, and the conclusion of World War II. There were still dramatic moments in the war, especially in Japan. However, there were also harsh discoveries when the Allies entered Germany and the world learned the truth of the Nazi concentration camps.

In 2005, expect hidden facts to come to light. Some of them may be shocking. However, this is also a year when metal (the Rooster) is dominated and softened by wood. This is not always a graceful process. The Rooster is also the source of yin fire. There may be some literal metal- or fire-wood conflicts, in which wood is destroyed by fire or by land clearing machinery. However, wood is still in the power position. In 2005, this is a very yin wood, meaning that it tends to be more passive. This does not mean that it is powerless; think in terms of Gandhi.

In health terms, wood symbolizes the neck and back. Especially in 2005, how you sit and sleep will be important; protect your neck and back. The metal of 2005 suggests risks from things falling, as well as reactions to pressure. The liver is also affected this year, but you’re more likely to hear about neck and back injuries. Literally and figuratively, watch your back.

Likewise, the Rooster struts around the barnyard displaying his feathers; conceit will lead to the downfall of some celebrities, and perhaps politicians. Surprising sex scandals may come to light, although–if you’re a good judge of character–these may not be a huge surprise.

The Rooster’s overactive crowing may manifest in a surge of shallow news stories, and continued success with reality shows magnifying everyday events. Don’t understimate how well the media can spin "who cares" moments into circuses that far outlast their barely deserved 15 minutes.

The wood-metal conflicts make extreme home makeover shows a natural, with or without feng shui. And, the Rooster’s loud opinions while not actually raising the chicks himself… well, it’s no surprise that "nanny" shows are in vogue this year.

In business, financial indiscretions (metal/money) and sex scandals are also likely. However, the over all trend will be continued financial improvement, and the summer should be especially good for businesses.

The best investments will be in fire-themed businesses; these include anything related to energy or electricity. You’ll also do well with anything supporting glamour, including entertainment and restaurants. While fire poses a significant risk in 2005, popularity is almost guaranteed for any entertainment that features something like Polynesian fire shows.

Wood-related industries won’t be as stable, including businesses related to fashion, paper magazines, and landscaping. However, don’t confuse stability with growth; over all–with a few high-profile exceptions–these industries should continue to do well through 2005.

A sleeper might be alternative energy; be watchful for innovations in that field. There will be some activity this year, largely unheralded by the media, that is creating a foundation for a resurgence of late 1960s and early 70s ideals. Events and quiet business ventures that transpire this year will lead eventually to greater environmental awareness, and more practical ways to live gently with the land.

In you’re an investor, unless you have nerves of steel, sell stocks when they peak in June or July. Expect volatile stock market action in September. This may lead to unexpected fortunes for a few, but–when the dust settles–will result in only moderate setbacks (at worst) for most stocks. In general, if you can stay calm when the media is making a big deal out of nothing, and don’t lose sleep over rollercoaster stock prices, your investments should be fine through 2005.

All in all, 2005 (through January 2006) will be a year when you’ll do best to guard your health, keep stress to a minimum, and focus your efforts on good works that will speak for you.

This is not a year to launch louder, more eye-catching PR programs. In fact, 2005 is a time to reassess your long-term goals, and begin working hard on creating the necessary foundation to achieve your dreams. It won’t be glamorous and 2005 may not provide great financial rewards.

However, if you focus on what’s really important to you and close to home, you’ll be doing work that will pay you well–more than just financially–for many years to come.

Aisling D’Art is an artist, a writer, and a Feng Shui consultant. She is also BellaOnline’s Feng Shui editor: http://fengshui.bellaonline.com

Visit BellaOnline for more free Feng Shui tips and advice.

Feng shui handles five main elements in order to achieve harmony and balance in any space. These five feng shui elements are: wood, fire, earth, metal and water. Each one of them has its own characteristics and properties, and we will detail them in the following lines.

According to Chinese traditions, everything is constantly changing and interacting and that happens through these five main elements. Feng shui traditional knowledge and all its guidelines are based on these five feng shui elements. Therefore, when wishing to harmonize a place according to feng shui, these elements must be properly employed according to their characteristics and effects.

