science-astrology

World Predictions 2012 - A Rigid Pluto vs a Raging Uranus!

2011-12-18T10:53:00.093Z

You would be surprised to know that you can make some DIY world astrological predictions (even if you are not that knowledgeable about astrology) as long as you remember the basics of mythology and possess a discerning mind!

The image above depicts the World Horoscope for the year 2012. Actually a "World Horoscope" looks like a "minimalist" natal chart. We keep on it the "collective" planets (Uranus, Neptune,Pluto) and the intermediate, "social" ones (Jupiter, Saturn) and we "strip" it from any other "personal" element. On a "World Horoscope" the sign of Aries stands always on the left and the sign of Capricorn on the top!

As the "intermediate" and the outer planets move slowly, their positions for the whole of 2012 will be - broadly - as above (Jupiter - being relatively faster - will transit in the sign of Gemini too).

The most "elevated" planet in this "World Horoscope" is Pluto (the planet in black, on the top). Pluto actually stands on the very "World's Zenith" - in the sign of Capricorn that is! Why is this "World's Zenith" so important? Because any "social - collective" planet standing there somehow dictates the "spirit" that will prevail in humanity for that given year! With this in mind, we can foretell the "spirit" of 2012 as being somehow dark, subterranean, ruthless, transformative and potentially "mortal" - as planet Pluto is!

Remember "Hades" in mythology? He is the same (tricky) deity as Pluto. Hades dwells in the underword and is usurping the souls of the deceased people and their fortunes too. Actually Hades is a "quintillioner", as he accumulates over the centuries the fortunes of all the deceased people! Is this ringing a bell to you? The International Monetary Fund is apparently becoming the "Hades" of our Era, as it is ever more accumulating the fortunes of the various "deceased" nations - triggering a huge world financial crisis and bringing the spectre of poverty and famine over previously prospering populations! Goldman Sachs is allegedly ever more infiltrating the governments, indirectly ruling a large chunk of the world! Our governments are apparently getting ever more corrupted and irrational, reaching to the point of even conspiring against us (supposedly they are spraying us with chemtrails, they are massively administering us vaccines containing harmful to us toxic ingredients etc.) With dark and "diabolic" Pluto sitting currently on the "Word's Zenith" our governments seem more "dark" and evil than ever! And this situation will aggravate in 2012, as Saturn will move into Scorpio (and will form a "mutual reception" with Pluto in Capricorn).

The planet most prominently "rising" on this "World Horoscope" is Uranus (the blue planet on the left, near the "horizon"). Uranus represents the kind of "energy" that is actually "rising" worldwide (we will analyze this in a while)! Uranus currently stands in Aries, over the "World's Ascendant" point. This "World's Ascendant" is a sort of "gate" and out of it torrential fresh energies are released upon humanity - and upon each single individual in particular. If the "World's Zenith" represents the "ruling class" - as we saw - and Plutocracy then the "World's Ascendant" represents the plain individuals and Democracy. Pluto on the "World's Zenith" makes the ruling classes ever more corrupted and oppressive while Uranus on the "World's Ascendant" makes the individuals torrentially rebellious! And as Pluto and Uranus are blatantly clashing in 2012 (by a very harsh astrological aspect called "square") we are going to witness tremendous battles between the people and the ruling classes in the months ahead!

Uranus is the "Big Awakener"! As it reached in the last couple of years the "World's Ascendant" it has torrentially started awaking the individuals all over the planet, inciting them to take the power from their corrupted governments into their own hands! A brave new individual is born now, far less inactive and "dormant", more partaking to the society and to the collective, more enlightened, visionary and even "cosmic"!

Finally, planet Neptune in Pisces will probably bring a huge wave of poverty worldwide but - at the same time - it will change us as human beings, it will unite us deep in our souls, making us more sentimental, empathic versus our fellow humans and charitable! Neptune in Pisces will revive romanticism.

Thomas Gazis

P.S. You can read more on the mythology of Uranus and Pluto here and on Neptune in Pisces here .

The strange astronomical similarity of the "base" to the "end" date of the Mayan calendar!

2011-12-09T20:43:00.072Z

If there is a date that rings the louder bell to the inhabitants of our planet nowadays then this date is: December 21st 2012! This "popular soda" kind of date has become ultra famous in our times for two reasons: it is imminent to us and - more importantly - it marks the "End date" of the current "Long Count" Mayan calendar - which certain Mayanists interpret as the "end of all days"! Basically, on December 21st 2012 a full "cosmic cycle" will be completed - according to the Maya. When did this cycle started though? The scholars say on August 11th, 3114 BCE ! This is the very "Base date" of the "Long Count" Mayan calendar. The time span between these two milestone dates (August 11th, 3114 BCE and December 21st 2012) is exactly 13 Baktuns (13 being the most holly number to the Maya and a "Baktun" - approx. 400 years - being their idea of a "millennium" - they were living much shorter lives then)!

We have no clue why the Maya chose the date August 11th, 3114 BCE as the "beginning" of their current "Era". Did they choose this date arbitrarily? Other ancient civilizations like the Byzantines indeed chose rather arbitrarily the date of the creation of the World (September 1st, 5509 BCE.), on which they based their (linear) calendar. A Byzantine scholar i.e. would write our year 2012 CE as: 7521 ACW - "After the Creation of the World". And although an "arbitrary" thing does not sound very "Mayan", it might have been so...Otherwise it makes no sense the fact that back in 3114 BCE the ancestors of the Maya had developed such a perfect "cyclical" calendar that they could define and deliver to the future Mayan generations the "Base Date" of their almost flawless Long Count calendar! It couldn't have been so, unless these Mayan ancestors took the Long Count calendar directly from some extra-terrestrials or some Atlantis survivors! If this is not the case, this determinative "Base Date" should be an arbitrary one, a date of a probably religious or mythological significance. In any case, to the Mayan cosmological perception this date is so important that they based their entire "Long Count" calendar on it, they set off a whole New Age from that date on!

An amazing, whole new discovery!

If the date December 21st 2012 has such a particular meaning to humanity then its "antipode" too (the date August 11th, 3114 BCE) should have one. These two dates are not only "semantically" connected, but according to the Mayan cosmology they are somehow identical! As far as we know though, no major world event occured on August 11th, 3114 BCE. It does not seem to coincide with any major world - impacting event, with the fall i.e. on the Earth of some big meteorite, with the eruption of a super-volcano or with any other major geological, geographical or societal event. Even astrologically this date looks rather insignificant - if we examine it under the lenses of our Western Astrology. Things might change radically though if we apply to it the proper, Mayan astrology. Don't panic though! A large chunk of the Mayan astrology relies onto plain visible observation. What you see is what you interpret!

The most important factor in Mayan astrology is planet Venus (the brighter star on the sky, which is very distinguishable early in the morning or in the evening - depending on Venus' orbit). Thus, it surprises us a little bit the fact that on August 11th, 3114 BCE Venus rose as a “morning” star - it rose before the Sun - leading the rather significant to the Mayan cosmology sequence Venus – Mercury – Sun (you can see in the chart below Venus in blue, Mercury in yellow, Sun in red).

But things get far more exciting if we study as well the morning sky of the end date, 21 December 2012
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NOTE: This is just an excerpt. You may purchase the full article here

Chapters of the full article:
- The Mayan cosmology
- The cyclical nature of the Long Count calendar
- A whole new discovery of Thomas Gazis on the Mayan calendar
- The deeper psychological meaning of the 2012 hype
- The scenario of the planetary alignment
- The scenario of the planetary clustering
- Understanding the Galactic Alignment
- The Earth crossing the galactic mid-plane scenario
- The Nibiru - Sedna - planet X scenario

Thomas Gazis

This is an original article written by Thomas Gazis. Copyright: Thomas D. Gazis. thomas_gazis@yahoo.gr

Free Annual Astrological Predictions 2012 - All signs!

2011-12-09T20:26:00.012Z

Please click the sign you are interested in to get your Free 2012 Annual Astrological Predictions (written by Greek Astrologer Thomas Gazis):

Aries Taurus Gemini Cancer Leo Virgo

Libra Scorpio Sagittarius Capricorn Aquarius Pisces

Copyright: Thomas D. Gazis

Aries 2012 - Annual Astrological Predictions

2011-12-09T20:10:00.037Z

YOUR WORKING ENVIRONMENT TURNS INTO A BATTLEFIELD! Out of a rare coincidence, planet Mars (which rules your sign) will remain in the work-related field of your horoscope for the whole six first months of 2012. The specter of unemployment will probably threaten you in the new year and you might find yourself struggling to keep your job or to find a new one. Another version of this Mars position is that you will not seriously run the risk of unemployment, but you will take much more work and duties on your shoulders (especially if you were born after April 10). You will receive additional pressure at work and maybe get often in a heated debate with your colleagues, subordinates etc. Stress will probably become a dominant component in your daily life, at least until July 3 - when planet Mars will leave this critical to you zodiacal position.

On the other hand, 2012 may prove to be a very fruitful year, both in your working environment and in your domestic life. You may discover that you are particularly skilled in the "Do It Yourself" area, in certain technical works, handicraft, chiropractic etc. and you might even profit from these newfound skills of yours. Generally, in the last two years you have been more practical and methodical, thanks to the "lessons" planet Saturn has given you. This austere planet has - on the one hand - matured you considerably but - on the other hand - it might have deprived you of certain things and led you into a general "shrinking" of your life - making you often feel the "I am not myself" sensation. Fortunately on October 5, 2012 Saturn will finally leave this inharmonic to you position and you will then rediscover many of your old freedoms - and some new ones too! Be careful though not to overdo it (especially those of you born in March, who receive simultaneously now the "electrical" energies of Uranus and the extremely harsh ones of planet Pluto).

Regarding you love life, planet Saturn has matured you enormously and led you to more realistic and "viable" options. In the period February 8 - March 5 you will experience some very strong hearbeats (Venus - the planet of love - will be transiting in Aries then). Additionally, next Summer will bring you fascinating acquaintances and a whole variety of erotic experiences. The month of September looks "rosy" too, as you might have then a major love affair and start a new, significant relationship.

Thomas D. Gazis
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Copyright: Thomas D. Gazis

Taurus 2012 - Annual Astrological Predictions

2011-12-09T19:55:00.023Z

A REVITALIZING YEAR!
The "dark" - to many - 2012 may ultimately prove to be a bright year to you Tauruses, a year that might leave you with many sweet memories! It will open you some new roads and will bring you major opportunities in most areas of your life - especially in its first half, when lucky Jupiter will be in your own sign! Choose this time-period if you want to take important initiatives, to expand your activities, contact foreigners and travel overseas.

Do not be afraid to risk now a little bit more than usual. With Jupiter in your sign - until June 11 - luck will be on your side. Those things you could not achieve in the past you will achieve relatively easily now! Moreover, with the benefic influence of Mars - which (thanks to a rare coincidence) will be very harmonious to you for the whole first half of the year - you will be given now the necessary stamina and strenght to overcome any obstacle. Thus, do not be afraid to assert now your self and demand your rights! Be rather conservative and defensive though in the second part of the year, when you will not have on your side lucky Jupiter any more.

Your levels of vitality and creativity will rise considerably this year (thanks to the definite departure of the planet Neptune from a discordant to you horoscopic area). In addition, the presence of Mars in your Fifth House will benefit those of you involved in the artistic bussiness. If you have children, your relationship with them will become more spontaneous and you will see them responding positevely to your educational methods. If you want to have a child, this year is quite fruitful and the "stork" might soon pay a visit to you!

On the love field, 2012 appears to be a highly erotic year! It will bring you very strong heartbeats, especially between March and May. You should try very hard then to stay without a partner at your side. Things will get more serious in the last four months - when the strict planet Saturn will move to the area of your horoscope corresponding to your relations and collaborations. Saturn will either "solemnize" a relationship of yours or lead you to a sort of dead end (to some sort of refusal from the part of the person you are interested in. Your love life might be negatively conditioned in that specific period by external pressures, unaddressed practical issues etc.) So, you should commit yourself and act responsibly towards the end of the year.

Thomas D. Gazis
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Copyright: Thomas Gazis

Gemini 2012 - Annual Astrological Predictions

2011-12-09T19:37:00.018Z

FULL OF PROMISES THE SECOND HALF OF THE YEAR!

Although 2012 might not start very propitiously to you Gemini, its second half may turn to be very favorable! In the first six months you should display patience and determination, as you will probably encounter obstacles, conflicts, tensions and some forms of aggression (with no apparent reason) from the people around you. You see, on those first six months planet Mars will be constantly discordant to you (out of a rare coincidence)! Your already fragile nervous system will arrive on the verge of collapse then, while around you too much egotism, denial of co-operation and misunderstandings will be prevailing (even within your immediate/family environment).

During 2012 you may have to start literally from scratch, totally reviewing your plans. Mostly, you have to remove those "sharp" points that were bringing you in an open conflict with certain people around you - whose interests are contrary to yours. If you become more diplomatic you will still be able to achieve what you want (provided that you act in a more "silent" mode, without exposing yourself and disclosing your true motivations to the others)!

On February 3 planet Neptune will move into a discordant to your sign position, complicating the situations and bringing in your life some form of confusion, fatigue and weakness (especially to those born in May). Add to the scene the two critical - to your sign - eclipses that will occur on the 21st of May and on the 4th of June and you will understand why we say that the first half of the year is expected to be somewhat tedious for you.

But things will change radically after June 11. From that date onwards Jupiter - the luckiest planet in astrology - will enter in your sign ! With his magic wand Jupiter will change the situations around you and will create new opportunities for you - especially in the business and love affairs area. You might encounter in 2012 the partner you have always dreamed of!

Apart from Jupiter, Venus - the planet of love - will also bring you some "gifts"! Out of a rare coincidence - of a positive kind this time - Venus will stay in your sign for more than 4 months (from April 3 up to 7 August). You will thus have at your disposal 127 whole propitious nights for love, nights that will be eagerly waiting you to fill them with a lot of kisses, hugs and passion!

Thomas Gazis
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Copyright: Thomas Gazis

Cancer 2012 - Annual Astrological Predictions

2011-12-09T19:25:00.030Z

RADICAL CHANGES!
Some radical changes (mostly of a positive nature) are expected to take place in your life in the new year, especially in its first half (when the lucky planet Jupiter and the dynamic planet Mars will be sending you very harmonic influences). New conditions will emerge that will change your life in a dynamic and - at times - revolutionary manner. Meanwhile, some positive developments will restore faith in your soul and you will gradually begin to feel more relaxed, secure and "solid".

Among the good news we should account planet Saturn's departure from a discordant to your sign position! Saturn probably gave you some hard time and tough "lessons" in the last couple of years, lessons that ultimately brought you "down to earth" and made you more realistic and efficient. But on October 5th the "Lord of the Rings" will move in Scorpio, in a very harmonic position to your sign! This saturnian shift will signal the beginning of a more happy, expansive and prosperous period in your life.

All in all, 2012 seems to be a year "in transition" for you. Thus, you might find very often yourself in the position of co-ordinating many different issues and matters at the same time, and this means a lot of time spent over the phone and "on the road". You will probably come in contact with many new people and environments and travel a lot (especially in the first half of 2012) mainly for business and eventually for pleasure too.

Regarding the love matters, you might get romantically involved with a person related to your past or to your place of origin. The most promising months seem to be August and September - and especially the period 7 August - 6 of September when Venus (the planet of love) will be transiting in your sign. You might experience some very strong heartbeats then!

Thomas Gazis

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Copyright: Thomas Gazis

Leo 2012 - Annual Astrological Predictions

2011-12-09T19:16:00.022Z

AN EFFECTIVE AND PRODUCTIVE YEAR!
2012 will bring you some great opportunities, especially in the professional field. You should keep your eyes open in order to seize these opportunities and make the best out of them. Remember to move within a very realistic and pragmatic framework this year, avoiding the typical to your sign "dramas'" and excesses.

In the first half of the year some intense fermentations will take place in the work/career field. If you are an employee then you might be granted a new and better post or even a promotion. If you have a steady job then you might expand it in some way. Make sure however not to drain your energies and your resources, because after October 5th planet Saturn will move to a discordant position (in the sign of Scorpio). A period of "lean years" might start from then on (especially if you were born in July). You might find yourself confronted by many new responsibilities and duties, which in the end you will manage efficiently - thanks to your unique orginizing spirit and to the amazing stamina your sign possesses.

A fascinating person that will somehow pop out of your friendly environment will play a fundamental role in your heart this year. Initially, you might get involved with this person on a rather friendly level and gradually move onto a more intimate one. As the "hottest" period of the year is depicted the one between September 6 and October 3. Venus - the planet of love - will be transiting then in your sign. Second best periods are those between February 9 - March 5 and between 17 - 31 December.

Thomas Gazis
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Copyright: Thomas Gazis

Virgo 2012 - Annual Astrological Predictions

2011-12-09T19:03:00.035Z

SITTING IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT!
2012 is profiled as an "electric" year to you! Out of a rare coincidence planet Mars will remain in your sign for almost seven months (till July the 3rd)! With Mars on your side you Virgoes will become more bold, dynamic and intrepid than ever! This is the most propitious time for you to vigorously assert yourself, take initiatives and make brand new beginnings! Apart Mars, you will have on your side planet Jupiter too (which will be sending you - until June 11 - some highly favorable influences). With such "stellar allies" you will manage to overcome many obstacles and achieve your goals in business and in finance.

The business sector of your horoscope is particularly emphasized in 2012 and this means that you will be given major opportunities in that area. You should take initiatives mainly in the first half of 2012, which looks more fertile to you. Aim high but try not to overdo it. With Mars in your sign your nervous system will be very "tense" and you will be easily ending up into sterile confrontations and quarrels - and you will have a certain predisposition to accidents too. Thus, control your impulses and be as cool as you can.

