Teaching by example

Fri 26 Aug – Thurs 8 Sept
Sun in Virgo; Mercury in Leo (d); Venus in Virgo; Mars in cancer

If the previous few weeks have been feeling fairly festive, or at least more sociable than usual, then that has changed as Sun and Venus leave lively Leo for the humbler pastures of the blessed virgin. And with Mercury officially moving direct again, the time is right to clean up our acts, get our desks in order and set the records straight. The only real Spring fever may be the cleaning one, as opposed to the one of the birds and the bees, for purification to perfection is the order of the day now. This may well help our learners at their exams, but will it help our truant and tardy teachers this term? Let’s hope they are also able to harness the hardworking, conscientious and diligent mood available now. Human Sciences Research surveys have shown that in this country almost 20% of teachers are absent on Mondays and Fridays. Absentee rates increase to 33% at month-end; and that teachers in African schools teach an average of 3.5 hours a day compared with about 6.5 hours in former “white” schools. This amounts to a difference of three years of schooling. Forgive me if the Virgo theme inspires me to go into details here, for this is the time for analysis – without the anal, of course. Also let’s watch out for the fussy and critical attitude for that matter too. It’s just that with Sun and Venus in Virgo, accompanied by Mercury in Leo someone needs to take charge of the faulty situations all around us, become informed, and become an authority on your field without seeming rigid or dogmatic about it. For example in the teaching field, the secret to success in solving the crisis is the leadership role of principals, teachers and parents. If this sounds a bit like the recent gang-related riots in the UK by youths, then maybe it is. If the kids see the teachers taking so much time off work, what to speak of going on strike (thereby stealing another 5% of the allocated time from the curriculum) then obviously they will imitate that example. Why do you think China, Japan and Korea are growing so fast? One reason is because of the work ethic. When I was in Taipei I observed learners taking lessons up until 5pm daily, with everything from extra English (from pre-school already) to violin or piano. This is because the demand for university level qualifications is so high that without the diligent endeavour of a Virgocentric mindset, you simply get left behind, relying on your welfare state to bail you and your unwanted progeny out of the doldrums. Unwanted progeny being another symptom of poor education or lack of Virgocentric vision, dear Prudence. Now you know why we have one of the highest unemployment rates in the world. These are all issues which can be tackled under the current planetary transits. South Africa’s horoscope places her Sun in Taurus, and with Jupiter in Taurus throughout this year, this is the ideal time to address and rectify the failings of our education system before the costs accrued due to its neglect begin to drown all her inhabitants in their own ignorance.

London's burning

Fri 12 August – Thurs 25 August

Sun in Leo; Mercury in Leo R; Venus in Leo/Virgo 21^st, Mars in Cancer

London’s burning as Mercury retrogrades into Leo, joining ‘ol King Sol and Lady Venus there. Leo the lion is traditionally king of the jungle, able to bring out the generous, kind-hearted benefactor in us, the protector of the poor and benefactor of children, but at present the old king is dying. What was once – until recently - known as the most powerful nation in the world, with the biggest economy, is now revealed to be shackled to the biggest debt in the world, 50% of which is owed to the two other upcoming great nations of the East. No need to mention any names, but it looks like the emperors new clothes are been seen for what they are as the sinking ship, dragged ever further downward by the fourteen trillion dollar albatross around its neck creates a whirlpool that threatens every other nation on the globe with similar disaster. If you like your just desserts double-dipped then this is for you. Stock markets are already bailing ship, along with your pension money. With panic in the streets of London and Cairo and Lisbon and Athens and Tel Aviv and Jo’burg, the people are calling out for a leader to save the day. Where have those leaders with Leonine qualities gone? Even Obama, a Leo, who carries a picture of Hanuman in his top pocket, seems to lack the ability to avert his ship from the rocks. And Hanuman is a servant of that mightiest of Leaders, Lord Rama, who established Rama raja, ideal rule, where even the weather harmonized in reciprocation with the purity of consciousness of the ruler. It’s all very well calling for troops to hang the dj, but somebody has to play the tunes the rest of us want to dance to. So if you have been finding yourself in a quandary lately, as you lose faith, lose hope or lose money, no longer knowing in who do we trust, then remember that you are not alone, and at times like these it is not just death and taxes that are a certainty, but there is also cash in the hand and the holy names, as we are weaned off our addiction to the credit card and all other illusions thrown at us by maya and the banks. The longstanding square aspect between the outer generational planets of Uranus and Pluto is continuing to overshadow attempts to see the sunny side in all of this, despite the attempted boost one would normally expect from the current Leo triplicity of Sun, Mercury and Venus. When is becomes evident that the entire Arab revolution which began in Egypt in January was possibly started by outside forces (read Uncle Sam) to topple a regime that stood in their way (as with Iraq) and that that revolution is spreading like wildfire throughout the streets of the entire region, including Europe, then it’s time to go for gold – or silver – and to stand up and say we have had enough, for cometh the hour, cometh the person, and that person is you. We need to look within for our hero of the day, our saviour in the hour of need. No one out there is going to do it for you. It’s either that or be subjected to right wing extremist Sharia hand chopping, or Fascism. It was, after all, the Great depression of the 1920’s and 30’s that let to the rise of that other infamous leader, the one that galvanized Germany by burning his own houses of parliament and blaming it on external forces (read 9/11) so that he could create his own type of homeland security act which ended in World War 2.  