One first feng shui element is wood, which has the Chinese name of Mu. Wood represents innovation, creativity and birth, and it is a sociable element. This element corresponds to the color green and the east direction. By placing this element at a strategic spot in any space, you would be adding all of which it represents.

Another feng shui element is fire, called Huo in China. Fire symbolizes and brings activity, enthusiasm and energy to the places where it can be found. It is a warm element that must be treated with measure since too much of it can destroy what surrounds it. Fire is represented by the color red and direction south, and symbolizes the puberty years.

A next element is earth or Tu in Chinese. This feng shui element symbolizes stability, patience and honesty. It is a methodic element that can also become demanding, and is ideal for everything that is related with real estate and inheritances. Earth is symbolized by color yellow and is representative of the early youth years.

Metal or Jin in Chinese is another main feng shui element. It represents success in businesses and harvesting. It can also represent a knife or cutting metal and be destructive through it. White and gold are the colors that symbolize it, and its direction is west. This feng shui element symbolizes the adult years of human life.

One last element is water, called Shui in Chinese. It has a very important role among feng shui elements, and actually the name feng shui contains its name in it, meaning water and wind. Water mainly represents communications and traveling. But it also represents learning, arts and media. Water is elemental for living, not only for humans but also animals and plants. It can be quiet or violent. This element is represented by the color black and direction north, and symbolizes the old human years.

About The Author

Jakob Jelling is the founder of http://www.fengshuicrazy.com. Please visit his website and learn all the feng shui tips you’ll ever need!

A mirror, when becoming a feng shui mirror, can be used to many more things than allowing us to see how we look. Feng shui teaches how a feng shui mirror can be used in order to solve many different problems, and we will describe some of these uses through the next few lines.

One first way to use a feng shui mirror is to send something negative away. By placing the mirror facing whatever is negative to your space, the mirror would reflect it back not allowing it to affect you negatively. Therefore, if you have an object or a shape which disharmonizes, then you can neutralize its effect by placing the feng shui mirror facing it.

A feng shui mirror can also be used when you have a low ceiling and it has a pushing down effect on you. In this case, you should place a mirror facing the ceiling in order to make it reflect it. The mirror should be placed at some spot above your head level so it reflects the ceiling back before its pushing effect reaches you.

Another use a feng shui mirror can have is when your bedroom or any other room in which you need to be relaxed is placed above somewhere with machines or a garage. In these cases, placing a mirror on the floor and facing down wouldn’t let the machines energy and the disturbances have a bad effect on you.

Sometimes there is an object or element which you may need at a specific spot but you can not actually place it there, when this happens, a feng shui mirror can be the solution. If you need the presence of things such as an object or a color and you can not place it where you need, you can put a feng shui mirror reflecting it in order to have it represented through that reflection where you need.

By using a feng shui mirror, you can also bring elements which are outside your house and belong to the nature. In order to achieve this, all you have to do is place the mirror inside your house facing that element through a window and that reflection would be as if that natural element was into the house.

About The Author

Jakob Jelling is the founder of http://www.fengshuicrazy.com. Please visit his website and learn all the feng shui tips you’ll ever need!

Egypt has long been the source of countless conspiracies, ranging from ancient lost civilizations to extraterrestrial markers. The reason for this focus is likely because Egypt is the most romanticized ancient civilization, and also because it is home to the mystical Great Pyramid of Giza, the only surviving Wonder of the Ancient World. This article will describe some of the conspiracies surrounding the Sphinx and the Pyramid.

The Riddle of the Sphinx

Most of the conspiracy theories revolving around the Sphinx usually involve its age. The Sphinx is generally accepted to have been built along with the Pyramids of Giza around 2500 BC. It is even accepted that the face of the Sphinx bears the likeness of Khafre (Chephren), the Pharaoh during that time.

However, there was no written record from that era regarding the Sphinx or its construction. In addition, the human head of the Sphinx is small in relation to the rest of the body, indicating that the head bearing Pharaoh Khafre’s likeness could have been carved out of a larger lion’s head. These points led some researchers to believe that the Sphinx could have been built much earlier by a more ancient civilization, thus starting a whole host of conspiracy theories.