On October 5 the austere planet Saturn will leave the area of your horoscope related to your finances. This event could mark a very positive change in your financial matters. Certain limiting factors may cease to exist and you might then start receiving some extra income!

2012 is the proper year for you to expand your contacts, to meet new friends and to create a rich social networking. Do not underestimate this factor! If you make the right acquaintances now and create some strong alliances you will gain more power and influence - both socially and professionally (the two are closely related). Any contacts with clubs, associations etc. will be favored!

Regarding relationships, this is a year of important decisions. Many of you will claim their freedom and autonomy and will step out of a relationship. Some others may impulsively get into a relationship and become somehow "trapped" there. If you were born in August then you are likely to fall in 2012 for some kind of platonic love - unrequited of course - or you might relate to a person who will consequently betray your expectations. Around June some kind of (temporary) alienation may occur with the person you love (of a physical or emotional kind). The "hottest" period of the year will be the one between 3 - 28 October, when planet Venus will be transiting in your sign.

Thomas Gazis
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Copyright: Thomas Gazis

Libra 2012 - Annual Astrological Predictions

2011-12-09T18:43:00.031Z

A SOUL-UPLIFTING YEAR!
2012 might prove to be a "therapeutic" year to you, a year that will help you overcome many of your - recent and remote - traumas and firmly stand on your feet! In reality, your sign is still under the grip of some tough astrological influences. By now though you have mostly taken your "lessons" and the "stars" will not have to be so strict with you - as they were in 2010 and 2011. Moreover, in the second half of 2012, the inharmonic to you planetary influences will considerably diminish while simultaneously you will start receiving ever more favorable influences! Jupiter will pass on the 12th of June in the sign of Gemini, in a very harmonic position in respect to your sign. This lucky planet will bring you brand new opportunities in all the areas of your life - mainly in the second half of the year. All in all, 2012 seems a year of major achievements for you - in spite of the difficulties that you will be encountering every now and then!

If you wish to accomplish something big I would advise you to wait until the second half of the year, which is depicted more favorable to you. In the first half of 2012 move rather conservative and generally keep your "back" upon the wall. Protect your achievements from certain "disguised" competitors of yours.

The austere planet Saturn will remain in your sign until October 5 (this year though it will affect mainly those of you born after October 10). You might take too many responsibilities on your shoulders and become the epicenter of a strict criticism. Be sure not to take things too seriously and behave with as much realism and stoicism as you can!

Be careful in the matters of the heart, because in 2012 you might be consumed by some sort of infatuation which will ultimately lead you to disappointment and to nothing concrete. Things will become clearer from April onwards. A fascinating person will probably open you his/her heart in the first summer weeks. The "hottest" period of the year is the one between October 29 and November 22! Planet Venus will be transiting then in your sign, bestowing extra charm on you and atracting several potential partners in your side!

Thomas Gazis

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Copyright: Thomas Gazis

Scorpio 2012 - Annual Astrological Predictions

2011-12-09T18:31:00.040Z

FORMING STRONG ALLIANCES!
2012 is profiled as a year of crisis alright but the thing is crises bring the very best in you! Scorpios perform far better when they face hard conditions! Thus, 2012 may prove to be a very positive year to you. Provided that you form alliances! You possess great skills on your own but especially in this new year you will accomplish more easily your goals if you bring the right people on your side - people who will stand by you and will support your actions. Try to be less inflexible and adopt diplomacy.

In the professional field you may start in 2012 an important collaboration that will open you some new horizons. The entrance of planet Saturn in your sign on October the 5th signals a turning point in your carreer, where on the one hand you will have more responsibilities and obligations and on the other hand more rewards!

In the first half of the year - when Jupiter will be opposing your sign - a tendency might prevail in you to overspend (money, feelings, etc.). In this way you will drain very fast your resources and you will be forced to make bloody savings in the second half of the year - especially from October 5th on, when planet Saturn will enter in your sign. Initially Saturn will affect most strongly those of you born in October (any overspending and excesses will probably cost dearly to you).

This year is ideal for you to set once and for all any disputes you have with third parties on financial issues, inheritance etc. With the beneficial planet Jupiter being - in the first half of the year - in the sector of your horoscope related to legal matters you will most probably vindicate your issues!

A solar eclipse will take place in your sign on November 14. Some very unstable conditions might prevail then, so you should move carefully and avoid taking important decisions or risky initiatives around that date.

The sector of love affairs is highly energized in 2012. If you're alone you're likely to start an important relationship! If you are already in a relationship you may turn it to a more formal, by engaging or even getting married! One of the hottest periods of the year will be the one between November 22 and December 16, when planet Venus will be transiting in your sign.

Thomas Gazis
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Copyright: Thomas Gazis

Sagittarius 2012 - Annual Astrological Predictions

2011-12-09T18:23:00.003Z

A MAJOR VINDICATION!
2012 might bring you whatever you lacked in the previous years! The landscape will change dramatically, as you will start receiving some very favorable planetary influences! So, even if you have suffered losses you will recover and start to aim high again. The various tests you have passed somehow matured you and made you more consistent and efficient.

(Predictions under construction. Please come back!)
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Copyright: Thomas Gazis

Capricorn 2012 - Annual Astrological Predictions

2011-12-09T18:11:00.003Z

CAUGHT BETWEEN SCYLLA AND CHARYBDIS...
With hard planets Pluto and Saturn focusing their energies on your zodiac sign, 2012 might turn to be a very demanding year to you. Not necessarily in a negative way though! It might bring you some major accomplishments in your life!

(Predictions under construction. Please come back!)
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Copyright: Thomas Gazis

Aquarius 2012 - Annual Astrological Predictions

2011-12-08T16:13:00.009Z

SMALL CHANGES BRINGING GRADUALLY A MAJOR TRANSFORMATION! Many small and subtle changes might occur in your life in 2012. Changes which - over time - will prove beneficial to you (especially from June onwards, when planet Jupiter will start forming a very harmonious to your sign aspect). Above all, you should display in this new year the virtues of adaptability and flexibility. And this because you will often find yourself in some situation where you will have to adapt to an ever changing environment and assimilate an ever growing stream of data. Most of all, you will have to act fast and clever, in order to catch the opportunities and turn to your advantages the various circumstances around you.

The definite departure of planet Neptune from your sign in 2012 is good news to you. Neptune might have been the main culprit for you feeling debilitated physically and mentally in the previous years. It might have brought you a lot of confusion and disappointment in your life. This year Neptune will leave your sign and will allow you to regroup your forces, to assess more objectively the situations around you and enter a more fulfilling and succesful road. Overall this year shows a significant amelioration on the socio-professional level. In the first half is likely to change some things in relation to your house and your family environment. From June on you will probably become more vigorous, optimistic, full of vitality and a burning desire to "create" (from artifacts to events, to even children)!

Thomas Gazis
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Copyright: Thomas Gazis

Pisces 2012 - Annual Astrological Predictions

2011-12-07T12:55:00.019Z

HOLDING NEPTUNE'S MAGIC STICK!

Intense competition might prevail around you in the first half of the year (when planet Mars will remain - for six whole months - opposed to your sign). Make your stand and defend your rights in a relationship or in a professional collaboration. The most important to you astrological event will occur on February 3, when Neptune will definitely enter your sign - it has already paid Pisces a short visit in 2011! Neptune is the planet of "magic", the planet who carries us into other dimensions and makes us feel - during certain extraordinary moments in our lives - that "we live in a fairytale!"

Neptune will begin to influence your life in rather unexpected ways and will bring you in touch with more spiritual, occult, metaphysical and perhaps "magical" dimensions! This year, Neptune will affect most strongly those of you born in February. It will probably put you in touch with some artistic, spiritual - or perhaps charitable - environments, artistic occupations and activities (especially in the fields of music, dance, photography). Neptune brings to artists great inspiration and verve.

Thomas Gazis
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Copyright: Thomas Gazis

"Astromykonos 2001" - International Astrology Conference

2011-09-26T09:08:00.033+01:00

After the great success of the "Astromykonos 2000" we decided to repeat the experience and organize a new International Astrological Conference at the Greek island of Mykonos in the summer of 2001 (8-10 June). As the key speaker we invited the foremost Astrologer, prolific writer and rich and exuberant as a character Noel Tyl. The second key speaker was the famous French astrologer Elizabeth Teissier.

(Elizabeth Teissier and Noel Tyl)

I actually organized this conference (with the full support of a benefactor of Greek Astrology - and excellent Astrologer him - herself - who prefers to remain anonymous). I had invited several Greek astrologers as speakers, which in the end did not participate. Unfortunately the non-profit "Astromykonos" conferences were not seen by a very good eye by the huge commercial astrological circuit in Greece, as they did not serve their lucrative etc. interests. Remember that there is no Astrological Federation in Greece and cultured Astrology is generally marginilized here. Plus, in 2001 there was no Facebook and the promotion of any event was possible only through TV and radio programs, magazines and newspapers. But as the Astromykonos conferences were not supported by any media corporation - despite all the efforts I had made and the dozens of press releases I had sent everywhere - people actually were not informed on this conference and the participation of the public was limited. Eventually, however, the low participation worked well because it created an even more warm and spontaneous atmosphere among those who attended.

(the "giant" as a carriage, as a personality and as an Astrologer Noel Tyl during his magic lecture)

(two famous Astrologers under the sign of Capricorn: Noel Tyl and Elizabeth Teissier)

The International Conferences "Astromykonos" 2000 and 2001 will undoubtedly remain in the History of modern Greek Astrology as two "Lighthouses" - in the general Greek astrological "darkness" and the lack of any sort of Greek conferences. Thanks to the "Astromykonos" conferences leading international Astrologers were invited for the first time in Greece, the Greek public had the opportunity to listen to them, to speak to them in person, to eat beside them. Thanks to the "Astromykonos" conferences the Greek Astrology emerged out of the fringe and stood for a while at the center of the International Astrological community!

Thomas Gazis

The puzzling 27th September Super-Moon

2011-09-26T08:47:00.007+01:00

On Tuesday September 27th three specific astrological conditions are formed which predispose to the occurrence of possible extreme events. First of all, the Moon (in its monthly orbit) will come closer to Earth, creating the September 27th phenomenon of "Super-Moon" - as Astrologer Richard Nolle calls it. The Sun and the Moon will "conjunct" (they will be found in the very same portion of the sky without producing an eclipse though) forming what we call a New Moon. At the same time the Moon will come closer than usual to Earth. Last time we had a Super - Moon it was on April 18th 2011, very close to the date when the great earthquake and tsunami in Japan occurred. Of course this does not mean that such a mega-quake will happen again.

The other fact that concerns us is that when the New Moon occurs on September 27 the Sun and the Moon contemporaneously form powerful planetary aspects with the "hottest" planetary duo of the recent years, the planets Uranus and Pluto (an opposition to the former and a square to the latter). These aspects may speed up processes and events regarding the global economic crisis and all kinds of "clashes" that exist today worldwide. It is noteworthy that during this New Moon we will have a whole parade of planets (a "stellium") in the sign of Libra (Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus and Saturn will be in it). This indicates a situation "on the very razor's edge", an urgent need to alleviate extreme situations and create an agreement between clashing sides!

International Astrology Conference "Astromykonos 2000"

2011-09-03T09:36:00.090+01:00

One of the best International Astrology Conferences I have ever attended was the "Astromykonos 2000" which took place in the Greek island of Mykonos, 9 - 11 June 2000. Don't get me wrong here, as I actually organized this Conference. It's not though that I was the big magician and organized perfectly everything (actually I didn't. Plus, there was another colleague - Grazia Mirti - who organized the Italian delegation). The thing is this conference had magic on its own! Be it for the particular vibrations of the island of Mykonos, be it for the great astrologers present there or for the wonderful hotel complex we were residing in, there was that particular sensation of "magic" in the air, in the conference halls, in the roof gardens, in the beaches, in the cosmopolitan town of Mykonos...

As I am an Astrologer and not a professional organizer of conferences, I wouldn't have succeeded with "Astromykonos 2000" unless I had the full support of a benefactor of Greek Astrology (and excellent Astrologer on his/her own) who prefers to stay anonymous. I had already an experience of my own on Astrology Conferences as I had attended many in Western Europe, some of them as a speaker. Thus it came to my mind that it would be a unique experience for the speakers and the public alike if we would combine good astrology and great summer vacations and organize an international conference on the paradisiac island of Mykonos. Serendipity favored us, because just a few weeks before the conference the island of Mykonos acquired its first ever 500 people (beautiful) lecture hall, at a new hotel complex. There, between 9 and 11 June 2000, the historic "Astromykonos 2000" took place. Three wonderful days where one moment you were attending an interesting astrological lecture by a foremost astrologer and the other you were swimming in a crystalline sea.

Robert Hand's lecture in "Astromykonos 2000")
As the main speaker I invited the internationally recognized top astrologer Robert Hand! Rob gave us a majestic lecture on the Aristotelian concept of "eidos" (form - species) and on the ways the "eidos" unfolds itself in Astrology. Additionally, twenty four Astrologers from Greece, Cyprus, Spain, Italy and France - some of which you can see in the photo below - presented us a variety of interesting and in many cases original lectures (always in accordance to the main theme of the conference, which was "Astrology: the cultural kernel of the new, third millennium").

(from left: Elia Ramos, Maurice Charvet, Maro Ioannidou, Emilio Pelaez, Ernesto Cordero, Thomas Gazis (on his knees), Yves Lenoble, Dante Valente, Grazia Mirti)

(Thomas Gazis, Robert Hand, Maro Ioannidou)

In the so called "parallel events" of the conference the French, Italian and Spanish Astrologers (on the photo above) examined the possible ways to consolidate the Southern - European Astrological Federation! Among them, Yves Lenoble (left, yellow shirt), Marta Capdevila, Emilio Pelaez (with the beard), Maurice Charvet (green shirt), Ernesto Cordero (with the waistcoat) and down - left you can see the head of the President of the Italian Astrological Federation (CIDA) Dante Valente.

Both because of the great astrologers who came to this conference and for the high quality of the presented lectures, I believe that "Astromykonos 2000" has been the top International Astrology Conference - or Astrology Conference in general - ever held in modern Greece!

Thomas Gazis

War of Titans: Uranus "squaring" Pluto!

2011-08-26T11:27:00.109+01:00

("Prometheus brings Fire to Mankind" - Heinrich Fueger)
The war of the Titans is not taking place just in some Greek mythology books. We are actually witnessing such a Titanomachy above our heads, as planet Uranus is forming a (multi-annual) harsh square aspect with planet Pluto! Under the two battling Titans we stand as feeble spectators and fatal receivers of the tidal cosmic waves they produce.

The implications of this Uranus - Pluto square are enormous! They extend far beyond our current 2010's decade (which astrologically will be remembered as the "Uranus - Pluto square decade") and they will keep reverberating for whole generations to come! So it is very important to comprehend what this battle is all about and what the two Titans are holding in store for us humans beings!

The two opponents

Every time I want to get deep into the astrological archetypes I am resorting to Greek mythology. It never lets me down and is ever more enhancing my awareness of the archetypes - not to mention that is impressively enriching my astrological interpretations! Strictly speaking, Pluto is not in mythology a Titan but an Olympian god (although a grimly one, being the god of underworld). Neither Uranus (Ouranos in Greek, meaning "sky") was a Titan, but one of the primal "elements - Gods" out of which our earthy dimensions were created. But apart the fact that Ouranos is "the sky", this primal deity shares very few attributes with planet Uranus. There is though an authentic Titan who shares a plethora of attributes with planet Uranus (and with the sign of Aquarius), PROMETHEUS!

First of all Prometheus is a Titan. The Titans actually were the "second generation" primal deities. Meaning that they were less primal and "archetypal" than their parents and more partaking in our earthy dimensions (more muscular, vigorous and "titanic" in appearance)! Prometheus (his name means "foresight" in Greek) was considered the wisest of the Titans! He could foretell the furure (how appropriate to an Uranian - Aquarian entity). Prometheus somehow befriended the Father of the Olympian Gods Zeus (Jupiter) by whom he was consequently given the task to create - with his rather foolish brother Epimetheus - living creatures on Earth! Hastily Epimetheus commenced creating animals, giving them all kinds of "survival traits" (fangs, claws, armour, feathers to fly etc.). But when he arrived to the creature destined to become the human being he realised he was left out of survival traits. With no "weaponry" at all, this delicate being was doomed! Fortunately Prometheus - who obviously had a weakness for this creature - intervened! He modeled the humans after the Gods and endowed them with the ultimate gift: reason!

Zeus was outraged by this Prometheus action! To compensate, he unleashed upon mankind all kinds of suffering. Humans were left in a dark, cold misery. But again Prometheus came as their rescuer! He stole the fire from the Gods and brought it to the humans, delivering them warmth, "light" and energy. This time Zeus punished Prometheus severely (he bound him to a stake on Mount Caucasus, where an eagle was coming each day to feed upon his ever regenerating liver)!

What is this myth telling us? How crazy in love is Prometheus - Uranus with the human kind! What a superb humanist he is! He doesn't want us humans to be animal-like, deprived of reason and of the divine "goodies". Actually, Prometheus' biggest secret is that he created us upon his own image, that we somehow partake of him! He considers us almost his equals, a sort of brothers. That is why he is so devoted to us humans, that is why he is ever striving to liberate us from our animal descent, to lift us from the "gutter" and enlighten us!

Pluto on the other hand is not that much of a friend to us humans. As the god of underworld ("Hades" in Greek mythology) he is a friend of our souls alright - meaning of our most undifferentiated part. But he does not care at all how much "animal-like" or idiotic we have been during our lifetime - as long as we deliver him a soul the moment we cease to exist physically. So actually he is a friend of ours from our death on but not during our lifetime! Pluto is uninterested in single humans, in their individual stories, traits, awareness level etc. To him people are important only in the masses, when they act as a sort of "mob"! To single individuals he may turn utterly cruel.