Leadership required, apply within

Fri 29 July – Thurs 11 Aug

Sun in Leo; Mercury in Virgo; Venus in Leo; Mars in Gemini/Cancer 3^rd

With Mercury in Virgo and Mars in Gemini , both signs ruled by Mercury, the mind will be the place to channel your drive and the mental capacities should be on top form. After all, it’s all in the mind. Just don’t get too mental about anything now either though, (with Mercury going retrograde on 2^nd August) for the tendency may be there to work the mind overtime, depending on your make of model of course. If you have a mind like a Mac then by all means, capitalize on the opportunity to get a lot of mental work done. But if you’re running on a little Toshiba, then be kind and power down occasionally. If that’s an effort, try Melatonin…works wonders. Just don’t take it before cycling home. You may find yourself dozing off at the handlebars.

By August 3^rd Mars will be in Cancer, a place he can struggle in, for unless you are planning to roll up your sleeves and work on that home renovation project, then all that libido in the home can sometimes lead to arguments amongst family members. In this water sign, the influence of Mars can express itself on an emotional level. Let’s hope the visceral influence of Mercury’s attempted transit through Virgo allows for time to think it through objectively as the adjectives fly. Don’t worry, the mood is not particularly physical or competitive as much as emotive. Little things may steal the view of the bigger picture. On the positive side a game of football with the family can be a healthy expression of the current Mars theme. Loyalties can be cultivated and strengthened now. Like those to the club, clan or cause. Or even your significant other. With Venus accompanying the Sun on their promenade through Leo, don’t be shy to get theatrical in your romantic overtures, even going down on one knee – if not two. Indeed if you qualify for Venus’ affection now, she is most definitely willing to shower her affections on you, being fiercely loyal herself to those she deems worthy.  If you can get your mind out of the way then this is a particularly romantic time, so watch those charmers and crooners steal the show, your heart or that kiss. With the present fun-loving mood, you may find the showman in you emerging so work on that stylish outfit but be willing to share the spotlight. This is an outgoing, generous and affectionate transit for Venus, especially when coupled by the Sun, so remember that sometimes the best gift you can offer is yourself at your best for the good of all concerned. Remember that you influence many others around you unknowingly simply by your actions and choices, what to speak of your thoughts, particularly if you’re in a place of leadership.  And real leadership is about being the person others will gladly and confidently follow, the person that brings out the best in others, that empowers others to be the best they can be. A badge or title is not enough to lead in the long term unless it is supported by a warm, person-centered heart, actual benefit to society and ultimately (if you want true loyalty) actual benefit to the individual follower herself. Ultimately a boss may inspire fear or fix blame for the breakdown, but it is the leader who inspires enthusiasm and who fixes the breakdown itself.

The heart of the matter

Fri 15 July – Thurs 28 July

Sun in Cancer/Leo 23^rd; Mercury in Leo; Venus in Cancer; Mars in Gemini

If you have not yet found yourself in tears recently, tears of sorrow at the hundreds of thousands of refugees in East Africa fleeing their worst drought in your lifetime (if you’re younger than sixty), while just up the road in this global village of ours Italy and the rest of the west throws away tons of excess food every day – excluding the mountains of cucumbers mistakenly identified as ecoli culprits – then the continued transit of Sun and Venus through Cancer may still soften your heart enough to awaken a sense of nurturing compassion for your fellow citizens. If East Africa is too far from your sphere of influence then just look in your own back yard and you will find the gaunt and emaciated descendants of the native races that our forefathers pillaged to colonized in the name of Calvinism, Catholicism or capitalism and which continues even today in the name of consumerism, where even we are the victims of a flawed system of global management, despite being in the top ten percent of the planet’s elite, which is what you are if you are reading this. With Mercury in Leo now, it is possible in the theatre of the mind to paint a picture in words like this and when the Sun joins Mercury there from the 23^rd the flair for the dramatic may find you expressing yourself with still more fire as you discover that all the world’s a stage – or a catwalk, depending on your proclivities. Leo, after all, is the biggest cat in town, so the mood may become authoritative, commanding, opinionated and if we’re not careful carried away by our sense of importance. Of course, if you’ve got it, flaunt it, for now is the time to strut your stuff. Charisma, strength of will and a flair for anything artistic - like blowing that trumpet - will abound, accompanied by a tendency to overlook details and a refusal to admit any mistakes, so be conscious in that regard now.

There are other reasons why you might find yourself in tears lately, like being moved by the beauty of a love song sung by a truly gifted creative artist , or any song played on the strings of your heart that touches a chord and resonates within you. Leo is a time for matters of the heart, whether bold, romantic or generous, so again, if you have it, share it, for their may be many who really need it – more than you need that latest model upgrade pushed on you by the consumerist pusher, getting you addicted to what J. Paul Getty (once the richest man in the world) described as his one word philosophy of life – more! There is of course something else that could be moving you to tears lately, tears of ecstasy in the fact that you’ve just found God where he always was, in the core of your heart, for the Supersoul or Paramatma is said to reside within all living entities, from the lamb being led to the slaughter to the lion willing to lay down with him, to the starving refugee, what to speak of you and me, and a self-realized soul cannot enjoy a hearty feast while so many still suffer starvation just down the road.