Geologist Dr. Robert Schoch and author John Anthony West made a case that the erosion marks on the Sphinx appears not to be made by wind or sand, but by water, such as falling rain. They used evidence of other structures in the Giza area to prove their point. If this were true, the construction of the Sphinx could then be dated back to at least 5000 BC, when the area still received substantial rainfall, in contrast to desert conditions later on.

In his official website, Director of the Giza Monuments Dr. Zahi Hawass provides various points suggesting that the evidence used in proving Dr. Schoch’s theory is flawed.

Adding to the conspiracies surrounding the age of the Sphinx, writers Graham Hancock and Robert Buvaul provide evidence in their book Message of the Sphinx that the creation of the Sphinx and Pyramids can be pushed back as far as 10,500 BC using astronomical data.

Secret of the Pyramids

The Pyramids of Giza have been the objects of many conspiracies over the years. Many people believe that the Pyramids are a link to an ancient lost civilization, and may still contain evidence to prove it. Many conspiracy theories regarding secret chambers and passageways within the pyramids exist to this day.

These conspiracy theories became even more widespread in 1993, when Dr. Zahi Hawass announced that the Great Pyramid of Khufu was to be closed to the public for a year. The reason given for the closure was to facilitate cleaning, conservation and restoration of the interior chambers in the Great Pyramid.

However, conspiracy theorists believe that the Egyptian authorities had uncovered evidence of a lost civilization in the Pyramid, and were secretly excavating it to reveal more information.

During the conservation process in 1993, robots were used to explore the small ventilation shafts leading from the "King’s Chamber" and the lower "Queen’s Chamber" in the Great Pyramid. An intriguing discovery was made: partway through the shafts of the "Queen’s Chamber" were "doors" with handles.

In order to prove the transparency of their work and debunk any conspiracies, Dr. Zahi Hawass decided to partner with National Geographic to explore beyond the "doors", and provide a live telecast of the exploration to the rest of the world.

After much publicity, the expedition commenced, with footage telecast live around the world. During the last minute of the show, a camera was sent in a hole made in the "door" of the shaft, revealing another "door" behind it. And that was when the show finished. Conspiracy theories started sprouting, asking the following questions: "What’s behind the 2nd door? Why did the show end so abruptly? What are they hiding from us?"

Steven maintains the informational website Wonders of Ancient Egypt at http://www.nekhebet.com . Do visit if you want to find out more about the wonders of Egypt such as the Pyramids and the Lighthouse; or mysteries such as mummifcation and conspiracy theories; or its religion and history.

Success is often viewed as a magic potion. Market demand has always been there, but no-one has worked out the recipe or how to bottle it.

On further investigation the ingredients are not that easy to replicate and include: determination, enthusiasm, perseverance, stamina, hard work and a focus bordering on obsession. Yet there is often one other ingredient that successful people in all walks of life mention - being in the right place at the right time. Sometimes this alone is enough; sometimes without this single ingredient none of the other qualities will count.

Given the importance of this ingredient, how can it be bottled and handed out for the benefit of us all? Whilst success can never be guaranteed, there are tools which can significantly increase the possibility of being in the right place at the right time. Astrology is one of them.

Astrology? What, horoscopes? Is this some kind of joke? No, not at all. Ask yourself why millions of people read their horoscopes, even though the advice they contain is highly generalised and not especially useful. Somewhere deep inside we know that having advance knowledge of the future will enable us to be more effective and to have ‘the edge’. Forewarned as they say, is forearmed.

So what is it that astrology can predict and how can it enable you to be in the right place at the right time? Firstly it is a great predictor of trends. The growth of computing, the impact of technology on the film and music industries and the expansion of international travel could all be predicted by astrology. If you can spot a trend in advance, you are well placed to take advantage of it.

Knowing your time, date and place of birth allows you to understand and predict cycles that are unique to you. The natal chart will also reveal the areas of life in which you are most likely to achieve success. This can help ensure that energy is focussed into areas where it will produce the most effective results.

We all spend time developing skills and expertise in our line of work. If motivated, we may also try to develop ourselves in other ways. In the age of the self-help book, there is no shortage of advice and it can be hard to know what to do first and what will be most beneficial. Nothing works for everyone, but spending time wisely is essential. It is your most valuable resource.