You see, Pluto is thriving during major wars, disasters, epidemics etc.! His kingdom is flooded then with human souls. Plus in such circumstances the weaker individuals, those who bear a bad DNA etc. are massively extincted and this means that the human race as a whole is ever more "cleansed" and strenghtened - through a process known as "the survival of the fittest"! No need to guess that Pluto adores such a kind of processes!

Pluto is related to money, to a lot of them! You cannot easily figure out that part of him in English but in Greek the word Pluto (Πλούτων) sounds like "ploutos" (πλούτος), which means "richness"! Pluto is making lots of easy money, as he is ever usurping the fortunes of the deceased.

The match!

The two planets are actually forming a harsh square aspect between them. Such an aspect is VERY difficult on its own. But in this case there are some other factors that exacerbate further the hardness of the specific square: 1) the signs where the two "titans" are located in: Uranus has recently entered in Aries (the sign ruled by bellicose Mars) while Pluto is in Capricorn (where Mars - the god of war - is "exalted")! There is too much Mars involved here! 2) the fact that Uranus - in its circular motion in the zodiac - forms a waxing "first quarter phase" aspect versus Pluto. A waxing phase unleashes massive energies. 3) the fact that Uranus (being a masculine planet) is in a masculine sign (Aries) while Pluto (being a feminine planet) is in a feminine sign (Capricorn). Too much "polarization" occurs here! And polarized situations tend to be very "flammable"!

Thomas Gazis

(First part of the article. To be continued)

Money vs "money-energy" - a concise astrological explanation of the crisis (part 1)

2011-08-20T20:05:00.011+01:00

Has ever occured to you - under the stress of the titanic financial crisis we are facing - the thought that at some point we might be left without money (for all kinds of reasons, out of a bank failure for example)? The thought that money might gradually dry up in society, ending in the pockets of those privileged rich who actually took advantage of the current situation? It seems a sort of nightmare. How are we going to feed ourselves and our family, how are we going to survive from now on if money disappears?

Money is ruled by the signs of Taurus and Scorpio in astrology, so it touches very particular cords in us. It has to do with our sense of security and stability, with our sense of personal "power" and self-esteem and with certain deep and intense psychological processes in us. Taurus’ money is supposed to be the one we earn out of our job while Scorpio’s money comes to us through third sources (benefits, inheritances, loans etc.) I think this definition is not very clear, thus I will try to better define what kind of money Taurus and Scorpio rule.

First of all we have to define what "money" actually is. Money should be something precious, because it can buy us precious things. Thus, it should have an inherent VALUE in it. In astrology the concept of VALUE is assigned to the sign of Taurus. Here we are then! Money is a Taurus thing, it has a "Taurus nature" in it. Well, at least partially, because the nature of money is more intricate than that.

You may read the rest of the article here

Summer (2011) and smoke!

2011-07-21T12:59:00.025+01:00

The summer of 2011 does not seem to be particularly sunny - astrologically speaking. We have so far experienced two eclipses on June, a menacing Solar eclipse on the 1st of July and we are going now through a critical period where the Uranus - Pluto infamous square is getting ever more tighter (meaning more acute)! And as if all these were not enough, bellicose Mars will soon enter Cancer and will trigger both the point of the July eclipse and very dramatically the Uranus - Pluto square!

All the above are rather "shady" elements and do not promise well for a sunny August. The international financial and debt crisis will escalate, the unrest and turmoil in our societies will grow and we might witness certain unusual natural and geo-physical phenomena. On the list of the countries which will be particularly afflicted by the upcoming configurations we should definitely include USA. The horoscope of this country has ever more been influenced by the recent July solar eclipse, by transiting Pluto in Capricorn and Uranus in Aries and by transiting Saturn in a harsh square to its Sun. Remember that USA's horoscope has a stellium in the first degrees of Cancer, while its natal Saturn lies in Libra. Greece is another suspect (having its Moon in the beginning of Libra and an Uranus - Neptune conjunction in the first degrees of Capricorn. Please see its natal horoscope here). The most critical days seem to be those around the 10th of August. There might be a lot of "smoke" around us on those days...

Jupiter in Taurus (and the Taurus' "dark" flip-side)

2011-06-20T17:47:00.083+01:00

(photo: Sergey Larenkov)
On the 4th of June 2011 planet Jupiter entered in the sign of Taurus (after completing a crazy race in Aries - very apropriate to that fiery's sign nature). I wanted from the begining to post on my blog an article interpreting Jupiter in Taurus but I had the sense that I was missing something. I could not figure out what it really meant for Jupiter to be in the sign of "the earthy reality". I was reading other colleagues' articles who were interpreting Jupiter in Taurus as a "world-wide financial growth" but that interpretation seemed simplistic to me and not very congruent with the current global situation. So, I decided to shy away from any possible interpretation till some kind of inspiration would illuminate me.

I was recently watching on Youtube a documentary on the German occupation of France. Seeing all these German soldiers in front of the beautiful monuments of Paris felt kind of creepy and grotesque. It made me wonder about the astrological "spirit" of that particular period. Was there too much Pluto and Scorpio emphasis back then? Then I suddenly realized that this was the period of the famous Taurus Stellium! No Scorpio at all, but too much Taurus instead (Jupiter, Saturn and Uranus in Taurus)! How could it be? Taurus is supposed to be a sign of peace and prosperity! Why was that much emphasized at the very peak of world war two, when Europe was plunging at a period of utter destruction, misery, famine and massive extermination of lives?

It might have been prosperous just to the Germans, as they had occupied back then rich lands, taken over the conquered countries' production, factories, people's gold etc. But to the other Europeans it was an inferno, as even the most simple and carefree to us actions like obtaining food turned to be - to most of them - a desperate everyday battle. So definitely Jupiter in Taurus does not necessarily portend a financial and material prosperity. On the contrary, sometimes Taurus' "flip side" might come out, a side which is very similar to the nature of Scorpio (not by chance these two signs are polar opposites in the zodiac - and polarities partake and fuse in mysterious ways).

Pondering on this I came up with this conclusion: Jupiter is the planet related to "the expansion of awareness". Taurus on the other hand is the sign of material goods, of our resources, of our ability to survive and endure, of serenity, of the simple pleasures of life, of our basic, elementary needs. If we combine the two then we might arrive to this interpretation: with Jupiter in Taurus our consciousness will expand to the direction of how important are after all the simple, basic goods and pleasures of life, to which we were not paying too much attention previously as we were thinking of them as trivial, just a matter of course, eternally there for us...But now we will realize how precious they are, that we have to seriously take care of them because they might not always be there! Remember, a loaf of bread, a pair of dirty, worn shoes or just the fact of being alive was enough to make people revel back in the 40's! How many people revel today over these things? But the point is WE SHOULD! And that's exactly what Jupiter in Taurus will teach us.

Additionaly, with all these volcanic eruptions ocurring lately all over our globe we realized that Earth is not after all as rock-steady and solid as we thought it to be. It is in its nature to produce every now and then mega-earthquakes and unimaginable volcanic eruptions. This notion will radically change our attitude towards Earth and towards ourselves! We will realise that after all we are just minuscule ants on the surface of an often troubled planet. And of course we will start missing - somehow - our planet in its previous rock-steady state, when we thought that such a state was eternal to our Earth...Well, it turns out it's not and we'd better start realising it, respecting more the power of the Earth and protecting as much as we can ourselves from its intemperancies!

Another Jupiter in Taurus element that stroke me lately is the fact that two friends of mine are creating a sort of shelter, filling it with food and water just in case something goes very wrong. Although their words sounded as if they were coming out from the past, from the 40's they were actually the words of relatively young people spoken in 2011! And they sounded very much Jupiter in Taurus! People want to better protect themselves now, to expand their resources and security, in case things turn ugly. They create shelters, they accumulate food while they are investing on gold, silver and precious metals...

Jupiter has to do a lot with travelling (especialy in far distant places). But Jupiter in Taurus is one of the less travelling-prone positions. Look what is happening lately with all these volcaning eruptions and the volcanic ash spreading over entire continents: till a few weeks ago people could not fly over Europe because of the eruption of the two Icelandic volcanoes. And till yesterday they could not fly over South America because of the eruption of the Chile volacano, nor they could fly over a large chunk of Africa because of the recent Eritrea volcanic eruption etc. So, what is the message coming out of all this? I think this one: "if you don't want to get stranded in an airport for several days avoid to travel by air! Meaning avoid to travel far away! Stay where you are, in your own land and try to make the best out of it. Enjoy the little things everyday life is offering you, avoid pursuing an ever more unattainable happiness in far away places. And as the world is turning ever more crazy and insecure you should seek true happiness and serenity in yourself!"

Thus with Jupiter in Taurus we will mainly expand and cultivate our "inner landscape", our inner values, our practical skills, while we will start taking a better care of ourselves. We will learn to appreciate more the simple, everyday things that life is offering us. The small pleasures - that is - and the fleeting moments of relaxation and serenity of which previously we were not much aware how important they are! And after all, Jupiter in Taurus will at some point attract prosperity, stability and serenity for us. But only in a second phase and rather as a "by-product" of the insight and wisdom we will have gained of how valuable and crucial the basic goods and the "down to earth" matters are!

Thomas D. Gazis

Astrologer John Panayiotopoulos denouncing the committee formed to pave the way for a formal Greek Astrological Federation!

2011-06-09T10:56:00.041+01:00

""" I had the honor of being one of the members of the seven-member committee, which was formed in order to pave the way so that a Greek Astrological Federation could be established. The committee was elected by secret voting, on the occasion of an historical meeting of 32 Greek astrologers, which took place on May 15th, 2009. I alphabetically mention the members of the committee: Galanou Mary, Gazis Thomas, Konti Vasia, Panayiotopoulos Yianis (John), Rizopoulos Yianis, Sotiraki Smaro, Zachariadou Evita.

A serious health problem presented to me and my forced residence abroad did not allow me to follow all the sessions of this Committee. I communicated to the other members this situation of mine, but they decided to keep me "ad honorem", although I was unable to execute properly any work. I have recently returned to Greece and to my surprise found out - from friends and colleagues - that this crucial committee was actually "dissolved in silence"! It was dissolved soon after my departure abroad, with the members of this committee making no essential effort to accomplish the task they were voted for: to pave the way for the major assembly that would lead to the creation of a Greek Astrological Federation.

Many critical issues arise here:

1. The six remaining members of the committee were not competent - or lacked the experience - to carry out such an important assignment, but they discovered this incompetence of theirs only "a posteriori", afterwards?

2. If any kind of "external factors" intervened - in the name of any third parties interests - and obstructed directly or indirectly the committee's work then why such an intervention was not publicly denounced by the members of the committee?

3. Why was this committee "dissolved in silence" without any public notice, as if it were a mere private matter? Is this "silent dissolution" reflecting the spirit of the members of the Committee and their general idea on how a Greek Astrological Federation should function?

4. Why did the members Zachariadou, Konti, Galanou and Rizopoulos feel the need to replace the member of the committee Thomas Gazis (which in my testimony was the member who worked most of all - especially on the Statute of the Federation - and cooperated fully)? The temporary committee had no jurisdiction to dismiss in such a way a member who was legally elected on the May 15th 2009 meeting.

5. Is it possible that this whole federation initiative was not based on sincere intentions but it was "built" from scratch so as to fail? The May 15th 2009 meeting was attended by many well known to the Greek public astrologers. Most of them had the ability, knowledge and resources to carry out the task of creating a formal Greek Astrological Federation. Is it possible then that these astrologers were in reality reluctant to carry on such a mission because they did not want to lose their "valuable (financially and professionally) time" dedicating it to a purpose that ultimately could deprive them of some of their actual privileges?

6. If we really care for astrology we have to answer these questions - putting aside our personal differences. A formal Greek Astrological Federation should be the "Holy Grail" for all of us who love astrology, even for those people who approached our art from all walks of life and who are claiming today that they are "madly in love with it!"

7. With these questions I am not trying to shy away from my own responsibilities, as many people use to do. I am just stressing the fact that we will never manage to establish an Astrological Federation in Greece unless we have good will, unanimity, an objective assessment of the situations and the sincerity to accept the mistakes of the past. Thus, the anonymous posts in various blogs and sites are not very creative and helpful in this direction. Please use your full name and surname and speak up!

8. If we really want to do something serious in Greece regarding astrology we should be properly organized and united, offering much voluntary work to our common cause and being consistent. Everybody should contribute and the field should be open to all the interested parts, as long as these parts leave behind them their personal differences and "frictions" and put aside for a while their purely individual or "group" interests. All of us we have to value and prioritize the collective interest of the Greek astrologers and astrology, all of us we have to strive in order to draw out of the "gutter" and lift up in Greece the holy, celestial art of Astrology.

Athens, June 6, 2011

John Panayiotopoulos """

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Thomas Gazis note:

Please read my post on The Shenanigans of the Greek Astrological community

How does a love story (and everything else) unfold according to the zodiac!

2011-05-26T13:08:00.021+01:00

(snapshot from the Youtube video "How to flirt")

by Thomas D. Gazis
(Copyright: Thomas D.Gazis) (In 2004 the historical magazine "American Astrology" published an article of mine entitled "The Zodiacal Banquet". In that article I was explaining the function of the Zodiac as a Universal "software"! Actually every single entity and process (even a banquet) has to piously follow the "steps" of the twelve signs in order to come to existence and evolve properly. In this blog article I will show you how a typical love story unfolds according to the zodiac!)
The zodiac seems to be a sort of “primum mobile”, an archetypal entity valid not only to our terrestrial dimensions but to the whole Universe. We might consider it as a sort of Universal “software” which every process, situation and creature has to faithfully “run” in order to properly unfold and become functional. It comprises 12 fundamental “steps” (the known to us 12 signs). It begins by processing the most primeval stages of an entity or situation (the stages of Aries, Taurus, Gemini etc.). And gradually, sign by sign, it reaches ever more advanced and complex stages - till the whole process is completeded with the sign of Pisces. And as the zodiac permeates everything in the Universe, it shapes every single situation, even the ones we would never suspect so.

Think of a love story and consider it as a process in evolution, something that is born, matured and finally worn off and dissolved. Every love story has to run the “zodiacal software” in order to become a true love story and not a parody of it. Every affair has to faithfully follow the 12 “steps” (signs) of the zodiac, it has to pass one by one the 12 sign-stages - starting with Aries and ending with Pisces. If it misses just one then it will not unfold properly and will remain in a sort of suspended animation (think of the innumerable wannabe love stories that for various reasons remain suspended out there). Let us specifically see how a love story unfolds according to the zodiac:

- Stage one: The ARIES beginning - “A flock of sheep and a ram”

Let’s stage our love story on a central boulevard. People are coming up and down and among them a man and a woman (in the heterosexual version of the story) who do not know each other but actually bear what we call “chemistry”. They are walking opposite directions and suddenly they meet, they glance into each other’s eyes and… kaboom, they are electrocuted!
Let’s freeze this scene. At that very moment nobody else exists for those two, they become an «islet» among the river of people flowing around them. Out of the many men / women on the wide boulevard’s pavement they dramatically focus on each other - hermetically differentiating themselves from the rest of the casual passerby’s. Regardless the state of mind they were just a second ago, all of the sudden they are thrust onto a state of utter excitement! A sudden, intense differentiation occurs here, a dynamic burst of energy, a potential birth of a process (of a love story), the “beginning” of a possible something. All these are typically Aries traits.
Aries is a masculine sign. Masculine energies are explicitly stated, thus when men and a women get hooked in “electrocuting boulevard flings” the passerby's usually witness the "spark"...

- Stage two: The TAURUS stabilization phase - “Let me take a better look of you”

So, the two boulevard passerby’s feel an instant attraction for each other. But their meeting is casual and as such is not good enough for a love story to unfold. The two will probably be lost forever in the crowd after having intensely glanced each other - as they passed by. Some kind of “niche” must be provided for them, some kind of a lucky circumstance (i.e. her books falling down and him picking them up, like in the movies) or a “repetitive pattern” (that they daily meet, so finally one day they talk). A certain additional precondition is needed that will allow them to stay close for a while, experience their “chemistry” and reassure themselves that they definitely like each other, before they make a move.
Let’s suppose i.e. that the two - after been “thunderstruck” - are both directed to the same nearby café. The meeting in a café is far more promising to wannabe lovers than them simply coming across in the street. In the café the two should sit to almost adjacent tables, so that each one “explores” for a certain amount of time the other person (his/her features, his/her “aura”, the way s/he moves and acts, possibly his/her voice when ordering etc.) and concludes whether s/he really like him/her or not. This is a particular stage, corresponding to the cautious sign of Taurus: a person having to realize that s/he really and irrevocably “likes” something or somebody - and is not just momentarily thrilled by it - that this other person (or material) indeed suits him/her.
At this stage the two do not need to talk. You see, the Taurus stage is a feminine one, so the individuals might very well pretend here that they did not come to the café for each other’s sake (although they did in reality). To feminine “yin” stages things are not supposed to be explicitly stated.

- Stage three: The GEMINI communication phase - “Hello there! Are you coming often here?”

The two are silently sitting in nearby tables in the boulevard café “exploring” each other, so that they cast away any doubt they are excited about the wrong person. If they ever gain the certainty that they really like the other person then immediately a longing to talk to him/her overwhelms them. Thus, even with a trivial pretense, they address him/her and hopefully engage to a conversation (starting from ground zero, as they practically know nothing about each other). At this stage they crave to get as much information as they can for the other person, so that they fill the puzzle and comprehend what kind of person this attracting “stranger” is. Continuous questions and answers are usually taking place here, related to their “whereabouts”, to their lifestyle, preferences, habits etc. It also becomes obvious here how “sharp” each person is, how clever and witty (through the various innuendos and the “elaborated” lines they exchange, the verbal «teasing» between them etc.).
After having exchanged enough info, the two form in their minds a first raw idea about the other person and realize in general terms how much common ground they share with him/her - regarding their points of views, ideas, daily life routine etc. All these are Gemininian traits (communicating with somebody, exchanging info, getting to know a person on a rudimentary level). Gemini is a masculine sign, so things can be openly stated here.

