Mercury stationary as the S.A. Secrecy Bill/Protection of state info Bill is voted in.

22 Nov 2011

As the planet of communication, Mercury retrograde tends to breed a certain level of confusion. Mercury rules our mind--how we perceive and interpret information that we receive from our environment, and how we relay that information to others. Mercury has rulership over such things as speaking, negotiating, buying and selling, listening, formal contracts, documents, travel, the mail, journalism, media and so forth. All of these areas of life are affected when Mercury is functioning in a sluggish state. Decision-making is challenged during Mercury retrograde. Needless to say, it is not advised to sign contracts, engage in important decision-making, or launch a new business. Delays and challenges are more probable with Mercury retrograde. This period is best used for re-organizing and reflecting.

Sagittarius, ruled by Jupiter, is the sign traditionally associated with law, philosophy, religion and other such academic issues – issues of tertiary education, morals and ethics and what may be considered lofty ideology and abstract concepts of epistemology or meaning; broader, larger ideas. With Mercury going stationary and then retrograde in Sagittarius at the moment, issues of law and constitutional rights are brought into focus now. Today, as Mercury approaches its stationary position, on the way to going retrograde, the “Protection of State Information Bill” was voted on and passed in South African parliament with 229 votes, despite a one third opposition of 107 votes. As a result of this, the opposition has decided to take the Bill to the Constitutional Court, the highest court in the land, to campaign that it is directly against the Constitution, the highest code of law in S.A. – higher than the current ruling party of the day. The Bill proposes to gag the media and whistle-blowers from speaking out on issues of corruption within parliament. Not only are investigative journalists and others liable to be jailed for up to a maximum of 25 years if the political party chooses, (citing, if they choose that such revelations are a risk to national security) but even those who harbour such people or documents are also subject to the same disciplinary action. This is tantamount to taking the nation back into Apartheid era control mechanisms, (something already in place in Israel, and to a degree in America with the Patriot Act.)

The fact that this law is being passed as Mercury goes stationary and retrograde, suggests that the process may not go through as smoothly as hoped, and will be subject to opposition and revision, hopefully being revised to at least allow a public opinion clause. It has already had over 100 amendments. Mercury’s retrograde continues until 13 December and only really returns to its current position at 20 degrees Sagittarius in early January next year. If the Bill goes into law, it will give power to a few at the top to use as a weapon, just like the Patriot act in U.S.A which now allows the state to arrest and detail anyone they wish without trial for almost as long as they want. Externally it may come across as in the best interests of state security, but in time it can also be used as a loophole by which they can control the masses, much like a police state, removing constitutional rights from the very people they are supposed to serve and protect. Why such a law if you have nothing to hide? Democracy is safest in the hands of the people, not just the powerful ie intel agencies. Academics around the world have been ignored, clearly indicating that a potential tool is being set up for future dictatorship. And South Africa is not the only country, as mentioned, where this is going on. How do you feel about your freedom and constitutional rights being subtly eroded from under your very nose? As the powers that be allocate themselves still more power – the politicians and bankers – the people are rising up and saying enough is enough. Where do you stand? Freedom of thought is what Mercury in Sagittarius strives for. Mercury in Sagittarius defends justice and freedom religiously.

Who eclipsed your consciousness?

Fri 18 Nov – Thurs 1 Dec 2011
Sun in Scorpio/sag 22^nd; Mercury in Sag (R 24^th); Venus in Sag/Cap 26^th; Mars in Virgo.

On the 22^nd when the Sun joins Mercury (going retrograde on the 24^th) and Venus in Sagittarius, we shall have all our primary planets from the Sun to Mars in mutable signs. These are the planets that move the fastest and thus change signs rapidly, thereby indicating the predominating trends and mood of the day. Jupiter spends a whole year and Saturn up to 2.5 years in one sign. The Moon of course changes signs so quickly – every 2.5 days – that its influence is fleeting, though not to be underestimated; just not mentionable in a forecast such as this. Except, for example, when there may be an eclipse, like the solar eclipse on the new moon of the 25^th; curiously only really visible from my place on the southern coast of South Africa if you want to pop round for the breakfast show just after 08h00 local time; or you can catch it in New Zealand too. Although only a partial eclipse of 87%, it is the largest or brightest this year.

How amazing is it that eclipses even occur at all. The Sun is 400 times larger than the Moon, and the Moon is 400 times closer to Earth than the Sun, this means that the two effects cancel each other out with the Moon and Sun both appearing to have the same apparent size in the sky. They therefore look the same size to a viewer observing from Earth’s surface. So when there is an alignment during a solar eclipse, the Moon fits exactly over the Sun, blocking all sunlight while still allowing the beautiful corona to be observed. Now if this precise degree of ratio and proportion all happened by accident or coincidence then I’ll eat my ice cream cone. It seems more likely to me that the Great Consciousness behind it all, of whom we are all part and parcel, was being quite deliberate in this cosmic manifestation. And these are precisely the topics of focus during the current Sagittarian alignment of planets – topics of vast, expansive, universal or cosmological import. Sure, the Sagittarian theme is currently potentially more fired up, festive and fun-loving than the previous rather introverted, intense or introspective Scorpio flavour, but it is also a perfect time to raise the ceiling, explore the vast outer realms of space and it’s origins, as well our place in the grand scheme of things. Thinking big, going large and expanding the realms are all possible now. After all, the precise relationship between us and our satellite Luna are extremely rare. Most planets have much smaller moons, so the fact that ours is just the right size and distance between the Sun and us to create an eclipse which is occasionally so exact that the one heavenly body is totally hidden from our sight, practically to the millimeter (from our point of view) makes you think that someone was behind it, someone with a sense of humour, or at least an artistic flair. The chances of it being pure blind accident are about the same as if all the monkeys in the world, given all the time and all the laptops, were able to come out with Shakespeare’s complete works. They could, but the chances of it are infinitesimal. And this unique manifestation of precision and proportion between the Sun, Moon and Earth is only one of countless other manifestations of such harmony, beauty and life-supporting precision that anyone who still can’t comprehend the notion of Consciousness being at the root of it all, must be quite dull. Lets forget about the numerous concepts of God presented throughout the pages of history and just refer to the source as Consciousness, leaving the details until later, or to poets and mystics, and already we will have to rethink life, the universe and everything. Think about it.  