Reading your horoscope is not really going to help you, but understanding the underlying principles and learning some basic astrology could be more useful than you think. If time is your most valuable asset and timing is the secret of success, don’t dismiss astrology out of hand. It has been used by people in positions of power for centuries.

Whenever a famous person, be they a President or a member of the Royal Family, is known to have consulted an astrologer, the popular press turns them into a laughing stock. All kinds of jokes are made in the media, but the people who use astrology don’t really mind. The less people who use it, the more of an advantage they have. When you hold the magic potion in your hand, you really don’t mind whether other people believe it or not.

About The Author

Elizabeth White has been practising Astrology for over 15 years and is the author of an introductory Astrology course.

http://www.horoscope-master.com

What is the New Age Movement? It is similar to New Age Spirituality, but different enough to warrant its own definition. The New Age Movement is a belief that the human race is all one. It is not about equality nor diversity. It is the idea that your gender, age, religion, race, nor sexual orientation makes you better or worse then anyone else. The New Age Movement is moving away from the US against THEM mentality. It is inclusive, open, detached from labels, and above all else, it’s based in love not fear.

At our deepest level, there are only two motivators - love and fear. Fear breeds hate, anger, vengeance, greed, violence, selfishness, and alienates us from truly connecting with spirit and with each other. Love breeds compassion, understanding, forgiveness, charity, gentleness, partnership, and a sense of connectedness with spirit and with each other. One can focus on either motivator and see the logic behind it. Should you choose to see lack, poverty, and attacks towards your fellow man, it’s easy to become fearful. It is part of the survival of the fittest. Fight or flight saved many a caveman to live another day and to breed more like himself. One can also argue that to see the beauty and tenderness that humanity is known to share with each other that it is logical to love thy neighbor and to turn the other cheek. There will always be intelligent arguments for both sides. We as a species have evolved enough to make our own decisions as to which will govern us as individuals.

The New Age Movement proposes that as a collective people we are also able to make an educated enlightened decision as to whether we will be controlled by our fears or by our loves. Will we be a society of angry divided hateful individuals? Or will we be a global community of loving supportive people who honor each other’s right to choose their own path? Like all political, religious, and social movements there are zealots and extremists among the New Age Movement. In the same way that all Christians are not white supremacists and all Pagans are not Satan worshippers, all New Agers are not aging hippies sitting around getting stoned and playing with crystals. Those who endorse the New Age Movement are as diverse as any other group. Their one common belief is that love and true spirituality should lead us as a people, not fear and hatred of anything we deem as different from ourselves.

The New Age Movement embraces the teachings of Christ, the teachings of Buddha, the Native American teachings, the ancient Celtic Pagan teachings, and modern science’s latest findings and teachings. We are explorers trying to understand spirituality on a deeper nuts and bolts level. It is not enough to be told by our parents that one religion is right and all others are wrong. We have a desire to understand and to choose for ourselves what is or is not spiritual. The result is that many New Agers have found themselves holding an eclectic view of religion. Many Native Americans have blended the teaching of Christ within their own beliefs. Many Pagans can see how much they have in common with the Native American beliefs. It is not unusual for Catholics to feel a deep connection to the Buddhist teachings. Forgive me for omitting so many other religions and beliefs but I am simply giving broad examples for the sake of making a point. The New Age Movement was birthed from this exploration of each other’s beliefs. How can we hate someone so much like ourselves?

Christ did not teach blind hatred nor did he teach his followers to give their personal power away to the churches and governments. Only when the churches and governments took over his teachings did that all become part of being a ‘good Christian.’ He did not tell us to hate nor to judge. Bigotry and war is not Christ-like, nor Buddha-like, nor in keeping with the core teachings of any religion. All spiritual teachers taught the same message - love one another and do not harm each other nor the planet and the animals given to you. Take the politics out of religion and they all come down to the same wonderful teachings that have been trampled on by dogma, greed, and bigotry.