- Stage four: The CANCER journey of intimacy - “What a warm eyes s/he has!”

As the two keep on their conversation they ever more realize that they share common points of view and bear an affinity. Thus, their initial fear of them being thrilled with the wrong person is cast away. At this stage someone usually invites the other to his/her table: “why don’t you join me”? This move actually marks the very first step of the journey of intimacy between the two individuals (Cancer is a cardinal sign, and cardinal signs do start pivotal phases). And as the one comes over and sits to the table of the other the individuals get closer not only by space but emotionally too, their inner worlds come close and have to be urgently dealt, either merge or collide.
In fact, distances are deceiving and a likeable stranger several meters away from us might not be equally likeable when s/he comes to our table - as we might like his/her Ascendant but not likewise his/her other astrology elements. Thus, as the two protagonists of our story get close they experience better their “vibrations” and look more clearly into each other’s eyes. The eyes are the doors of the soul, so by looking to the eyes of a person standing in front of you you actually “slip” into his/her soul, you travel through and meet his/her inner world, you start merging (or colliding) emotionally with him/her.

This stage, where the inner worlds, the souls of the two ex strangers have to dialogue and eventually connect, is a distinctively Cancerian one. If the individuals feel at this closer distance that the other person’s eyes and general "aura" are attractive then something new is born in them and a sudden surge of warmth takes over their souls. They both start - in a torrential manner - to exchange feelings and soul energies - through their eyes, their facial expressions, through the tenderness of their voice and general posture - longing to commune with the other person’s inner world and experience feelings at its greatest. And since Cancer is a feminine sign, this procedure is largely invisible to third parties.

Thomas D. Gazis

(If you wish to read the rest of this article please send me an E-mail: ifestion@gmail.com)

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Copyright: Thomas D. Gazis. If you wish to re-publish the article please contact the author at: ifestion@gmail.com

The astrological saga behind Strauss-Kahn's (IMF's head) alleged assault to a hotel maid!

2011-05-15T10:02:00.090+01:00

(An alternate title for this article could be: "How astrology "dictated" the self-undoing of an Ultra-Powerful man")

The first two signs of the zodiac - Aries and Taurus - are considered the most "bestial" of all, in the sense that they have extremely strong urges and drives and a very acute individualism. Don't get me wrong here, you might be an Aries or Taurus and not feel at all a "beast", as you might have other mitigating or even "sublimating" factors in your chart. Which apparently Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the illustrious head of the "International Monetary Fund", seems to lack! On Saturday 14 May 2011 he was arrested at JFK airport for allegedely assaulting sexually a hotel maid in New York! And this is not the only sexual assault allegation pending on Dominique Srauss-Kahn!

Let's take a look at Dominique's natal chart. He is a Taurus (his Sun is in the sign of Taurus) with a strong Aries emphasis (both his Moon and Mars are in the sign of Aries).

Although his Taurus Sun and his Leo Ascendant grant him the look of a cool person - in control of the situations - in reality he is very impulsive inside him (Moon and Mars in Aries). He is conditioned by an acute Ego and by his very strong, raw and uncontrollable urges (Pluto in his natal First House makes things even worse, giving him a very impulsive and aggressive sexuality). Plus, we shouldn't forget that the axis Taurus - Scorpio is the axis of sexuality in astrology, so definititly we have here a person who - in spite of his 62 years - has an insatiable appetite and unstoppable sexual drives!

But why such a prominent man reached to the point of allegedly assaulting a hotel maid in order to have sex? He has enough money and connections to invite in his hotel room the most expensive call girl - or girls - of New York and have endless sex with her/them! Why did this - genious otherwise - man resort to such a superficial and stupid action? Well, his natal chart and the Transits and Progressions over it can reveal us the "inside story"...

The alleged sexual assault to the maid occured when Jupiter was transiting on his natal Mars in Aries (and in his Ninth House - meaning "When abroad I am going to do whatever I want, cause I will have no consequences). Transiting Jupiter on his Mars bestows a sexual over-drive to an alreary over-sexed man.

Even more impressive is the fact of the transiting Uranus in a perfect (partile) conjunction to his Moon! Uranus is the planet of unconventionality, the "great liberator", the god Dionysus type of "Inebriator"! No doubt then that during this assault Dominique was in a kind of "trance", of "inebriation", feeling that his sexual drives should be very naturally accomodated by this hotel maid, as if the two were participating in a Dionysian orgy! On the other hand, transiting Pluto in a square aspect to his Moon has been scratching in the last 3-4 years "old wounds" in Dominique's soul, breeding in him a very murky, dark and revengeful disposition towards women!

Finally, what I consider the key theme to the whole story: in the last few years Strauss-Kahn's 12th House has ever more been activated by his progressed planets (with both his progressed Sun and Moon forming at the present - utterly humiliating to him - period an almost perfect square to his natal Moon - meaning among other things hardships through women-figures and a negative disposition of the people towards him). And as if this was not enough, his progressed Sun and Moon receive harsh aspects by transiting Pluto, Uranus and Saturn (the "trio" which is the culprit of the infamous Cardinal Climax delineation).

This "12th House - Outer planets harsh aspects" combined configuration is a "once in a lifetime thing", an extremely difficult and mega-"dissolving" configuration which Strauss-Kahn has never experienced before! And traditionally the 12th House is the House of "self-undoing", of "fall" and "disgrace". Impossible as it might seem, this omnipotent, extra-powerful person has been repeatedly confronted in the last few years by the subtle, invisible, psychological powers of the 12th House, by his own demons that is and apparently has been defeated by them, resorting - unconsciounsly - to the classic 12th House behavior of "self-undoing", of dissolving and demolishing (by himself - with no complete awareness of the fact) his "omnipotent" and acutely individualistic figure! If the "IMF's head" has indeed acted this way (even on an unconscious level), then there is hope for humanity...

Thomas Gazis

Neptune in Pisces - Our World turns Fabulous!

2011-04-04T20:55:00.028+01:00

A new kind of cosmic energy has been released upon us just a few hours ago, as planet Neptune entered Pisces! This is a momentous event because the sign of Pisces is the natural "domicile" of Neptune, meaning that in this sign Neptune finds a very fertile "soil", feels totally unhindered and stimulated and expresses its full potential!

It takes roughly 165 years for Neptune to run through the 12 signs of the zodiac. So, the previous time the same event occured (Neptune entered Pisces) the calendars were showing the year 1847! None of us was alive then so that s/he can tell the tale. And not only us but probably neither our great-great-grandfathers were alive back then. So, this Neptune in Pisces energy is totally new to our world. What I mean is that even Uranus' cycles are more familiar to us, as this planet runs through the whole zodiac in 84 years, almost in a three generations time span. So, probably we were not alive back in 1927 - the previous time Uranus had entered Aries - but a grandfather of ours might have narrated us the "spirit" of that period. But nobody has first-hand narrated us the Neptune in Pisces feeling. It is a distant and somehow alien feeling to us and we have to experience it "ex novo"...(by the way, the spirit of the last passage of Neptune in Pisces has been indelibly stamped by writer Victor Hugo in his mega-novel "Les Miserables" - which was written mostly under the spell of Neptune in Pisces)!

Neptune represents some very eerie situations, situations that almost make no sense in our practical, down to Earth, realistic world. It is one of the three "soul planets" (the other two being Moon and Pluto), so the "Soul" is its main domain. Additionally - being Venuses higher octave - Union is another of Neptune's concerns. But not the simple and often vulgar kind of union between a man and a woman. Neptune's "Union" is much more profound, wide and subtle.

To give you an example, it is the mystic kind of "Union" that the spectators of a very touching movie experience the very moment they exit the theater and "conspiratorially" look at each other! In spite of our differentiated appearances our souls actually know it - in their immense innate wisdom - that they are One, thus they ever crave for such a kind of "mystic Union" situations. Unfortunately in our Era we are dictated to become ever more consumistic and individualistic, to follow a lifestyle that offers us very few "mystic union" situations. But as our souls cannot be "dictated" by anyone, they are constantly longing for such situations - and this results to many people resorting to the one and only (actually artificial) "mystic Union" remedy which our lifestyle promotes, the often deadly drugs!

But why is this Neptunian "mystic Union" sensation so important after all? Because it lies at the very core of the Universal Love! If Uranus urges us to love our fellow humans as our brothers then Neptune urges us to love them as very parts of our-selves! And nobody can truly Love his/her fellow human unless s/he experiences first this sort of mystic Union with him/her! Compassion is largely made out of this "knowledge" too.

So, with Neptune in Pisces we human beings will become more "United", we will start loving more profoundly our fellow humans. But since Neptune in Pisces will somehow "de-materialize" our world (probably bringing forth massives shortages of goods), I have the suspicion that a huge wave of poverty will spread across our planet in the next 15 years (till 2026, when Neptune will leave Pisces). And under poverty people indeed unite their souls more readily.

By being though too much "united", "too close to each other" we run another Neptunian risk: the God of the oceans in the sign of Pisces might trigger in the next 16 years major epidemics world-wide! In any case new institutions and charities will be established in order to help the sick and weary. The watery element will become ever more prominent now, either through torrential rains, inundations, tsunami's or out of the mortal lack of it! In addition, we will discover some new "magic" properties of the water!

With Neptune in Pisces life will taste more like a Fairy-tale, as we will start perceiving certain new and "fabulous" dimensions of it! This does not mean that we will be constantly happy. On the contrary, traits like melancholy, sorrow, martyrdom will become more apparent and even fashionable in our societies. The fact is that Romantic Love will take its revenge now. The "what is your name again?" over-sexed previous era will become somehow "passe"! Improbable as it seems, some people might even start singing serenades under their beloved person's balcony, like in the old times.

The crucial "membrane" seperating our limited "reality" from the "Invisible" and the vast Cosmos will become much thinner now and all sorts of weird concepts, energies, even "entities" will penetrate our world. Angels, "angelic therapies", "psychic sessions", rituals to communicate with the "other dimensions" will become extremely fashionable. Escapism too. Some new and very fascinating visual means and arts will be invented...

Thomas Gazis

The "Polarization Effect" in Psychological Astrology

2011-03-30T11:30:00.014+01:00

The "Polarization Effect" is a particular pattern in the chart that although is crucial it goes largely unnoticed by the astrologers. I have been studying this pattern for many years, in my consultations and Psychological Astrology courses. Actually, I had published this article 3 years ago but lately some new evidence came to my hands so I think it worths re-publishing it.

It all started some 20 years ago, with a client I was about to receive. All his personal planets were forming a stellium in Leo and his Moon was in Aries, so I was anticipating a person with a brilliant, strong, self asserting personality. When the door bell rang, I was expecting to see a sort of "Alexander the Great" stepping into my office! And in fact he had the "Al Pacino" type of face (distinct, with "angles"). To my utter amazement though, I realized as the consultation was going on that he was rather insecure and fragile! Surely he was receiving by then some hard planetary aspects, but by no means were these aspects that disruptive to justify his actual state. His case puzzled me profoundly and when he left I immediately started analyzing his chart again, trying to figure out where I was wrong - as the reality of my coustomer did not match his chart. When it suddenly hit me! All his Leo planets were in his Eleventh House and his Aries Lunar energy in his Seventh House! His strong Leonian energies were struggling to cope with the absolutely opposite Aquarian - Eleventh House ones (and his Aries energies the ones of his Seventh House). His everyday reality is somehow contrasting the very Universal archetypes in him! Thus, a huge amount of his abundant fiery energies is consumed and “dissipated”, as this person is constantly struggling to bridge in himself two very different, opposed worlds!

You can read the whole article here

Thomas Gazis

The people dethroning their dictators: Jupiter - Uranus square Pluto

2011-02-28T21:59:00.033Z

(photo from Canada com)
We have been witnessing recently some unique historical events! In a domino effect, one after the other the people of Northern Africa and Middle East are massively revolting against the oppressive regimes that were ruling their countries for entire decades, reaching to the point of even dethroning their ex omnipotent dictators!

These are unique political events, of unprecendented proportions! What is the momentous astrological event that triggered them? Well, actually it is a whole series of astrological events, a true chain reaction! First of all planet Pluto in Capricorn. As I had written back in 2008 in my relative article Pluto in Capricorn the various oppressive regimes would become now even more so, chalenging the tolerance of their people. I quote verbatim: "The creative side of Pluto is that he destroys whatever is old, worn, "sick", with no strength in it and regenerates it under a new, vibrant, healthy form! At the same time, Pluto is the planet of the "masses", of the ordinary people when they act en masse! Thus, a basic scenario is that we are now entering a phase where politics, the governments will change their structure in depth, they will completely regenerate! At the same time, the everyday people, the masses, will start exerting a more direct and dynamic influence on the governments - especially if they are not democratic!"

Apart Pluto in Capricorn, an enormous revolutionary potential is unleashed by Jupiter in Aries conjunct Uranus in the last degrees of Pisces - Uranus entering soon in Aries, too. As I had written in my June 2010 blog post Jupiter - Uranus in Aries the planets Jupiter and Uranus hovering over the Vernal point would trigger the dynamic manifestation of a new brave and awaken individual, a "rebel with a cause"! Additionally, a very decisive factor is the square aspect formed between Jupiter - Uranus on the Vernal point and Pluto in Capricorn. This particular configuration has precisely occured only once more in the last 2000 years, in 1762 - a few years before the two unique in history French and American revolutions! Not to mention the fact that the uprisings took place mainly during the Sun's transit in the revolutionary sign of Aquarius!

So, these events constitute the exterior manifestation of some deeper processes occuring now in the collective. They are somehow the product of a gigantic clash between the "sharp Aries need for self-expression, individuation and liberty" and the dark Pluto in Capricorn "phobic need for totalitarian control". Thus, the astrological analysis is giving us a deeper understanding of all these uprisings, which might prove to be just the beginning of a bigger proccess and possibly breed in the near future some major revolution, like the ones of 1776 and 1789!

Thomas Gazis

Pluto in Capricorn

2011-01-31T11:28:00.024Z

(Photo: AFP)

(Thomas Gazis note: back in 2008, a couple of days before Pluto moved to Capricorn, I published this article in Greek - and then I somehow forgot it. Then, recently I noticed that many of the things predicted in the article had already happened in real life - as the years were passing by! Here is the article translated in English...)

An extremely important astrological event will occur on 26 January 2008 (at exactly 4:37:13 am, GMT). Planet Pluto will change its zodiacal position, leaving behind the sign of Sagittarius and entering Capricorn (where it will stay for about 17 years, till 2024)! This change is extremely important for the following reasons:

1) Both the sign of Capricorn and the planet Pluto are considered in astrology as elements of "strain". They do provide maturity and integration to people, but mainly through hardships.

2) Pluto is in itself a very powerful planet (for us astrologers still remains a planet). It is actually a planet that affects strongly the masses, the "collective unconscious", the economy, the global energy stocks. Moreover, he often triggers massive fatal events. Capricorn, on the other hand, is a pivotal zodiacal sign, as it stands at the top of the axis of the "Cardinal Cross" signs! Capricorn is rigid and Pluto extremely powerful! The meeting of these two astrological energies is expected to breed strong and decisive events, events which will change the course of humanity in the next 17 years and lead it into a whole new direction (when the signs of the "Cardinal Cross" are strongly activated they release huge amounts of energy which on their turn thrust humanity into new directions)!

3) The last time in history that the same thing happened (Pluto entered Capricorn) was in 1762 - whole 246 years ago! And Pluto stayed in Capricorn till 1778. This was a particularly critical period in the history of mankind. The United States declared their independence (initiating thus the countdown to the collapse of the all-mighty till then British Empire)! At the same time, the collapse of the Ottoman Empire occured! It is likely, therefore, to witness the collapse of an empire within the next 17 years !

4) This zodiacal shift is especially important to Greece, as this country is "born" under the sign of Capricorn (see my relative article The natal chart of modern Greece). Therefore, some very relevant events are expected to happen especially in Greece in the next 17 years, that will propel this country into a new, radically different direction!

Thus, what I write here applies to all humanity but in a particular way to Greece!

First of all, the sign of Capricorn represents astrologically all social and political "institutions". All the commonly accepted - that is - systems of management and governance in our society, countries etc. At the apex of such pyramid lie the governments themselves and the people who staff them, the "rulers", the administrative and repressive mechanisms etc.

With the entrance now of Pluto in Capricorn all the above mentioned institutions will become more "plutonic"! I will explain you right away what I mean! First though we should stress the fact that each planet has 2 sides, the creative and destructive one! The creative side of Pluto is that he destroys whatever is old, worn, "sick", with no strength in it and regenerates it under a new, vibrant, healthy form! At the same time, Pluto is the planet of the "masses", of the ordinary people when they act en masse! Thus, a basic scenario is that we are now entering a phase where politics, the governments will change their structure in depth, they will completely regenerate! At the same time, the everyday people, the masses, will start exerting a more direct and dynamic influence on the governments - especially if they are not democratic!

(You may read the rest of the article here )

First historical evidence on Alexander's the Great Horoscope!

2011-01-25T11:49:00.017Z

Alexander the Great is probably the biggest "Superstar" that ever existed on planet Earth! It is a non mythical - but flesh and blood - figure that has for entire millennia been fascinating millions of people all over the world! Still, to the disappointment of the astrologers, never a horoscope of this brilliant personality has ever been found. And we are very sure that astrologers DID erect Alexander's chart (or at least studied the positions of his birth planets) because Alexander lived his whole (actually short) adult life in Mesopotamia, in the very historical source of astrology! When Alexander the Great invaded this area and conquered Mesopotamia astrology was already considered a millennial tradition there, applied especially to kings! So, how comes we have never retrieved some cuneiform tablet with Alexander's the Great horoscope on it? The fact is that there are hundreds of thousands of cuneiform tablets in various museums etc. and very few people able to read them! So, it will take centuries before we decipher all of them....