Let there be lights

Fri 4 Nov – Thurs 17 Nov
Sun in Scorpio; Mercury in Sagittarius; Venus in Sagittarius; Mars in Leo/Virgo 11^th

With Sun, Mercury and Venus still in Scorpio all facilitating not one but two Diwai Festivals in the Garden Route, the Scorpio theme of coming out of the darkness and into the light seems to be resonating healthily amongst locals. As with Halloween, we are all encouraged or permitted to face our demons, open our skeleton-filled closets and meet our dark side occasionally like this. Once having faced the darkness we are then taken through a rebirth of the light, in synch with the start of the new waxing moon in Scorpio. Hopefully you too have harnessed this opportunity in the grand cycle of time and space to turn from the dark or oppressive shadows that may haunt you, to face the clear diamond light of day. Why wrestle with your inner demons when you can just as easily banish them at will and cultivate the sunny attitude of your own choosing?

With Mars still in Leo for one more week until November 11^th, vitality, confidence and self-sufficiency are still available to those with Leo prominent in their horoscopes, and to the rest of us also, to a degree. We can all continue to benefit from the physical stamina it provides, as well as the creative flair to channel that into whatever department we require it. Take this opportunity to make a vibrant or dramatic impression on those you wish to impress, even if the Scorpio Sun has you feeling somewhat secretive or more sensitive than usual.  The bedroom may be the prime place to couple those contrasting flavours, mixing them and moulding them to each other so that they eventually melt like scoops of ice-cream, merging into each other and running down your cone and onto your fingers so that all you can do is lick them off with your tongue while the sweet sticky flavours of cherry and chocolate explode in your mouth and your brain freezes under in overdrive. You get the picture. Add to this the equally fired-up and flirtatious arrival of Mercury and Venus, hotly seated in Sagittarius, and you have an opportunity to openly and honestly flaunt your feelings of affection with a freedom seldom available to all. Considering the continued Scorpio Sun, you may just want to do it in private first – and then tell the world from your soapbox with dramatic flair. But make it fast, for by the 11^th Mars moves into Virgo and takes his libido into the office or the Health Club where he may just be too busy to reciprocate with flirtatious Venus, who will want a partner who shares her visionary and idealistic views, while simply unable to hold back her feelings. Keep it somewhat spacious and casual though, for now, as she can’t be too pressured or caged in just yet. And romance or marketing favours the foreign or imported now, so ship them in at your leisure and for your pleasure.    

Your open secret

Fri 21 Oct – Thurs 3 Nov

By the 23^rd the Sun joins Mercury and Venus as they stroll hand in hand through sensitive yet secretive Scorpio. With three of our primary heavenly bodies in this emotionally powerful water sign, there is the capacity now to experience very deep and penetrating insights into our own and others’ inner feelings. Even if not overtly visible, we can now plumb the depths of the apparently still waters of the psyche that is seldom made manifest at any other time of the year.

What is it that is being hidden? What are you hiding – even from yourself? Listen, if you want to know a secret, if you promise not to tell, there is far more going on behind the scenes, in the unconscious, in the underworld than meets the eye, and this is a good time to investigate, research or explore, even if all you have to go on is a feeling, an intuition or a rumour. It’s not just Wikileaks or investigative journalism that can expose the corrupt underbelly of some of those in power. But those secrets are not always going to be given up so easily. And what if I were to tell you that despite the dark, shadowy nature of the unconscious realm of the psyche, there are, in fact, vast treasures also hidden there; powers, skills and abilities on par with Tesla’s limitless storehouse of energy for all, if we just had the tools and techniques to tap in. Tools for remote viewing on par with Google Earth, tools for telepathic thought projection to rival even Vodafone. You have those tools. It’s an open secret. Government agencies use these tools already to maintain power and control over you and I, but refuse to educate us in the use of these latent – once thought mystical – skills.

Still, if you want to go deep into the Mystery of who you are and what you are capable of, now is the time to dive in. Just beware becoming too domineering in your expression of your newfound power. The will is strong and determined now, and with all the primary planets currently in fixed signs, including Mars in Leo and Jupiter in Taurus, the tendency toward stubborn, forceful and willful behaviour may help you to achieve more than usual on certain levels, but may result in a few squashed toes, or worse, squashed egos. In fact, the risk of inciting outright vengeful enemies is strong too. Just because Israel can do it in Palestine, or America wherever they smell oil doesn’t mean it is the mature or wise way to go. In previous centuries China was once a superpower too, as was Arabia, but even they fell to the West. Nevertheless, with time power changes hands and today the West is slipping as those old powers rise once more. And as archbishop Desmond Tutu warned the ANC when they were incapable of granting a visa to the Dalai Lama, your days are numbered too. Plays for power and power plays are inevitable now, as well as the ability to penetrate the hidden agenda by those few who can use their God-given tools.