Most of America does not realize what a great event we have just experienced. This election was at its root a fight over fear and love. Which would govern us as a country? We are a country under attack. We are a country at war. It is only natural that people are afraid. One candidate ran his entire campaign on fear and hatred of others not like us. The other ran his campaign on love and fellowship. For us to come so close to winning during such a frightening time is marvelous! Were we not at war, I have no doubt that the American people would have chosen to be guided by a leader who chooses love and fellowship as his motivator rather then someone who teaches us to be afraid and to hate others. I have never been so proud or felt that the New Age Movement was so powerful as I do today.

Do not weep and worry about the next four years. Love has taken hold of this country and all will be well. We have covered so much ground towards our goals of tolerance, acceptance, and true spiritual brotherhood. During our great grandparents time, the Gays and Lesbians, the Pagans and Native Americans, the Women and Blacks never would have been allowed to even speak out. We are no longer a minority, those of us who believe that good still exists and that the country can be ruled by humanitarian principles instead of fear and egos ruling our governments. Fear is still strong, but love is finally voted as equal. Balance has been restored. All is well.

Copyright 2004, Skye Thomas, Tomorrow’s Edge

About The Author

Skye Thomas is the CEO of Tomorrow’s Edge, an Internet leader in inspiring leaps of faith. She became a writer in 1999 after twenty years of studying spirituality, metaphysics, astrology, personal growth, motivation, soulmates, and parenting. Her books, articles, and astrological forecasts have inspired people of all ages and faiths to recommit themselves to the pursuit of happiness.

To read more of her articles and to sign up to receive her free weekly newsletter, go to www.TomorrowsEdge.net. To download free previews of her books, go to www.SkyeThomas.com.

Skye@TomorrowsEdge.net

If you are wishing to harmonize or balance your house or any other environment according to feng shui, the ideal way to do so is through a feng shui consultation. A feng shui consultation would provide you the right and proper guidance for you to successfully achieve your goal.

Before you go to a feng shui consultation, it is important that you pay attention to choosing a good consultant. You should try to find out one who has experience and demonstrated knowledge. As with everything else, there are real feng shui consultants, who care for what they do, as well as there are others who do not. But you can easily check on this by asking him some references on where he learned and about past work.

A feng shui consultation may vary according to each different person and the way they like to work, but most of them would follow some general aspects in common. And, ideally, they should allow you to understand what they are talking about and what they are based on to give you a specific orientation.

Most of the times, a proper feng shui consultation would take the consultant to go to the place which must be harmonized. Sometimes a video of the place can be very helpful as well, but a proper feng shui consultation takes the consultant to be able to see the place before he can give certain advice.

A feng shui consultation could go through different stages. First, you may approach the consultant at his work office and let him know your general ideas. Then, he might ask you to give him a video of the space for which you are consulting him. Once he has the video, he can provide you with specific guidelines on what to do. And then, or instead of the last step, there would be a feng shui consultation stage done in the space itself.

The best advice you can receive from a feng shui consultation is based on accurate information. And, by allowing the consultant to actually see the place you would be able to receive the most accurate information and guidance possible.

About The Author

Jakob Jelling is the founder of http://www.fengshuicrazy.com. Please visit his website and learn all the feng shui tips you’ll ever need!

Because of different instruments, materials and cultural background, Chinese paintings have their own image and content in comparison to other types of paintings. Unique appearance of Chinese Painting owes much to the use of the Chinese writing brush and the Chinese paper (rice and silk). There are four essential elements used in the creation of Chinese Painting, the brush, ink, paper, and the ink stone. Lacking any of them the job cannot be done.

The most important factors for Chinese Painting are the special pedagogy, the close relationship with the painter’s personality and the unique Chinese philosophy. They are trained not only to convey the objects but also express the mood and the spirit of the subject. The Chinese also believe that the painting is the expression of the painter’s knowledge and temperament. In this way, Chinese Painting becomes something much more than art.

The most essential philosophy of China is the unity of Heaven, Earth and Human Beings. What the Chinese Painters are trying to express is not what meets the eye, but their attitude to the Great Nature. The Chinese painter has a profound love and admiration for nature. It is part of their culture, religious practices and their need to depend on nature to survive.