Since the '90's I have been personally conducting a research on Alexander's the Great horoscope. And I came up with a plausible date and time for Alexander's birth (please see my relative article here). I was suggesting that he were a Leo, with a Leo Ascendant too! And then to my amazement, a few months ago, as I was reading a Byzantine astrologer's text of the 11th century (George Kamateros) I saw the next line (first in Greek and then in English):

"Ο δεύτερος δεκανός (του Λέοντος) γεννήσει Αλεξάνδρου του κτίστου και Μακέδονος υπήρχεν ωροσκόπος"

"The second decan of Leo was the Ascendant of Alexander's the Macedonian nativity"!

As far as I know, this is the first ever historical evidence on Alexander's the Great horoscope! Of course you might consider - with all good reason -such a piece of information coming from a Byzantine astrologer born 13 whole centuries after Alexander not very reliable. But George Kamateros has been otherwise a reliable source. And he has to be considered a very special source too, because Byzantine literature is somehow a continuation of the Hellenistic one. At least, Byzantines preserved the hellenistic literature (just think of the many CCAG astrological volumes). I have personally studied many Alexander's the Great forged horoscopes (Gadbury's and Argoli's been the most famous). But these horoscopes apart from the fact that they smell "forgery" they were created by people disconnected from the hellenistic civilization. Kamateros on the other hand had a direct acces to illustrious hellenistic astrologers such as Ptolemy, Hephaestion, Maximus and Rhetorius (the last two been more Byzantine than hellenistic astrologers). Thus, I consider reliable this Kamateros' precious piece of information on Alexander's Ascendant.

Maybe the day is not very far away when we will stumble upon the original horoscope (maybe of a clay tablet form) of this unique, ultra-brilliant human being!

Thomas Gazis

Is Ophiuchus the 13th zodiacal sign?

2011-01-14T13:25:00.015Z

The issue of Ophiucus - the so called 13th zodiacal sign - has surfaced again in the media. Ophiuchus actually is a CONSTELLATION, not a zodiacal sign. There is a huge difference between the two! And ultimately this is the whole gist of the matter...

A brief but lucid explanation of the difference between a constellation and a "sign" is given by the american astronomer - and professor at the University of Illinois - James B. Kaler, who in his book "Astronomy" (Harper Collins College Publishers) he is writing:

"There is an important distinction to be made between the astrological signs of the zodiac and the astronomical constellations of the zodiac. The constellations are real star-groups that can be seen on any clear night. The signs are symbolic concepts that are locked to the vernal equinox."

So, Ophiuchus IS NOT a zodiacal sign but a zodiacal constellation! The two ARE NOT the same. The confusion stems out of the fact that the twelve zodiacal SIGNS bear the same names as the twelve CONSTELLATIONS. But that's where their similarities end. They have nothing else in common.

A CONSTELLATION is something visible and tangible while a zodiacal SIGN is not. The signs are absolutely invisible! We have to think of them as 12 equal divisions of the space around Earth. We do not know much about them and they actually constitute a mystery to us. To get a hint on their nature we have to resort to one of the greatest astrologers - philosophers of all times, Dane Rudhyar! He is writing on the zodiac (which is actually composed of the 12 signs):

"The zodiac is what astrologers-scientists call the "magnetic field" of the Earth, what occultists call the "aura of the Earth", or the auric egg of the planetary Being...It is a sort of electrical envelope within which the Earth rotates...".

So, it is relatively easy to debunk Ophichus as the 13th zodiacal sign. The zodiacal signs have always been and will always remain 12! But under all this Ophiuchus issue lies a deeper question: WHAT A ZODIACAL SIGN REALLY IS? We still don't know! Zodiacal signs constitute one of humanities greatest mysteries! They really exist, we have ascertained them, even measured every single property of theirs! We have never seen them or touched them, though. They simply transcend our senses and current perceptions.

The grim to Europe Solar Eclipse of the 4th January 2011 - The enemy within!

2010-12-27T08:41:00.032Z

The partial Solar Eclipse of the 4 January affects mainly Europe, as its "path" passes over the western part of the old continent. It affects directly Portugal, Spain, France, England, Germany, Belgium, Denmark and goes further up, to the Skandinavians. In all these countries early in the morning the Sun's disk will be largely dimmed by the Moon. Eastern Europe and the Balkans are a little bit off the Eslipse's path (in Greece for example just the 65% of the Sun will be covered by the Moon. But on the other hand Greece is ruled by the sign of Capricorn, so it somehow partakes to this eclipse).

In any case we have here an intense Solar Eclipse. The Sun and the Moon are "comprised" between Mars and Pluto, forming wide conjunctions to both! Additionally, planet Saturn squares the Eclipse itself (the Sun and the Moon, that is). Not to mention the hard T-square formed by Saturn, Mars and Eris which brings to confrontation some very rigid, strong and fatal energies! And things get worse if we take in consideration the fact that this Eclipse takes place - to most western European countries - in the 12th House (which to Manilius is "a temple of ill omen, hostile to future activity and all too fruitful of bane")! If we take all these in consideration then we come to the conclusion that the 4th January Solar Eclipse portends some further hardships for the European economy, as the western European countries have reached at a point where they are confronting each other in order to escape the grip of the actual crisis - having arrived on the very verge of disintegrating as European Union! It also portends harsh meteorological conditons, geophysical phenomena and social upheaval. We should not exclude events of disastrous proportions!

P.S. Please read as well Dunyazade's comment below, because it offers us an additional hint: that something hidden might have been "cooked up" during this Solar Eclipse of the 4th January 2011 by the western European powers, a hidden agenda that would surface on the occasion of some major subsequent astrological event. Well, around the Spring Equinox (March 21st) of 2011 most of the European countries crossed by this January's 4th 2011 Eclipse path launched a huge air raid against Libya!

Thomas Gazis

Jupiter and Uranus conjunct at the end of the zodiac: a confused, decaying world!

2010-12-07T15:31:00.019Z

The zodiac represents a cyclical process (which on a higher level is actually spiral). It has a specific "Begining" (the zero Aries "gama" point) and a specific "End" (the last degrees of Pisces). We are actually experiencing a particular astrological phenomenon now. The two planets mostly associated in astrology with the world of ideas, with liberty, with the expansion of the human consciousness and awareness (Jupiter and Uranus) are both transiting now in the last degrees of Pisces (the very last degrees of the Zodiac, that is). Thus, these 2 planets - forming a conjunction - are actually closing now a major historical cycle and are heralding an important message, which we should try to understand.

The last time Jupiter and Uranus were in approximately the same position (both in the last degrees of Pisces, having turned direct after their retrogradation and ready to re-enter Aries) it was at the end of the year 1927 - begining of 1928. That period actually stands right on the verge between the carefree "roaring twenties" and the 1929 financial crash, which ushered the Western World into the 30's Depression and the subsequent World War II!

Thus, we actually have two corroborations of the fact that we stand now on the very verge of two different "epochs". The first has been sufficiently analyzed, it is the Cardinal Climax (the T-square) which has already ushered us into a new 30's kind of depression. But with the late Pisces conjunction of Jupiter and Uranus (which previously occured in the 1927 - 1928 period) here comes a second corroboration! On those years people were living as well on the crest of an unprecedented technological progress and financial prosperity, they were "wild party animals" while the women were very much liberated (the so called "flappers" according to Wikipedia: "Flapper" in the 1920s was a term applied to a "new breed" of young Western women who wore short skirts, bobbed their hair, listened to jazz and flaunted their disdain for what was then considered acceptable behavior. Flappers were seen as brash for wearing excessive makeup, drinking, treating sex in a casual manner, driving automobiles and otherwise flouting social and sexual norms").

So, nothing new under the Sun. We are going again through a "party ending" period, similar to the one of the 1927 - 1928 period, with its own intricacies though. People have lost their faith in "the religious God" and become somehow delusional as they desperately try to fill the void and substitute their traditional religious systems with new kinds of faith. As "Sue-Astro" pointed out on my Facebook page, we are now living in a rather crazy period where people are having their own private Angels and are "talking" with God, where the so called scientists - who never make accurate predictions - claim to know everything else.

It seems there has been nothing left to "believe in" anymore. Politics and politicians have been totally discredit in our societies, as Uranus moves to the last and most "anaretic" degrees of the zodiac.We are dazed, disoriented, confused as we don't really undesrstand what's going on, as we have nowhere to "lean on" - like in the good old times. And as we stand here, at this "last degrees of the zodiac" point, we have now to process and distill all the data of an historical cycle that has reached its end (the 1927 - 2010 one). From the begining of 2011 though (when Jupiter and Uranus will definitely move to Aries) some very dynamic events will impact our societies and a new cycle for humanity will start. Our consciousness will shift then onto higher grounds, somehow reminiscent of the '30's but actually very new and fresh to us!

Thomas Gazis

Capricornian Greece: 1 out of 4 is a civil servant!

2010-12-02T11:54:00.012Z

(image: from a video by the "Imi-skoubria" group)
Modern Greece is a Capricornian country (please see my relative article here). A Capricornian country should have a typically rigid and overgrown - "Kafka" type - public sector. And indeed Greece has one. Out of a population of 11.000.000 an estimated 1.250.000 are civil servants! If we compare this number to the number of civil servants in some major European countries - like i.e. France, where out of 65.000.000 inhabitants only 1.680.000 are civil servants - then we will realise how over-inflated is the public sector in Greece.

Almost every Greek family has its own civil servant member. In a rather poor and risky economy like the Greek one, becoming a civil servant has been the best career option! Civil servants enjoy the famous "lifetime permanency" and their wages are twice or even thrice times higher than the ones of the people working freelance. And although there are so many civil servants in Greece the services offered by them to the citizens range from mediocre to awkward! Long queues are formed in front of the "functioning" windows (as many of them are closed, because the corresponding servants are on a vague duration's leave) and people are used to loose a couple of hours just to get a simple certification. The beauraucracy is really excessive and it often becomes hilarious. The number one "silent rule" among the servants is "don't work too much, because those who do are spoiling our "market"" (they develop among them a misconceived sense of solidarity).

Permeated by the above elements, civil servancy has become in Greece a sort of "establishment". The very civil servants have "mutated" into creatures whose primary concern is not to serve the citizens but to feed the "establishment" (how Capricornian is that), drawing at the same time benefits for themselves (bribing is rampant). And there is a "guilty client relationship" of the civil servants to the politicans. Usually, they have obtained their civil servant's privileged post by exploiting their political connections but in return they have to vote for the politician who has intermediated.

The astrological chart of Alexander the Great

2010-09-08T14:21:00.047+01:00

What is it that makes Alexander the Great such a unique figure in world history? Why out of so many legendary conquerors he apparently holds the most prestigious place? The obvious answer would be: because he accomplished marvelous deeds, such as no other human being has ever accomplished! At age 20 he became king of Macedonia1. Under his command he led an army of 30.000 men to the ends of the then known world, into exotic and dangerous lands conquering every single one of them! Side by side with his soldiers, he fought more than one hundred battles almost never losing one! He created an empire 40 times bigger than the one he inherited - actually he formed the greatest empire ever formed by a single individual! And finally he died at the zenith of his glory not having completed the 33rd year of his life.

But apart his marvelous deeds, there is something more to Alexander. Some very unusual charisma seems to ever emanate out of this unique personality, a charisma which we can still feel today, 2300 years after! Actually, there are so many heroic and - at the same time - tragic archetypes enacted in Alexander’s saga that we tend to transform this man into a mythical figure, into a sort of Achilles! But while Achilles is probably no more than a “cartoon” Alexander has been a real person, a “flesh and blood” one like us! I think that Alexander has been somehow transmuted in our collective unconscious into some kind of martyr, into a martyr of the human race! He was young, handsome, strong, charismatic and audacious, but still he was a mortal like us. Thus, he became a representative of our race who surpassed the threshold of human dimensions and almost reached divine domains, a man who dared to confront himself with the divine and perhaps for this reason perished.

For all of us dealing with astrology it would be obvious to ask whether the astrological chart of Alexander the Great has been preserved. Could there be, for example, any archaeological finds in Macedonia, in the fatherland of Alexander the Great, related to his horoscope? The fact is that neither in Macedonia nor in any other part of Greece have elements of that period (even remotely alluding to astrology) ever been found. Personally, I have meticulously observed hundreds and hundreds of ancient statues, urns, stelae, coins etc. - while in the same time I have read or browsed the works of hundreds of classical philosophers, dramatists, comedians etc. - and in none of them have I encountered astrological symbols or even a single word explicitly related to astrology! I am convinced that until the end of the fourth century B.C.E. astrology was not rife in Classical Greece (although it was more so in Archaic Greece, as I have suggested in another article). This astrology vacuum is rather inexplicable, because Greece lies rather close to the Middle East and to Mesopotamia, to the cradle of western astrology that is!

However, all this changed by the end of the fourth century B.C.E. due to an extraordinary event, an event that turned out to be very significant in the history of astrology: the expedition, primarily martial but to some extent also cultural, of Alexander the Great into Asia and particularly into Mesopotamia, the cradle of astrology. I should emphasize here that Alexander, being the child of a priestess and the spiritual child of the philosopher Aristotle, was not interested just in conquering nations but also in learning their culture. In point of fact, his army comprised many Greek scientists (geographers, historians, botanists, astronomers, philosophers etc.). His fervent wish was to explore, conquer and then UNITE all the people, all the countries, all the known then world! Alexander was intelligent enough to know that if he were to succeed in his cause he had to demonstrate tolerance towards the religion and the culture of each country and allow the free flow of ideas in his empire.

So, by the time Alexander’s army entered victoriously into the city of Babylon, astrology (in its non - horoscopic form) had reached full growth in Mesopotamia. The Greeks took an immediate interest in astrology. They somehow became heirs of the vast astrological notions accumulated throughout the centuries between the two great rivers. With their philosophical and inventive minds they revised those notions, they applied mathematical and geometrical principles to them and finally transformed the Mesopotamian astrology into the horoscopic astrology we know today. And it all started with Alexander the Great! Of course the promotion of astrology was not his main priority when he campaigned against the Persians in the Middle East. However, as far as we know astrology was not contrary to his beliefs.

Alexander was initiated in various mysteries so he probably had some knowledge of astrology. And as he was mostly following the local traditions he must have had astrologers in his court (the Persian kings before him habitually kept royal astrologers in the palace). Actually, we have some very tangible testimonies on Alexander’s belief in astrology, coming out not just from one but from three different sources (Plutarch, Arrian and Diodorus Siculus). Diodorus is the most descriptive of all:

“When Alexander was about to enter Babylon, the so called Chaldeans came to meet him. These Chaldeans gained much fame and glory through astrology, as they could predict - by the means of their age long observation of the stars - the future events! And the Chaldeans predicted the death of the king in Babylon”2. Now, as all historians account, Alexander took very seriously into consideration this prediction, as if he really believed in astrology! Thus, I am fairly sure that he kept astrologers in his court, astrologers which cast the “chart” of Alexander and consequently passed on his planetary positions to other astrologers too. The astrological identity of this supreme blonde conqueror that came from the west must have been a matter of prime interest among the Babylonian - Persian astrologers of the time. However, to date no “Alexander’s Perso- Babylonian chart” has been found.

The fake Alexander’s charts and the quest for his true birth date

Not having in our disposition a "first hand" chart of Alexander the Great we must necessarily turn our attention to any available "second hand" ones. Two such alleged Alexander’s charts were published in the 17th century. The first one was cast in 1652 by the Italian Andrea Argolo (the so-called "little Ptolemy"). On it we can read: "Genitura Alexandri Magni, 12 Augusti 355 Anno Christum, 16:40 P.M.". From the very first moment I laid my eyes on this chart I fervently sought to verify the planetary positions displayed on it. As soon as I found the means to do so, I noticed that the planetary positions in this chart are generally correct (there is only a deviation in the zodiac positions of the Moon and Mercury). This however cannot be the genuine chart of Alexander, because we are quite sure that he was born in 356 B.C.E. and not in 355 B.C.E..

You may read the full article here

Thomas D. Gazis

The shenanigans of the greek astrological community - and the Thomas Gazis "dismissal"

2010-09-02T18:03:00.015+01:00

(by Thomas Gazis)

Prominent Greek painter "Tsarouchis" once said: "In modern Greece you are (professionally, socially) whatever you claim to be". Laws are rather loosly applied in my country. Combine this with the fact that Greece is the poorest country in Western Europe - going now through a huge crisis - and with the fact that astrology renders VERY WELL in Greece - twice to thrice the average wages and in several cases 5 - 10 times the average wages!) then you will realize why so many crafty people claim today TO BE ASTROLOGERS in Greece! Thus, a huge circuit of lucrative, uncultured "astrologers" is dominating the scene, putting aside, marginalizing, calumniating and even intimidating the (actually few) cultured Astrologers (who are seen as a major threat to these people's' interests). Needless to say that in Greece there is no Astrological Federation (how convenient to the self-proclaimed "astrologers")! You may read below how the Greek lucrative astrological circuit devised a particular plot in order to silence my "annoying" voice - as I have been for many years fervently professing a cultured astrology in modern Greece:

It all began on the 15th of May 2009, when for the first time in modern Greek history 32 astrologers (and "astrologers" as you will see) gathered in Athens in order to discuss the establishment of a formal association of Greek astrologers (still in 2010 we don't have one). True astrology, the cultured one is almost nonexistent in Greece and the scene is completely dominated by lucrative "astrologers" - see also the article 'Why has quality astrology declined. The Greek grim case" here.

Personally, I have been working for the promotion of cultured astrology in Greece since the early 90's, while I have been always stressing to my Greek fellow astrologers the need to create an astrological association (I have written hundreds of relative articles on the Internet). So I was glad when I received a phone call from my former student Evita Zachariadou who announced me that with some other astrologers they had organized this special meeting. I went to it experiencing a strong heartbeat, as if I were a young boy in love. I was thinking that the dream was about to become true, as the Greek astrologers were finally meeting and beginning procedures in order to establish - at last - an astrological federation.