In relationship to human and animal figures, the Chinese painter utilizes the forms he finds in nature, such as ovals, circles, and geometric lines which are found also found in Chinese calligraphy. Thus, all Chinese paintings whether they are landscapes or the human figure are painted with the same movement, rhythm, and harmony that is used when drawing the forms of calligraphy. Calligraphy is a form of art, even more revered and honored than all other painting.

In the same theme they may spend hours contemplating and drawing inspiration from the figures of nature such as humming birds with their fragile wings, the robust legs of the cricket, and the fascinating form of the praying mantis. From the minor or simple creatures that are chosen as subjects of art work, we can see how they enjoy the nature and the love they devote to the most humble things.

The Chinese painter finds it offensive to contemplate and draw the human figure by itself. Human beings are part of the surrounding heavens and earth. They are all together. That is why Chinese paintings are simple in composition and full of harmony, overall balance and peace with all of creation. They are interested in the mood and spirit.

Copyright 2004 © Ernesto Apomayta

Publishing guidelines: You may publish my article in your newsletter, on your website, or in your print publication provided you include the resource box at the end. Notification would be appreciated but is not required.

About The Author

Ernesto Apomayta

Born and raised in Puno, Peru, Ernesto Apomayta was identified as an artistic prodigy at the tender age of five. As a boy, Apomayta was first influenced and inspired by the natural marvels surrounding the humble home he shared with his family. In close proximity to shimmering Lake Titicaca, the striking beauty of the Andes and the awe-inspiring Incan ruins of his ancestors, Apomayta was spiritually compelled to express his wonder visually through his paintbrush. A direct ancestor of the legendary photographer, Martin Chambi, Apomayta derived inspiration from the same native influences and his legacy that encouraged Apomayta to fulfill his own artistic destiny.

To view many of Ernesto Apomayta’s pieces of artwork please visit www.apomaytaart.com for full information on Mr. Apomayta.

apomayta@hotmail.com

Opinions about astrological prediction are generally divided: “Mysterious! Magical!”, say some; “Nonsense!”, reply others. In fact, both views are based on a misunderstanding of the nature of how astrology really “works”. In this article, I will use a story to show both the true value of astrological prediction, as well as its limits.

Let’s imagine that a girl named Ellen goes to an astrologer, who, after studying Ellen’s natal chart in relation to this month’s planetary positions, tells her that next weekend she will meet a fine young man with whom she will begin a relationship. And that’s exactly what happens. Ellen exclaims to Sue, a friend of hers: “It’s magic! Everything happened just like my astrologer predicted!” Sue, impressed by this, makes an appointment with the same astrologer. In her session, she is told that yes, she will indeed find that job she’s been looking for, and will have it by May. Sue, delighted, goes home and waits for a response from the company to which she had applied, yet May comes and goes, and she doesn’t receive a call from them. “What a fool I was!”, she remarks when she sees Ellen, “I should have known: astrology is nonsense!”

Which one of the two girls is correct in her opinion? One might say that they both are, since after all, astrology seems to have “worked” for Ellen, yet not for Sue. Yet I think it would be more correct to say, on the contrary, that neither girl was correct in her conclusion, since in each case, that conclusion was based on the acceptance of a faulty idea of astrology, that idea being one which many people, both “believers” as well as “sceptics” share: namely, that astrology indeed purports to be able to reliably predict what will happen in the future.

At this point, many readers, both the believers and the sceptics, will be disagreeing with me: “Well, astrology DOES INDEED claim to predict the future, doesn’t it?”, you may say. And you are right in a way: many astrologers do say that they can tell you what is awaiting you in the future. This is a claim which no “true believer” would ever dispute, and one that no self-respecting sceptic would fail to criticize, or even ridicule. Opinions on the subject thus would seem to be hopelessly polarized. The solution lies in distinguishing what many astrologers CLAIM from that which in fact astrology can really DO.

More than twenty-five years of experience as an astrologer has convinced me that

And what is the difference? Well, if an astrologer tells you that next Tuesday you will be walking down the street, and will accidently trip and fall, breaking your left wrist as it cracks against a fire hydrant, that would be a pretty precise prediction, wouldn’t it? But no astrologer I’ve ever known makes predictions of such a nature. More likely, an astrologer would say: “There is danger of an accident next Tuesday; try to be more careful than usual!” This is not a precise prediction, but a statement, based on astrological techniques, about an increased probability of a certain type of event occurring. This is the real strength of astrology: not to tell you what is going to happen (since that is beyond its capabilities), but to inform you about the probabilities of certain types of events happening.

Those of you who may be seeking to know just what’s going to happen in the future might be disappointed by that last sentence, though you shouldn’t be. After all, if the future were totally predetermined, and if it were possible to predict future events exactly, what would be the point? If something unpleasant were predicted for you, you’d have to be living in constant dread, and if a positive event were foretold, you might just sit back smugly and wait for it to happen, and would thus be robbed of that sudden, wonderful sense of amazement that you would have felt if you hadn’t known it was going to happen!

The true value of predictive astrology is to show you the probabilities so that you may take full advantage of the fortunate times in order to fully prosper, and take special care during the more unfortunate periods, and thus have a better chance of avoiding mishaps, overcoming negative thoughts, making the best out of unpleasant situations, etc.

Using astrology to find out when to expect the “ups and downs” of life will not only give you concrete advantages in many situations, but above all, it can help you achieve a greater understanding of the intimate relationship which exists between our lives and the cosmic forces which are continually shaping them.

About The Author

Dave Bolton, astrologer, harpsichordist and language teacher, is co-creator of “Omnicycles” astrology software, that creates personal graphs showing the future trends for many areas of your life. Get your free demo at: http://www.omnicycles.com

omnicycles@omnicycles.com

The North South Hemisphere Question:

The question of whether or not the orientation of the Lo Pan, Lo Shu should be reversed when applied to the Southern Hemisphere has been thrown back an forth for years so lets consider the excellent arguments put forward in Qi Concepts at the www.dragonsbreath.co.uk

Feng Shui originated in China between 3000 and 5000 years ago. China is a vast country however its placement is entirely in the Northern hemisphere no part is closer than 18 degrees North of the equator. There is neither authentic historical data, nor are there any records regarding the application of Feng Shui theory in the Southern Hemisphere. Evidence simply does not exist, so unfortunately we have to debate the question, postulate our theories and make our own decision on what we feel comfortable with. Certainly if you live close to the equator, you need to be aware of the difference between the geographical equator and the magnetic equator, as I have already pointed out in the previous section. The difference can be quite considerable as much as 12? of latitude that’s 720 nautical miles or 828 statute if you like.

Isogonics Charts show the magnetic flux. It can range from 0° to 30°. Interestingly the large area over China has no Magnetic Variation. This diagram is only to illustrate the variation in flux. To see a good example of an Isogonics Chart visit the British Geological Society Web Site

If you look at the earth you can see that the earths axis is inclined at angle of 23.5? to the plane of its orbit around the sun this is called the ecliptic. It maintains this tilt pointing rigidly and parallel to the same point in space towards the Star Polaris. If the angle of the Earths axis remained perpendicular to the plane of the Sun then the Sun would be overhead at the equator at all times. This is not the case however and we are stuck with it the way it is.

The Earth orbits the sun in 365 days. The suns apparent motion crosses to the North side of the equator for around for six months peaking during the summer solstice on the 21 June, over the Tropic of Cancer where it reaches its maximum declination* North around 23? North. It then starts to decline and crosses to the Southern side of the equator crossing the point of Libra around the 21 September. It continues its loop South until it is over Capricorn around December 22nd, the winter solstice, where it is at its lowest West point.( Reversed for the S Hemisphere) It should be clear from this now how the seasons are formed. (*the angular distance of the sun North or South of the Equator)

From this model, we can see that most people in China lived above The 22nd Parallel of North latitude. This means that their view of the sun, from Quinghai Province North Central China for instance, on the 21 June would have been rising East North Easterly approximately 064? True (24°N of E).

The sun would traverse the sky, reaching its maximum altitude of 74? at mid day, when it bears due South, and the proceeds across the sky Westward where it sets West North West around 290?True (16°N of W)

Now if we consider the fact that the earliest school of Feng Shui was Form School Feng Shui, which supposedly predates the compass by at least 2000 years and was concerned with the topography of the landscape using the four celestial animals configuration we can see a pattern forming.