You may read the rest here

30 July 2010 : a cosmic trigger is pulled!

2010-07-28T23:06:00.013+01:00

A cosmic trigger is about to be pulled on next Friday 30 July, as planet Mars enters the sign of Libra. This is the high point the entire astrological community was talking about for many months. Already the T-square pattern between Saturn, Pluto and Uranus is quite explosive and portends extreme and violent events. Now that the explosive planet Mars enters too the scene (forming a conjunction with Saturn, a square aspect to Pluto and an opposition to Uranus and to Jupiter) there will be accumulated so extreme and violent energies that if reflected upon Earth (and astrology assures us that they will be reflected) they will produce extreme and violent events.

On next Friday the Moon too will trigger the T-Square - as it enters the bellicose sign of Aries - activating further the T-square. All in all, we are talking about an extreme activation of this infamous T-Square. Definitely such an extreme and unusual celestial phenomenon will unleash extreme and unusual forces down here on Earth! Some titanic "explosion" will occur (of the society, of the human consciousness, of a volcano, of some tectonic plates, of some major accident? Even an international conflict is not to be excluded).

P.S. Usually the effects of an astrological configuration do not manifest on the very day the configuration takes place but a few days before or after (depending on its interaction with previous eclipses etc.). Greece is particularly tergeted by this Mars T-square climax (Greece's Moon is on the 1st degree of Libra, while its Uranus and Neptune are on the first degrees of Capricorn).

Eclipses and earthquakes

2010-07-11T23:17:00.010+01:00

I am writing this text almost at the very moment a Solar Eclipse is taking place on the sky (the one of the 11th July 2010). Since the ancient years Solar Eclipses are related by the astrologers to earthquakes. A couple of years ago I was reading a book on Byzantine literature. In that book I discovered a passage where the author was quoting the words of a Byzantine monk, who on the border of his psalter had written by hand the next: "Today a strong earthquake shook our monastery. A few days ago a solar eclipse took place on the sky"!

So, already from the middle-ages (and way back, from ancient times) people were relating the Solar Eclipses to earthquakes. I personally witnessed the major Solar Eclipse of August 1999 in the city of Athens - Greece (the last visible Solar eclipse in Greece, for many years to come). This eclipse fell almost on the MC of Athens - with this ancient city being on this eclipse's "path". Exactly a Lunar cycle after this spectacular eclipse (both during the Eclipse and the earthquake the Moon was in Leo)a strong earthquake shook Athens (considered till then a low risk area for earthquakes) leaving some 140 victims!

So, there are many critical days in front of us, particularly as we have the infamous T-square on our skies and also taking in consideration the fact that soon Saturn and consequently Mars will trigger even more this omnipotent T-square!

June 2010: living an extraordinary "Indian" summer!

2010-06-21T19:27:00.024+01:00

(artist: Jacek Yerka)
Two important events occured today, 21st June 2010. The Sun entered the cardinal sign of Cancer. At the same time, today is the "Summer Solstice", when we have the longer day of the year! From tomorrow on the days will get shorter and shorter...

But these two events are rather secondary in front of some other historical configurations taking place in the next few days. As the Sun moves in the initial degrees of Cancer it will form first a harsh square aspect to Uranus (in Aries), then to Jupiter (in Aries) and finally an opposition to Pluto (in Capricorn). Not to mention that the Sun has already been forming a square aspect to Saturn. All these planetary aspects together are forming a very rare and harsh configuration! And as if this wasn't enough, on the 26 of June a numinous Lunar Eclipse will take place above our heads.

Probably you already know about the notorious "T-Square" configuration (between Pluto, Uranus and Saturn) that dominates our skies in the last months. This "T-Square" is already VERY explosive on its own right. But now the Lunar Eclipse of the 26th of June is going to over-energize it! And as the Sun on the day of the Eclipse will be on the 4th degree of Cancer, perfectly opposing Pluto (on the 4th degree of Capricorn) and simultaneously forming harsh square aspects to Jupiter and Uranus in the first degrees of Aries and to Saturn (about to enter in Libra) a characteristic "Grand Cross" configuration will form on the sky on the very day of the Eclipse! This particular configuration is rather rare in the history of humankind and astrologically is expected to unleash titanic energies!

Planet Pluto will be central to this Eclipse (you can see it in partile conjunction to the Eclipse's Moon). We might say that this is a "T-square" eclipse (by no way a placid one) but at the same time it will be a Plutonian eclipse, meaning that it will unleash hidden and subterranean powers, it will bring turmoil to the economy and will forcefully impose to us issues of death and survival. On a higher level though, Pluto is the planet of the transformation of the human consciousness, the planet of "regeneration". Let us meditate together, hand in hand and thus bring forth the higher vibrations of Pluto and of the imminent T-Square Eclipse!

P.S. Greece is particularly "attuned" to this Plutonian Eclipse, as it forms harsh aspects to its Moon (its people, its masses) in the first degrees of Libra and to its characteristic Uranus - Neptune conjunction in the first degrees of Capricorn (Pluto and the eclipse are challenging now the whole social and political structure of modern Greece. It has to "die" and regenerate)!

The Sun is turning violent as the T-square climaxes!

2010-06-10T10:25:00.009+01:00

The period we are living in is extra-ordinary - astrologically speaking. Rare planetary delineations have been formed on the sky attracting rare events in our lives. In the previous years the Sun was unusually quiet. In fact, very few solar "spots" were formed on its surface. But now, in a strange synchronicity with the infamous Cardinal T-square configuration - that reached its peak just a few days ago, as both Uranus and Jupiter moved to the first degrees of Aries - the Sun is turning increasingly violent and - according to scientists - huge Solar storms are expected to hit Earth in the next couple of years, paralyzing our satellites, global communications, internet, cell phones, GPS's and even endagering our lives (we will receive higher than usual radio-activity, especially if we travel many hours by plane).

I recall a theory by a scientist claiming that the planets can strongly influence the Sun when forming particular angular configurations among them! It seems that this theory comes true, as all the exterior planets (from Jupiter on, except Neptune) are now forming harsh aspects among them, an event that can be considered quite rare! But the more uncommon an astrological delineation is the more unusual, exceptional and extreme events it produces!

Jupiter - Uranus in Aries: the rise of the new "Brave and Illuminated Individual"!

2010-06-06T11:45:00.029+01:00

(frontcover: Aldous Huxley "Brave New World" - Penguin books)
The rare conjunction of Jupiter and Uranus in the very first degree of Aries means the birth of the "brave new individual", an illuminated, audacious, clear cut individual - in contrast to the confused, discouraged and conditioned by society/ lifestyle/ consumerism/ social companies or even "cliques" individual of the previous Piscean "era". An individual that will become "rebel with a cause"!

Actually, a whole "era" has ended now as both Jupiter and Uranus left Pisces (the last stage of the previous "dynamic" zodiacal cycle) and entered Aries. As both these illuminating planets are now in the very first degree of Aries they herald a brave new "era". In fact, for the next thousand years Jupiter and Uranus will never meet again in exactly this "big starter" gamma point (zero Aries). So, you realize how significant this configuration is and what a dramatic energies are released by it (taking also in consideration Pluto's and Saturn's adverse aspects to this configuration).

We are just stepping on the threshold of a dramatic new Era! A new consciousness is opening up for humankind! A new kind of individual is emerging, an individual more aware of his role both on a personal and collective level, an awaken individual, not afraid to claim what is due to him/her - and this time not as a faceless and spineless consumer but as a unique and magnificent Human Being - created on the image of God!

We are about to experience the unleash of tremendous energies and spectacular technological and scientific breakthroughs. Last time Jupiter and Uranus were conjuct in the first degree of a significant point of the zodiac the calendar was reading the year 1969 and a whole "block of flats" was catapulted onto space - thanks to a tremendous technology and an amazing thrusting power - (July 1969, Saturn 5 headed towards the Moon. Jupiter and Uranus conjunct in the first degree of Libra on the 20th of July 1969, the very moment when human beings were stepping and walking for the first time ever on the Moon).

Thomas Gazis

Uranus in Aries - Astrology's rising

2010-05-30T13:06:00.024+01:00

Uranus has just entered Aries!

The list of issues that the electrical and unconventional planet Uranus impetously brings forth (as it moves into the sign of Aries, the big "starter" of the zodiac) is long and diverse. Top issue to us, lovers of astrology, is Astrology itself (which actually is under the auspices of the planet Uranus)! I am deliberately writing the word Astrology with a capital "A" because in recent years Astrology worldwide was somehow reduced to "astrology". The presence of Uranus into the murky waters of Pisces allowed any kind of divination art (cards, Tarot, coffee) which was "astrology like" to be considered as "astrology" by the public. Consequently, many crafty people entered the field pretending to be "astrologers" without possessing even an elementary astrological education!

However, the clean cut, sharply differentiating energies of Aries, a zodiac sign for which the determination of the inherent identity of any given thing or person is quintessential, will change the rules of the game and will bring forth an impetuous reform of astrology!

Aries is actually the sign separating the "wheat from the chaff". Thus, with Uranus in Aries astrology's immaculate body will rouse out of the various parasites and "weeds" that were choking it! The crafty and unscrupulous people who were taking advantage of astrology will be identified as such! True Astrology will dynamically spring out and flourish, as people will realize now how authentic it is and what a huge potential it carries within it for our personal development and growth. A great new cycle is about to begin for this celestial art!

On the other hand, Uranus in Aries is now activating very strongly the infamous T-square (with Uranus forming an ever tighter square aspect to Pluto in the sign of Capricorn and an opposition to Saturn in the sign of Libra). Astrology will definitely rise, amidst dramatic and extreme events though...

20 March 2010 - The International Astrology Day!

2010-03-18T11:27:00.006Z

(foto from: http://astroogle.com/international-astrology-day/)
On March 20th we celebrate the "International Astrology Day", an event founded and promoted initially by the American A.F.A.N (the "Association For Astrological Networking") and consequently spread worlwide.

You can learn more about this day and about the kind of events you could promote by clicking these links (where from I excerpted the following paragraphs):

http://www.afan.org/

"It's never to early to start planning. If you are interested in hosting an IAD event, or in helping coordinating events around the world, contact AFAN today! We are open to suggestions and offer a few here that you may way want to take to your community:

Arrange to give a lecture at your local library to the general public.
Write out press releases (I will help you with this) to send out to your local new publications.
Meet at a pub or a restaurant with your friends to toast and talk about astrology.
Have a party and just invite your friends. Have them dress as their Sun sign or their favorite planet or bring a food dish to represent their sign. (These are just a few of the ideas that can be used to carry out the astrological theme at a party!)
If you teach, schedule an open house or a free class night.
Have a day of free mini-readings/chart analysis and send everyone away with a free copy of their chart.
Go to your local coffee shop or cafe and see if you can set up there to do your free mini-readings."

http://astroogle.com/international-astrology-day/

"International Astrology Day was founded by AFAN in 1993, an outgrowth of the “Astrology Awareness Weekends” which AFAN had sponsored for several years previously. The goals of the new holiday were to expand networking opportunities among the astrological community, to direct media attention to positive aspects of astrology, and to help raise funds for local astrological groups and for AFAN’s legal, media, and other networking projects."

Thomas Gazis at the Debra's Clement "Anchored in Astrology" program

2010-02-28T11:55:00.016Z

Last Friday 26 February I was hosted by Debra Clement at her USA radio program "Anchored in Astrology", where we talked about the topic: "Ancient Greeks, the inventors of a Wonderous Horoscopic Astrology".

You can listen to this program or download it (25 MBs - mp3) here:
http://www.anchoredinastrology.com/Radio_Archives.html

The Pluto in Capricorn amazing synchronicity - Global credit crisis and Fear!

2010-02-04T16:01:00.067Z

An astonishing synchronicity is taking place under our own eyes. A subtle celestial phenomenon - which the vast majority of scientists is disregarding and which supposedly has nothing to do with the proceedings here on Earth - is actually affecting dramatically our societies and lives, our world economy, the politics, our mass psychology etc.! Against every scientific odd, this phenomenon is affecting our lives precisely in the way the Astrologers had predicted decades ago!

The subtle phenomenon is - of course - the entering of the deeply transformative planet Pluto in the cardinal sign of Capricorn (the zodiacal sign related to governments, institutions, society in general, busssiness, frugality etc.) Pluto entered for the first time in Capricorn on the 26th of January 2008. Consequently it returned (due to its retrogradation) to Sagittarius and finally entered for good in Capricorn on 27 November 2008. Are these dates ringing a bell to you? Approximately on these dates the huge financial crisis erupted world - wide. The shape of many things around us changed drastically - our economy, our houses, families, wallets, every day lives, even our moods. Debt became the word of order and unemployment, poverty and desperation escalated in the western world.

There is a video that explains well the - actually complicated - credit crisis. You might get a headache at the end, but you will definitely get some idea of what happened.

The Crisis of Credit Visualized from Jonathan Jarvis on Vimeo.

If you saw the video, I would like to point out that there is too much astrological Pluto involved in it - in this "inter-weaving of interests", crazy profit hunting and "financial bubbles construction" that ultimately led to the global crisis. All these are very Plutonian concepts.

But isn't strange that our current world crisis ultimately amounts to a financial and CREDIT CRISIS? Because that's what Pluto in Capricorn is all about: Pluto = common money, credit. Capricorn = shrinking of things, shortage, crisis. Combined together = shortage of common money, shrinking of credit, crisis of credit. What kind of "coincidence" is this? And is it a coincidence or a majestic quantum synchronicity, an utter proof that Astrology really works? Because the current "once in a century" global financial credit crisis - being heralded as I told you decades ago by many Astrologers - erupted at the very time period that Pluto entered the sign of Capricorn!

I recently read an article by David P Kuhlman (you can see it here) which I think is excellent. I would like to share part of it with you. As the author talks about the shrinking of economy, about power and the spread of panic and fear in our societies (some other typical Pluto in Capricorn effects) it is as if he were talking about the astrological effects of Pluto in Capricorn:

"In the world in which we live, money and the power of the almighty dollar have always been at the forefront. It seems the more money a person makes the more socially attractive a person becomes. This has led people from all walks of life in search of the quickest and simplest ways to make their fortune. In 2009 the United States suffered one of the most crippling economic crises since Black Monday in 1929...

The things we think of in the sense of buying are usually material and tangible goods. We saw a major decline in this area of spending. Most every market that sold these items were shaken hard, and if they did not collapse they had to seriously rework their agendas to bypass the near inevitable crash. One thing selling however was unaffected by the turmoil of economics, a product that has been selling for years to people all over the world. In times of hardship this product gains in momentum in sales rather than falls, and the seller continues to rake in money at other peoples expense. The item for sell is fear itself."
(David P. Kuhlman)

Astrologically speaking, FEAR is another by-product of Pluto in Capricorn. Remember that planet Pluto is the planet of death, of crises and extreme psychological dispositions. The planet of money and finances too. Pluto is related to the masses, to the Junghian concept of "collective unconscious". And in no other zodiacal sign the God of the underworld produces more fear than in Scorpio and in Capricorn. When Pluto was in Scorpio (1983 - 1995) it unleashed the spectre of AIDS, of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster etc. And now in Capricorn, Pluto is unleashing the spectre of debt, unemployment and famine, the spectre of devilish funds, bankers and corporations secretly plotting side by side with our governments! Under the spell of Pluto in Capricorn our societies are turning "darker" and in a certain sense "hineous"!

Thomas Gazis

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(P.S. You may read my article on "Pluto in Capricorn" here ).

Saturn in Libra - Let's split the burden!

2009-11-16T18:44:00.007Z

There are already several articles on the Internet analyzing the recent entry of the planet Saturn in the sign of Libra. I would like to approach this subject a little differently, making an interpretation more in line with the "zeitgeist" (the spirit of our times).

If Saturn symbolizes the hardships we face on this Earth's plane, the responsibilities and obligations we have to undertake in order to stand as mature, coherent and autonomous individuals in the societal net - and additionally if Libra is the archetype of union, mating and cooperation - then certainly the entry of Saturn in Libra means - especially in our times witnessing an extremely tough "T square" between the planets Uranus, Pluto and Saturn up on the sky - a need to come closer, to unite and work together in order to get through this difficult cosmic occurance.

The bundle is stronger than the single stick, this is what Saturn in Libra will make us realize first hand! It will remove us out of our self-centered bliss and will lead us to stretch our hands to each other and to share whatever burden falls on our shoulders! In a certain way responsibilities will now have a rather erotic fragrance, as they will often become a means to unite people!

In this regard, any form of association (a simple relationship, marriage, partnership) will now take a more serious and conscious form. And since Saturn is associated with the element of utilitarianism, many "marriages of convenience" will take place throughout the whole 2,5 years period that Saturn will be in Libra.

Huge crisis from Autumn 2009 on!

2009-08-16T11:45:00.014+01:00

Everything looks quiet and optimistic this summer of 2009. The news on the TV say that the first signs of recovery in the world economy are now visible. Nothing seems disturbing around us. But beyond the calm blue sea ahead of us, we Astrologers discern on the horizon an enormous tsunami coming over! Some relatively rare and harsh planetary formations that will appear in our sky on autumn and will keep on for several years pre-announce a major crisis, not only in economic terms but universally! The last time similar formations had shown up was during the Great Depression , back in the '30's!

There are some special astrological graphs foretelling the ups and downs of humanity, the periods that mankind will enjoy prosperity and the ones it will go through times of crisis. The corresponding graph is sinking in the autumn of 2009. It is like falling in the bottom of a deep ravine. And when we fall so deep the only way we can go is upwards.

But as we are in the middle of August none of this is visible on the horizon and people around us are rather optimistic. This optimism however is fictitious; it is a derivative of the Jupiter - Neptune conjunction that is dominant in our skies since last spring. This meeting between the joyful Jupiter and the dreamy Neptune is putting "pink glasses" in the eyes of the people hindering them from seeing things in their true dimensions.

If we look without pink glasses the things that are about to come we might not be equally enthusiastic. In October Saturn enters the sign of Libra, forming a discordant square aspect with Pluto, in early Capricorn. This formation is one of the hardest and usually it triggers extremely violent events, large-scale natural disasters, conflicts between nations. Especially now that this formation will be twice as strong (apart the Saturn - Pluto square remember that Pluto is in Capricorn, in the sign that is traditionally governed by Saturn. So, it is like having a double-whammy situation here, as the same relation between Saturn and Pluto is repeated twice).

Furthermore, in May 2010 the explosive and rebelious planet Uranus will enter the warlike sign of Aries. And as if this wasn’t enough, Uranus in Aries will form a rare planetary formation with Saturn and Pluto, called "T Square" (as it reminds us of the capital letter T, with Pluto located at the base of the T, Saturn at the upper left and Uranus at the upper right). In reality, Uranus will start triggering this formation from next autumn on (when it will be in the latter degrees of Pisces). Additionally, within this formation the already manifested in 2008 Saturn - Uranus opposition will continue to exert its power (remember that this Saturn - Uranus opposition is related to the major societal upheavals and the world economic crisis that we witnessed in the autumn - winter period of 2008). Only that this opposition will be much stronger now, as it will be boosted by the energies of the fatal Pluto, a planet that does not hesitate to carry things to extremes and massively eliminate people and situations.

A new kind of world will emerge out of this crisis. The shape of the things we knew will change dramatically. Large upheavals and tensions may arise within the society. Deprivation of liberties and resurgence of totalitarian regimes are very plausible. Disputes between various states over their borders, over minorities etc. Possible lack of energy sources, of raw materials and goods, pandemics and some rare and unusual in scale geophysical phenomena.

When we will see then some more "brilliant" planetary configurations? I think from 2018 onwards! Although Saturn will leave rather early the “T” formation (in 2011) the Uranus - Pluto square will be active for many years. We are talking here about two very crazy "guys" who both love to turn things upside down and bring people and societies to the extremes. And these crazy (but wise, in the transcendental sense) guys will be constantly confronting each other for the next 9 years! Moreover Pluto in Capricorn predisposes to darkness and hardness (and this planet will not leave Capricorn until 2024)!

But every cloud has a silver lining! Pluto in Capricorn will bring a radical transformation to the structure of our society. Thanks to the T square the old extreme materialism and consumerism will be shaked for good and people will move onto more spiritual dimensions. In the near future the shape of our cities - and of the things in general - will not be so bright and grandiose as we used them to be in the past, since what is imperative now to "shine" is the human being !

The first step on the Moon chart and the extra- terrestrial astrology

2009-07-20T14:35:00.029+01:00

Those of you who are over 45 years old might remember this day back in 1969. It was July 20, 1969 for America (July 21 for Europe) when the Apollo 11 mission landed on the Moon and Neil Armstrong set foot on our sole natural satellite. It was the first time ever a human being was setting foot on another celestial body apart Earth. So, today we celebrate the 40th anniversary of that historical moment.

The traditional way for us astrologers to study this unique event would be to cast a chart for the very moment Neil stepped on the Moon (as he was pronouncing the famous "one small step for man..." line). We would then get a chart cast for July 20th, for the time the event happened (23:56) and for Washington D.C. But actually this chart is inconsistent to the event. In reality we should cast a chart for the very moment Neil stepped on the Moon and for the very Lunar location he stepped on. This is the backbone of the astrological theory, you should cast a chart for the exact time and place the event occured. There is no meaning in transporting Neil's first step on the Moon event to a terrestrial location (Washington DC, in this case). If we do this then we examine the impact the event had onto the USA citizens but not the event itself.

If we want to properly study the chart of the first Moon landing and in general the charts of the astronauts for those glorious days they were strolling on the Moon then we have to invent a new "extra-terrestrial" astrology. When studying events on the Moon i.e. we have to adopt a Moon-centric point of view. We have to input on our astrology software the Lunar longitudes and latitudes. Additionally, we have to plot the planets anew, from a Lunar perspective. And finally but not less importantly substitute on our charts the Moon with the Earth.

Thus, if we really want to know how Armstrong and the other astronauts were feeling back then onto that eery lunar environment we have to relocate their charts to the Moon and study their Moon-centric planetary transits. We have to know i.e in what house the "Earth" was in and which aspects it was forming with their natal planets. But this implicates another important thing: we have first to understand the Earth's astrological properties to a Moon-centric astrologer, a task we had never faced in the past. You see the facts have surpassed us (40 years have already passed from the moment Neil stepped on the Moon and nobody has still erected properly the chart for that event). And the same procedure we will encounter again in the near future when we will be called to study the "outer space" and the "Mars-centric" astrology, as the first manned mission will be heading to Mars - just in a couple of decades. We are already behind and our astrology knowledge and general consciousness has to rapidly expand. A brand new and exciting age has dawn for us Astrologers!

Jupiter - Neptune conjunction: the miracle aspect!

2009-07-10T18:37:00.011+01:00

An important planetary conjunction is taking place now over the sky. The planets of spirituality and high idelaism Jupiter and Neptune have approached so near in their orbits that are now somehow "embracing" each other, being both at the same zodiacal degree (26 degrees of Aquarius, exactly). It is the second time this phenomenon occurs (the first happened on 27 May 2009, while a third "embracing" of these two planets will take place on 21 December 2009).

The Jupiter - Neptune conjunction has been described as "the aspect of the miracles"! It is now likely to cause a big or small miracle in your life, depending on the area it activates in your chart and on the aspects it forms with your natal planets. Be careful though, because this conjunction may lead you as well to some kind of deception.

A miracle might happen now on a global level, too. Certainly, this conjunction will uplift the level of human consciousness and will tune the masses to more spiritual and idealistic frequencies, especially as most of us are frustrated by our previous shallow and materialistic way of living. It might create some major collective Utopias as well.

Did astrology predict the actual finacial and social world crisis?

2009-02-19T15:02:00.034Z

We live in times of reflection - and by no means of celebration. An unprecedented economic and social crisis is spreading rapidly around the Globe. In periods like this it is vital to keep our minds clear and to see things as objectively as we can. And with all due objectivity, we can say that apparently this crisis has not been trully predicted by nobody in the past, neither by the economists nor the sociologists nor by any other specialized scientist. Some may have had some glimpses but the exact dimension and time of occurrence of the phenomenon has not been predicted by none! To the exception of the Astrologers...

In fact, many major Astrologers predicted the current crisis with astonishing accuracy, even decades ago! The French Astrologer Andre Barbault for example, who is a world expert in planetary cycles and in mundane astrology, was talking already back in the '80's about "the great financial crisis of the years 2008 - 2012" ! In his book "L'Avenir du Monde Selon L' Astrologie" (published in 1993, Editions Du Felin) and in page 198 he states: "the opposition Saturn - Uranus (of the year 2008) will probably trigger the first major financial crisis of the XXI Century". In the very same page he talks about the ominous square aspects that will be formed in the year 2010 between the planets Uranus and Pluto and Saturn and Pluto. He claims that these rare planetary delineations will coincide with the peak of this cataclysmic finanacial and social global crisis. Nationalistic and extremistic movements will gain momentum, riots and wars will escalate!

Another relevant book I have in my hands is E. Alan Meece's "Horoscope for the New Millennium" (Llewellyn Publications) first printed in 1996. In page 273 Meece writes: "The year 2009 marks the start of an important and painful period...The ferment will rise to fever pitch in the Fall of 2009...". In page 274 he goes: "Dodging an Apocalypse: A titanic square. When Jupiter and Uranus enter Aries in the spring of 2010, people will be much less restrained in expressing their frustration. "Peasants" and other poor people will rise up world-wide and governments will be besieged with demands for change...This titanic, historic T-square involves the same four planets as the T-square which coincided with the Great Depression"!

Finally, let me quote here an excerpt from the book "Forecasts for 1995" of the American Astrologer Reymond Merriman (he wrote this book back in 1994, when there was not even a slight indication of the current crisis in the air ):

In this book Merriman is focusing on the predictions of the year 1995. He highlights some difficult planetary delineations of that specific year and then he - rather abrubtly - states that these configurations are nothing in compare to the ones that will be formed in the period years 2008 - 2012! As he writes:

"These are indeed all important (planetary configurations), but not likely as eventful as...the period 2008-2012, when Uranus will enter Aries, Pluto will enter Capricorn (squared by Uranus), and Saturn will enter Libra. This will be the first time since 1929-1931 that these three bodies have been in the cardinal T-Square signs to one another. You may recall that 1929-1931 was an eventful time in the world. You may conclude (I do) that whatever we are doing now is simply a buildup into that time period. What happens then will be a direct result of policies, behaviors, and attitudes we are starting to develop and implement now. Hopefully, as a world body, we will have more wisdom and foresight now than we did in the 1920’s. Otherwise it might very well fall apart – again. Oh yes, it will rebuild again. But is it necessary to go through the agony – again? It is until we learn from our experiences."

How prophetic was Reymond Merriman 15 whole years ago! And as we saw here, he was not the only one... Whoever was able to elementary decipher the rare planetary configurations we are actually experiencing would come to the same conclusions. I could cite dozens, hundreds of similar articles of other Astrologers - written some 10, 20 or even 30 years ago - all of them predicting with a stunning accuracy the actual grim situation!

I am ever surprised by the greatness of Astrology! The fact that it forecast this huge worldwide economic and social crisis (a succesful forecast that could be described as the most dramatic made by astrology in the last 100 years) is to me a great event! It makes us realize the validity of Astrology and its enormous utility for us humans, who are blindly trying to find our bearings in this vast and mysterious Universe!

Thomas Gazis

What sign do we become when we get drunk?

2009-02-02T12:33:00.021Z

Since we are now under the influence of the "crazy", liberating and unorthodox sign of Aquarius and the Carnival is just around the corner I think it fits to ask:

What sign do we become when we get drunk?

Astrology is a universal and all encompassing language, so any kind of question - even the weirdest one - can be astrologically phrased and answered through the correct synthesis and interpretation of the corresponding astrological symbols and concepts.

There is now a rather unexpected source that can give us the answer to our "booze" riddle: Ancient Greek Mythology! It is not by chance that leading Astrologers like Liz Greene have developed a very advanced and meaningfull Astrology based mainly on ancient Greek Mythology.

First, let us ask ourselves: who was the god of wine and drunkenness in ancient Greece? Dionysus -
Bacchus! A very characteristic adjective of Dionysus now is: the "liberator". He was the god that was liberating humans from their "normal" selves, from their worries and sufferings, from their inhibitions and taboos - through the wine, through drunkenness, through the "orgiastic" ceremonies and ecstasy in general.

Does this description ring a bell to you? Is your mind going to a certain "extra sociable, extra free and liberated" sign? Yes, exactly! Aquarius is the great liberator of the zodiac, the sign associated with collective ceremonies, frenzy etc. In modern astrology Dionysus is associated with the sign of Aquarius. And not by chance, Aquarius is the sign diametrically opposed to Leo (who symbolizes our ordinary Self - while Aquarius our transcendental Self). Aquarius is also the first sign that comes after Capricorn - the great guardian of the social conventions, of the limits, barriers etc. Being the first sign after Capricorn, Aquarius symbolizes the breakdown of barriers and conventions.

And since the 12 signs of the zodiac function in pairs, Aquarius is the masculine (+) phase of drunkenness and Pisces the female (-) one. The sign of Pisces represents something even more advanced: the total escape from our everyday routine (which is symbolized by the diametrically opposite to Pisces sign of Virgo). Pisces actually represents a stage where (either through a substance - such as wine - either through a ritual, a ceremony etc.) man is led to absolute ecstasy, the stage where a certain Union with the divine is produced!

And to answer our original question, under the influence of alcohol we do become certain signs or at least we adopt their behavior: we somehow become "Aquariuses" (more open, sociable and friendly to the others) and more "Pisces" (we discover a new, embellished dimension to the people around us, we might unexpectedly get up and dance while we usually feel ashamed, we might do crazy things, we might even fall for the stranger s/he stands beside us - something we usually regret the next morning).

You will ask me then, if we become Aquariuses and Pisces when we get drunk then what about those people who already are Aquariuses and Pisces? Actually they become Aquariuses and Pisces to the highest degree. Or (on the other hand) when these people are drunk - a situation rather familiar to them - they behave relatively normal in respect to the others.

So there is a priceless treasure in Greek Mythology that can be connected with the archetypes of Astrology and deliver us some very rich and advanced astrological interpretations.

A brief history of Greek Astrology - Modern period

2009-01-12T15:29:00.008Z

We all know that astrology flourished in ancient Greece, particularly in the so called Hellenistic period. The legacy of the ancient Greeks was subsequently passed to the Byzantines (whom we could define as "the Middle Ages Greeks"). Although the church was fiercely opposing the astrology then, the celestial art survived for a thousand years in Byzantium. And not only survived but bred some excellent astrologers too, like Rhetorius or Stephen the philosopher. Even certain prominent Byzantine politicians (like Prime-Minister Michael Psellos) were actually astrologers!

In 1453 Byzantium fell to the Turks. For almost 4 centuries Greece remained under Turkish rule. Astrology was not practiced much during this period. And when Greece was liberated in 1821 astrology was long forgotten. Consider the fact that in the early 1930's some Greek newspapers were reporting astrology as "a magic art practiced by natives in Africa"!

In 1936 the German-raised Greek engineer Peter Gravinger wrote a book entitled "Praktikon Enchiridion Astrologias" ("Practical Handbook of Astrology"), much advanced for those days and largely unnoticed. It would be in the early 1950's before we began to see Sun-sign forecasts appearing in some popular magazines and newspapers.

But the true revival of astrology in Greece came about through the efforts of a lady named Maria Metallinou (1928 - 1974). In her youth she had become interested in astrology and maintained that interest through her polytechnic studies in northern Europe. She and her collaborator Theodora Dakou (b. 1942) took lessons with the Faculty of Astrological Studies, having as their tutor the legendary Charles. E.O. Carter.

As Metallinou and Dakou possessed no ephemeris on those days (middle 60's) they contacted the director of the Athens Astronomical Observatory, Konstantinos S. Chasapes. Doctor Chasapes (1914 -1972), who had a secret flair for astrology, assisted them much with their astrological calculations and interpretations!

In 1969 Metallinou founded "Oroskopio", the first astrological magazine in Greece. However, her untimely death caused the magazine's demise. Subsequently, Theodora Dakou founded the "Ouranos Astrological Society" and in 1975 she published a quality astrology magazine named "Ouranos", that lasted until 1982. In 1980 she organized a pan-Mediterranean (F.I.M.A.) astrology conference in Athens.

In recent years astrologers Thomas Gazis and Maro Ioannidou organized two international conferences in Greece (Astromykonos 2000, featuring Robert Hand, and Astromykonos 2001, feauturing Noel Tyl and Elizabeth Teissier). They also originated the idea (together with the Spanish astrologer Ernesto Cordero) for the formation of the F.A.E.S. (South European Astrology Confederation), which they promoted with other South-European colleagues. Thomas Gazis has written two astrology books and has extensively lectured in Europe.

Another key figure in modern Greek astrology is a lady, Despina Giannakopoulou. She has substantially supported quality astrology in Greece and is actually doing an excellent job on ancient Greek astrology. She has authored five quality astrology books.

Today there are many "light" astrology magazines being published in Greece but none of quality. Commercial astrologers - psychics are over-dominating the scene, leaving very little room for quality astrology. The fact that no formal Federation of Greek astrologers has yet been established says it all!

(This excerpt was written by Thomas Gazis. It has been included - in a shorter and edited version - in Jame's H. Holden book “A History of Horoscopic Astrology”).

The first English astrologers were Greek - Byzantines (and oddly enough Saints)!

2008-12-20T21:34:00.098Z

The story I am going to tell you is true, but it might very well have been just another Canterbury tale. It is a story that connects in strange ways England and Byzantium. It started in medieval England, in the year 667 CE. The city of Canterbury was then one of the most prominent Anglo - Saxon cities in Britain. Its people had been converted from pagans to Christians just 2 generations before (in 597 CE, by Saint Augustine). The Episcopal See of the city though - founded by St. Augustine - was left vacant in that specific year. And that was serious, because the Canterbury See was (and still is) considered England's primary See.

To fill the gap, the king of Kent sent emissaries to the Pope in Rome, asking him to appoint a new Archbishop to Canterbury. Back then not very many people were eligible for such a place - most of the people could not even read, let alone debate on religious matters. Not to mention that to the high ranked priests in Rome the idea of moving to a distant, misty and (still) barbaric land was not promising at all. With limited choices available Pope Vitalian's mind went to certain monasteries in Italy run by Byzantine monks - the Byzantines considered then the most erudite scholars in Europe.

You may read the whole article here

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This is an original article written by Thomas Gazis. Copyright: Thomas D. Gazis. In order to republish it - parts or all of it - please contact first the author at: ifestion@gmail.com
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Byzantium's vital contribution to Astrology

2008-12-20T17:33:00.042Z

Since my early childhood Byzantium enchanted me with its glorious and mystical aura! I think I have to blame the Sunday church for this kick. Of course as a kid I didn't like the forced rising on Sunday mornings at all (Sunday was the only day off school). Not to mention that when in church I couldn't understand much, because the Christian Orthodox Mass was said (and still is) in ancient Greek! But the chant of the priests and chorus coming to me through the mist of inebriating incenses, oh yes that was something! New worlds were opening to me, like the ones depicted in the frescoes on the walls and ceilings of the church: austere saints, agonizing martyrs, lavishly dressed emperors, scenes of parables and life situations I could not decipher, all in a pure Byzantine esoteric manner. Byzantium had fallen some 5 centuries ago to the Turks, but I was still immersed in it, into its divine melody and fascinating iconography, into the exotic names of Byzantine cities and provinces that the priest was occasionally mentioning as he was reading the Gospel. Although irrevocably perished Byzantium was all alive to me, I could experience its mysticism and ecstasy!