We have in Chinese Form School an arrangement naturally looking towards the midday Sun/South our biggest source of energy and the ultimate Yang. the source of our warmth and light. This is the Phoenix to the front Red /Orange its element is Fire like the rising and setting of the Sun. It is only natural that this would be the direction for the Yang rooms of a home to face. These would be the rooms that are most active and used during the day.

They would be the most open rooms with the largest windows The entrance hall, living room, family room, conservatory, courtyard, sundeck,

The Turtle is to the North at the back of us providing protection. Blue/Black/ Yin Cold and dark like the long far Northern nights. The Black Turtle historically represents the shady side of the hill. It makes sense that this direction with the least light smallest windows and being the most Yin should be considered the most suitable for the Yin rooms of the house such as the bedrooms toilets bathrooms store rooms.

The Azure/Green Dragon the colour of the Eastern plains and the China sea, is to the left/East and the rising Sun, Its wood element is expansive and represents the growth of spring and the dawn of each new morning. This area is conducive to a kitchen being yang but lesser yang than the South and good for breakfast room, if there is a garden then this is an area for a vegetable plot or an orchard especially if they can be orientated to a southerly aspect.

The White tiger to the right/West, towards the snowy peaks of the Himalayas and the setting Sun. its metal element is representative of contraction and autumn it is yin, feminine, conserving and protecting by nature. This is also a good area for children’s bedrooms and nursery especially for the youngest daughter.

It is relatively easy to see how and why the ancient Chinese configured their homes to face in these directions. This configuration is just as relative today to homes in the Northern hemisphere as it as 5000 years ago in China. If we had the option to build our perfect home, this would be the configuration we would be most likely to choose, for sure.

The energy pattern and qualities of the sun’s apparent motion in the Northern Hemisphere as viewed down on the North Pole is clockwise. Likewise, the major ocean currents and major air streams the trade winds and monsoons circulate in a clockwise direction.

(The World Climatic Chart for July in the Admiralty sailing Directions NP136 is an excellent illustration).

In harmony with the laws of nature; and therefore balance, the Yin and Yang. The opposite exists in the Southern Hemisphere. Although the Sun will still rise in the East, the Suns apparent motion when viewed from the Southern Hemisphere is anti clockwise. The major currents and air streams are anticlockwise. The Sun, the major source of energy is to the North and the cold dark and shadows lie to the South. The four seasons are not reversed i.e. Autumn, Summer, Spring, Winter as often stated, but complement their opposites Spring and Autumn, Summer and Winter, Autumn and Spring, Winter and Summer. The wave patterns are cyclical, alternating but equal in frequency and amplitude providing a dynamic balance and overall harmony. Common sense dictates that you would not through choice build a home facing the cold Yin South, the shadow side of the hill in the southern hemisphere.

There are a number of other very powerful phenomena and examples in nature that reinforce the idea that the orientations are reversed in the Southern Hemisphere and we should be observant of our surroundings and take notice of and listen to Nature and our environment after isn’t that what Feng Shui is all about.

The earth’s rotation when viewed from above the North Pole is clockwise. The earth’s rotation when viewed from above the South Pole is anti clockwise. The Corriolis force reverses from one Hemisphere to another. The Ocean currents change their direction of flow when they cross the equator. Weather systems Tornados and Storms revolve in opposite directions in each Hemisphere. The trade winds change their circulation on crossing the equator from one hemisphere to another.

The huge upper air masses warm and expand and rise upward over the equator diverge in a direction towards the poles. Yang The huge upper air masses get cold heavy and sink converging on the Poles, Yin. The four seasons are opposite. Plants and trees lean towards the sun the source of all energy the ultimate yang. The further North or South you travel as you approach the poles the speed of the earth’s rotation slows Yin. The nearer you approach the equator the faster the rotation goes Yang. The further North or South you travel as you approach the poles the earths the earth grows colder darker stiller Yin. The nearer you approach the equator the brighter warmer livelier, lusher and more animate more Yang.

Peter Corbett author of Qi Concepts and the http://www.dragonsbreath.co.uk site. He examines the question of north south hemisphere and the compass or true north questions.