The Byzantine empire lasted more than a thousand years (324 - 1453 CE), it was very prominet culturally in its times, it enlightened the otherwise plunging into Dark Ages Europe and it comprised the largest, brimming with lofty buildings and monuments, most cosmopolitan city of the western hemisphere: Constantinople (today's Istanbul)!

But how can it be an empire so great - heir of the Hellenistic empire - not to have impacted Astrology at all? How comes we never see in the usual "Astrology Time lines" any entry on some Byzantine astrologer or any other kind of byzantine contribution? If you take a closer look to these "Timelines" you will actually notice a gap in them. They start by mentioning several ancient astrologers and achievements and then abruptly shift into the late Middle Ages, mentioning Arab and European astrologers of the time, then moving to Renaissance, to Northern European astrologers and so on. Not a single entry on Byzantium though!

I think the best argument to make you realize how important Byzantium has been astrologically is to tell you that even William Lilly was studying books of byzantine astrologers! Specifically, Lilly owned the books: "In centum Ptolomei Aphorismos" by Georgius Trapezuntius, a famous Greek - Byzantine scholar. Plus, the "Paraphrasis in 4 libros Ptolemei" by Leo Allatius, who was Greek - Byzantine too. He mentions both in "Christian Astrology".

Lilly mentions too the book "De mutatione Aeris" by Petrus de Abano. Although Italian by nature, Peter of Abano was byzantine by his education (he went to study in Constantinople and stayed there for 20 whole years)! And you would be surprised to know that even Gerolamo Cardano, although a prominent astrologer himself, revered much the afore-mentioned Greek - Byzantine astrologer Georgius Trapezuntius - insinuating to the fact that he might have been given lessons by Trapezuntius himself or by some other Byzantine scholars who fled to Italy in the 15th century, a little before or after Byzantium's fall to the Turks. Lilly acknowledges both Abano and Cardanus in his famous "Christian Astrology" book. So, directly or indirectly Byzantine astrologers influenced enormously William Lilly!

How could it be otherwise? Byzantine astrology is the direct heir of the Hellenistic one. Major astrological figures like Paulus Alexandrinus, Olympiodorus and Stephanus Alexandrinus belong - at least chronologically - to the Byzantine Era. Byzantium managed to breed - in dark times of hardships, wars and religious fanatism - even its own astrological schools, like the superb one of Rhetorius (late sixth century), and the innovating one of John Abramius (14th century). A Byzantine astrologer (Theophylus of Edessa) who was invited around 765 CE by the Caliph al-Mansur to Bagdad introduced to the local astrologers the much advanced by then Byzantine astrology. And how serepiditious was the fact that among Theophylous' audience stood the illustrious Masha' allah, the man that set the paradigm for all later Arab astrologers!

But the Byzantine astrology saga does not end here. Surprisingly - as you will see in my next post - two Byzantine scholars were actually the first Astrologers in Anglo-Saxon Britain!

Thomas D. Gazis
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This is an original article written by Thomas Gazis. Copyright: Thomas D. Gazis. In order to republish it - parts or all of it - please contact first the author at: ifestion@gmail.com
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Polarization in Psychological Astrology. The Britney Spears case.

2008-12-17T21:53:00.047Z

We tend to believe that the show-biz superstars are some lucky beggars whose life is a never ending party! Well, it might be an ever ending hell too, as in Britney Spears case. Most of us know the ordeal she has been through. Although young, rich and famous she is not happy, going through continuous stages of psychological breakdowns, depression, addictive behaviour etc. She seems totally unable to find herself and get a grip on life. She got married twice and divorced, she bore 2 children but lost the custody of both, plus she lost - by a juridical decision - the control of all her assets!

A fundamental astrological axiom claims that the chart should reflect its owner's reality. So, with all these heavy conditions that Britney Spears is facing in her life it would be natural to presume that she has a "heavy" chart. We might speculate i.e. discordant aspects on her Luminaries (Sun, Moon), a pivotal Neptune, an 8 or 12 House emphasis etc. Nope, not at all! Britney Spears chart is one of the less "heavy", of the "smoothest" I have ever encountered! No really hard aspect on her Luminaries, no pivotal Neptune, no 8, 12 Houses emphasis. See her chart for yourself (born 2 December 1981, 1:30 am, McComb Mississipi):

Her Sun is in "lucky" Sagittarius and receives no major hard aspects at all. Her Moon in Aquarius not only does not receive any hard aspects but even forms an harmonic aspect to Saturn. In addition, her Sun and Moon are in Sextile (60 degrees apart, a positive in astrology angle). Not to mention that her Moon is in the warm, vivacious, "solid" and powerfully self-asserting Fifth House. This chart seems to belong to a happy person, having a rather easy life. But it does not reflect Britney Spears' tormented life. Apparently we are missing something!

You can read the whole article here

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This is an original article written by Thomas Gazis. Copyright: Thomas Gazis. In order to republish it - parts or all of it - please contact first the author at: ifestion@gmail.com

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All charts made by the "Solarfire Deluxe" astrology software.

Why has quality Astrology grown unpopular? The Greek grim case!

2008-12-14T20:18:00.031Z

I would like to share with you some thoughts on a burning to many of us issue: why has quality Astrology grown unpopular in the last few years in our societies, the very moment that the "light", commercial astrology is enjoying an unprecedented popularity?

I will draw my conclusions out of my Greek experience - but I think the same paradigm applies to other countries as well. Modern Greece is strongly influenced by the sign of Capricorn, so it is a very pragmatic, down to earth country. But on the contrary to what someone would expect out of a Capricorn country, the "light" popular astrology is wide spread today in Greece, while the quality Astrology is totally marginalized (maybe not that much an element of surprise this, as the sign of Capricorn favors the commercial aspect of any given situation). Think now that Greece is the country that actually laid the foundations of the horoscopic astrology. And in this country Astrology is under-developed today! Even in our neighboring countries like Serbia and Turkey (supposedly less advanced than Greece) Astrology is doing better than here.

The fact is that 25 years ago quality Astrology was going through a huge development phase in our country (with schools brimming of students, a couple of good magazines etc.). It was really promising well then, but instead it took a reverse course and went through an abrupt decline - particularily in the last decade. So, the question is: what lies in the root of such a decadence (apart the fact that Uranus in Pisces and Neptune in Aquarius are mutually exerting their decadent power onto astrology - I am actually writing an article on this)?

I believe that in the root of this situation lies astrology's dual nature and peculiar relation to society, money and powerful peoples' interests! In Greece it all started some 18 years ago, when the first private TV channels went on air. These channels were all broadcasting then - for the first time - the classic morning shows, which included astrology predictions for the day. In those days there were a couple of good astrologers in Greece, but as often happens in mediterranean etc. countries not the qualified but the "connected" and "recommended" people got the TV privileged jobs. Meaning that certain connected housewives (no offense, my mom has been one), ex "Tupperware dealers" etc. pretending to be astrologers secured these TV "fortunetelling" jobs. In a single night these ladies (mainly) were baptized "astrologers" and the very next morning they were giving "astrology" predictions on national TV!

You can read the whole article here

Debunking the astrological - astronomical lies about 2012. How important is this date after all?

2008-12-13T20:26:00.128Z

You will be surprised to know that you and I (and actually everybody) have somehow “co-created” the 2012 hype! I will explain you this later on (and I will explain you too the Galactic Alignment, so that you understand it). The fact is that a “daunting” date (21 December 2012) lies ahead of us and each new day is bringing us excruciating closer to it! We are ever more bombarded by a literature of signs and wonders that are supposed to manifest on that date. We are told that we will witness amazing planetary alignments, mega-earthquakes, an entire planet will fall upon our heads, us humans will evaporate, become beams of light, pass over to other dimensions, you name it! Can we stand aside for a while and make some sense out of all this frenzy?

I will never forget the summer of 2003, when people from all over my neighborhood - who knew that I was into astronomy - were coming to me to tell me how much concerned they were, because somebody had told them that planet Mars was about to come so close to Earth that would appear on the sky as big as the Full Moon! I was patiently explaining them that this wasn't the case, sending them relieved back to their homes. I realized then that some kind of primal, collective "sky - phobia" resides in the people's souls. People become very susceptible when they face larger than life issues they don't know much about, like i.e. any mysterious (and thus potentially threatening) event taking place on the sky - literally above their heads. In addition, I realized then how dramatically the “hearsay” can alter the shape of reality in people’s minds!

But what do we actually know about the 2012 apocalypse? Supposedly our world is going to end. The crucial question though is how? Not to mention, why? Many are saying our world is going to end because the Maya people said so. But in reality they never explicitly mentioned the definite and irrevocable end of the word in 2012! To us modern westerners our cultural background is so different that we cannot easily understand what the Maya’s were referring to when they were writing about the “end” of this world. The Mayan concept of time was “cyclical” and not “linear” as ours (to them time was evolving in a cyclical manner and with every new cycle similar things and situations were enacted on our planet anew. Our “linear” measuring of time presupposes that things are not repeated anew and time evolves always straightforward and in a rather unpredictable manner. To a “linear” civilization like ours any kind of “end” of a certain times means THE END OF ALL TIMES. But this concept does not apply to a “cyclical” civilization. To them the end of the actual “times” means the opening of a new revigorating cycle, where everything somehow starts from the beginning, anew! So, it should be considered a sort of joyful transition instead of a fearful one.

1) On 21 December 2012 there will be a major alignment of the planets and then all hell will break loose on Earth!

This scenario can be very easily busted! Actually, everybody can debunk it in just a few seconds, as long as s/he runs a simple astronomical or astrological program of his own or of some internet site! The term “major alignment of the planets” alludes to a very rare, unique planetary conjunction that will occur on 21th of December 2012. Supposedly on that date all the planets will be clustered in a single zodiacal sign - just a few degrees apart! The fact is that such a clustering has repeatedly occurred in human history. But as far as we know never a biblical proportions event occurred on Earth - at least not in the last 2.500 years that we possess written documents. We might have had events like “Pompeii” or “Tunguska” but these were rather local events which on the planet’s scale produced a rather negligible effect.

In reality, no planetary alignment at all will take place on the 21st of December 2011! The Sun will be in the sign of Capricorn, the Moon in Aries, Mercury in Sagittarius and so on. The planets will be scattered across many signs of the zodiac and thus not “aligned” at all (see the astrological chart for that date below):

2) On that fateful date all the planets (except Jupiter) will be clustered in the same part of the sky (same hemisphere). Such an event is unique and has never occurred in human history!
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Believing in us, in such a hard times!

2008-12-13T14:03:00.054Z

As we are going through a critical period worldwide (and the unsettling Uranus, Pluto, Saturn T - Square lies right in front of our doors), I would like to share with you a post I read on a Portuguese astrologer's (Ana Cristina Correa Mendes) blog. She is a Scorpio so definitely she knows something about harsh times and crises. Plus, the way she writes has got "soul" in it. Her blog is in Portuguese http://espelhodevida.blogspot.com/ (the photo is from her blog).

BELIEVING IN US, IN SUCH A HARD TIMES!

In times like the ones the world is facing now there is the risk of being swamped by the collective panic and hysteria, of being devastated by the sheer magnitude of the personal and collective crises around us! A huge individual crisis might be triggered in us thrusting us - like an avalanche - into questioning our selves, our actions, our life perspectives and goals, our very existence. Actually this is a natural life process and everyone should deal with it sometime in his/her life.

The number of people facing nowadays - or anticipating - a profound life change is ever growing! Just watch the people around you: they seem to be in a state of confusion, bewilderment, panic, revolt. There are cases where even plans B and C do not seem to lead anywhere. Facing an unyielding dead end, this is the moment to turn to our eternal reserves, to those assets and values which nobody can ever confiscate from us. I’m referring to the values of having faith in us, having a high self-esteem - which as we learn from astrology is a Second House matter. In our modern Era the money power has been used to substitute all other human values - our feelings included. Now, that we are witnessing the monetary systems' colossal collapse we’re forced to discern first and then turn to the true values of life!

We usually read in books and magazines - or we have been told - that if we believe enough then we will attract what we desire! Thus all we have to do is believe and consequently act as if we already have our desired object or goal. It seems a rather easy thing to do, but probably it is one of the hardest; to BELIEVE, mainly because we have to believe in us, to believe that we deserve, that we are capable of making our dreams come true! This is the time for many of us to use our individual resources and proceed to a radical transformation of the way we see things. We have nothing to loose, so why not take the risk and believe that the path in front of us will be far better than the one we are leaving behind?

(original author: Ana Cristina Correa Mendes
translated by: Thomas Gazis)

Explaining astrologically the unrest and the riots in Greece

2008-12-10T22:38:00.073Z

(Photo: Reuter press)
Why are we experiencing lately such a turmoil in Greece? Are there any astrological indications that could shed some light on this unusual situation?

First of all, we have to consider Greece's natal chart. Modern Greece was actually "born" on the 13th of January 1822 (NS) (you can read my relative article "Modern Greece's horoscope" here).

Thus, modern Greece is under Capricorn's influence. Furthermore, in Greece's natal chart the first degrees of the cardinal signs are over-emphasized: the country's Moon is - most probably - located in the very first degree of Libra, while its Uranus and Neptune are forming a conjunction in the first degrees of Capricorn.

Pluto is the name of the game in Greece's case (with Uranus becoming an ever more major player too). Pluto represents the "dark", "hidden", financial, corporate and even "mafia" kind of forces. This mysterious planet (god of the underworld and ruler of the sign of Scorpio) entered definitely in Capricorn just a couple of weeks ago (after its retrogression in Sagittarius). And as soon as Pluto entered Capricorn it triggered - contemporaneously - several explosive planetary configurations in Greece's national horoscope:

1) Being a Capricornian country, Greece is all along affected by Pluto's entrance in Capricorn (by the "same sign" reason - although Pluto is not conjuncting yet by orb Greece's natal Sun).

2) Pluto is actually conjuncting Greece's natal planets Uranus and Neptune, in the very first degrees of Capricorn. This is a very "volatile mixture" as planet Pluto is related to absolute power and often to totalitarianism while planet Uranus is related to major social upheaval and revolution.

3) Pluto is now squaring Greece's natal Moon in the very first degrees of Libra. A "tough" aspect between transiting Pluto and one of the "Luminaries" (the Moon in this case) is considered a major aspect capable of producing extreme events! In "Mundane Astrology" the Moon expresses the people, the masses (and Pluto extreme or even "dark", behind the scenes forces). So, the people in Greece will suffer out of some kind of oppression, of a probable titanic financial crisis and unfair measures that will be imposed upon them.

4) Pluto is squaring Greece's natal Pluto (releasing once again extreme energies, destructive - regenerating ones).

These four harsh aspects are the main astrological "culprits" of the actual unrest in Greece. And there is still to come, as Saturn and Uranus will reach critical points in Greece's natal chart in the next couple of years. Never in its modern history Greece has had such a massive extreme, "off balance" planetary influences!

Personally, I was aware of this unique array of planetary transits in Greece's horoscope years ago. I had published my concern in Greek magazines and on the internet and I was speculating on the form of the (extreme) events that would occur in this country around 2008-2013. I knew that "destiny" would somehow knock Greece's door on this specific period. Because - without doubt - the recent turmoil is just a small prelude. Greece is going now through a huge radical METAMORPHOSIS (and how appropriate this greek word is)! The thing is that metamorphoses of countries never occur in placid and pacific ways. Thus, my prediction is that Greece will go through extreme events in the upcoming years and either it will radically regenerate or somehow perish...!

Thomas Gazis

Astrologer invited to lecture in a Spanish Medical Faculty!

2008-12-10T19:57:00.016Z

Last Friday 5th of December should be considered an historical date for all of us. Astrology re-echoed again in a prestigious University hall, after four centuries of total absence there. It happened in Spain, in the Medical Faculty of the Saragossa University.

The famous neurosurgeon Dr. Vicente Calatayud Maldonado, head of the Saragossa's University Medicical Faculty, organised a special class in order to make his students better understand the subject "Brain". Professor Maldonado invited several doctors and other professionals to speak on the subject and to the surprise of many he invited too the Spanish astrologer and clinical hypnotist Carlos Bogdavich.

Bogdavich conducted a class entitled "Brain and Astrology". In it, besides speaking on the origins of astrology, on the difference between magia and Logos, on the various historical and modern researches, Bogdanich explained to its numerous audience the array of possibilities that Medical Astrology offers to a doctor, the precious tools it is actually providing him/her. He explained the cause - effect principle by which the astrologers interpret a chart, the Macrocosm - Microcosm correspondence and finally the concept of Time, as dealt by Astrologers.

The impact of this Bogdavich University class (which lasted 2 whole hours) was unique! In the end of the lecture many ex sceptics approached him and confessed him that they were now viewing astrology under a totally new perspective! The authorities of the Univesity solicited Bogdavich to take over some new classes for the coming year, while they included his Astrology lecture in the official medical faculty tome!

The gates of the Universities are finally opening again, in order to listen to the ever meaningful voice of the vast and so advanced Astrological Knowledge!

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P.S. The source of these post is a Bogdavich letter to the "Astrocuantica" Spanish astrology list.

SCIENTIFIC ASTROLOGY

2008-12-10T18:19:00.002Z

If the title of this blog came as a surprise to you, then you should know that true astrology is scientific! What actually is not scientific is the popular, predictions orientated astrology that people see everyday in magazines, tv channells, etc. Here you will find the true stuff instead, serious, pure, scientific Astrology, quality Astrology articles, interesting news, research e.t.c.