Something in the Air

Dear Friend - another Blog from Og here in Hobbit Land where the brave Hobbits, with their allies the Dwarves and the Elves are,at last, combining forces to challenge, and, we hope, finally overthrow the appalling Sauron and his minions. Only joking! - and yet...
Actually, now that the Blue Party, with their new friends the Yellow Party, have begun to promise greatly increased pain in various ingenious ways for many sectors of the population (millionaires excluded) there is indeed "something in the air" ( remember the song by Thunderclap Newman ?), even cunning distractions such as "Strictly Come Dancing" - notice the "Strictly" - appealing to the latent masochism in the British Psyche ( I blame the Normans ..), can gloss over the undeniable fact that all is not well here in Treasure Island.

With 30 years of mind-boggling greed and over-indulgence behind us this is the time to repent and make amends - but, as usual, it is the poor, in the good old Feudal tradition , who are asked, nay, commanded, to take the blame and carry the burden. These are the last twitchings of an old dinosaur of a paradigm which "strictly" belongs to the Age we are rapidly leaving behind, soon to be seen only as a rapidly shrinking image in the Wing Mirror of our Age -of -Light-Mobile, as we set our course for the Stars of Heaven and turn our face toward Home.

Idealistic ? Well, yes, but "Without a Vision the people perish" and- "It is better to light a Candle than to curse the Darkness" .Alfred and Arthur- where are you now? (train delayed by Signal Failure at Avalon Parkway but e.t.a. now 2011/12..).

Astrologically, The "bunching" of Lunar North Node in early Capricorn, conjunct Pluto and Ceres seems to signify the rather tight, traumatic,re-structuring quality of recent weeks, with Ceres (Earth-Mother Asteroid - discovered 1.1. 1801 - on the same day as the Founding of the United Kingdom, as I have mentioned before...) -coming off worst from the encounter. The exhumation of the decaying corpse of old-style class-consciousness with the "in your face" flaunting of conspicuous wealth and privilege ( have we learned nothing??) seems to be cognate with this aspect. But .. only a phase, we trust: - in early March 2011 the Lunar North Node moves into Sagittarius - offering a more flexible, optimistic route as it retrogrades through that Sign until 30 August 2012 when it enters the Transformational Scorpio.
By late April-early May 2011 there will be 5, then 6 Planets in Aries, Cardinal Fire ! - are you ready for brave initatives, original thinking, positive action (go on - plant those vegetables !) ?

Incidentally, the "kids" on the March, protesting over increased fees/proposed cuts, belong largely to the Pluto in Scorpio/Uranus and Neptune in Capricorn generation and are capable of being VERY serious and committed regarding Political/Social issues. Younger dudes, barely teenage (2010) have Pluto in Sagittarius, and Uranus/Neptune in Aquarius and will build anew once the older ones have cleared the "grot" out of the way.

Astronomical Dept. - Do watch the pre-dawn sky for a view of Saturn, Venus (bright, resplendent) - and Arcturus ,the Orange Giant. On 21 Dec. At 08.13 an Eclipsed Moon setting just as the Sun rises. On the same day, Venus leaves her 83 day retrograde loop - having "delivered", perhaps, fresh insight regarding our loves and relationships.
4 Jan 2011 brings a Partial Solar Eclipse, while, on that same day, URANUS can be viewed (through binoculars or telescope) immediately above Jupiter in the night sky, as the 2 Planets form their exact conjunction in 27 Degrees Pisces .

Greetings and best Wishes to all friends of Og's Blog far and wide -Terrestrial and otherwise ! Remember - "All theWorld's a Stage, and all the Men and Women merely Players" .
And-Kingfisher wishes you Happy Halcyon Days ! (see Jupiter/Uranus above.).

Yours, now Blogging Off ... OG. (aka David Matthews.).

Render unto Caesar ?

Friend - another Message from delectable Devonshire, at this, the Full Moon of October 2010.Each Month, the Full Moon illuminates a particular Sign, Degree of the Zodiac, and House in your Natal Chart. To-day, 23 October 2010, the Moon is Full in the last Degree of Aries, with the Sun in the opposite, last Degree of Libra, at 01.36 U.T.



The emphasis here is upon the Individual (Aries) and his or her stance regarding society(Libra).Libra represents the collective or cohesive force of Society, the peer group, the general prevailing consensus . Aries represents the necessary counterpoint provided by the Individual, who may (courageously) stand forth, step out and forge a new direction - along which others may later follow.Like Kirk and Spock in "Star Trek" - he, or she, will "Boldly Go"...(curiously, both actors -William Shatner - Kirk, and Leonard Nimoy - Spock, are both Sun Aries- both born late March 1931.)



The Zodiac demonstrates the perpetual balancing and blending of "opposite" qualities :- Aries/Mars and Libra/Venus. Leo/Sun and Aquarius/Uranus (or, traditionally, Saturn). Taurus/Venus and Scorpio/Pluto (or Mars, as the "old" Ruling Planet). In fact we are, each of us,comprised of "ALL TWELVE" Signs, your Sun Sign being a focus for the current Lifetime, indicating the Work to be done, the Hero's Task, the area/Astrological House, in which you are invited to "Shine" !

An example - Barack Obama - Sun in 6th House of work, service, health. Regardless of position, status, honour in this, the System of Things, his need is simply to "get on with the job ".



Brian Epstein, the "discoverer" and Manager of the Beatles - Sun, in Virgo, in the 2nd House, - nicely illustrating his "task" as creator of substance, wealth, resources, and supportiveness for, what became, his "Empire"of Liverpool based groups and artistes.



CURRENT AFFAIRS SUPPLEMENT !



On Wednesday 20 October the Chancellor of the Exchequer ( of the United Kingdom) George Osborne, set forth "his" ideas for cutting budgets here, there and everywhere. While the Nation is yet in a remorseful, vulnerable,rather masochistic state of Repentance for the collective excesses of many years past, the "ConDems"are advocating policies that will, unless we are much mistaken, will result in increased distress for the already distressed. Reminds one of the line in the song ".. It's the Rich wot gets the pleasure, and the Poor wot gets the blame..."



On the day, 20 October, the Asteroid Ceres was in Conjunction with stern old Pluto, in no-nonsense Capricorn, conjunct the North Node, also in Capricorn. Pluto here seems to be caught in the act of "mugging"poor Ceres, Mother Earth herself,and a body discovered ON THE SAME DAY, in the Sign Taurus, that the United Kingdom was created -( on 1.1.1801)- by a Sicilian Monk - Giovanni Piazza. From that, one can infer a particular resonance and affiliation between Ceres, the Asteroid and the Archetype, and these British Isles, and, yes, also with Sicily/ Italy. Great Mother-Lands both. I should mention, too, that Saturn has recently crossed the threshold of the U.K. National Horoscope at 7 degrees Libra. Time to sober up and face facts -and invite useful and significant Change - there's the exciting bit...the Goodness in Men an Women, eclipsed to some degree by decades, centuries of intense Materialism, could break forth in a way that could amaze us all.



Tough Medicine (Mr. Osborne) - but why not reform the Tax System to achieve a similar result ?



RELIGIOUS SECTION !



The Gospel of Mark - worth a read, timeless wisdom which has little to do with the Christianity that followed (more politics, I fear...) - try this :- the Pharisees came to Jesus with a question " Is it right that we pay taxes to the Roman Emperor ? " (hoping to trap him into making a statement that could be construed as treasonous or offensive to the State) . Jesus said "Bring me a Silver piece and let me look at it." They brought one and he said to them - "Whose head is this, and whose inscription ?"."Caesar's", they replied. Then Jesus said "Pay Caesar what is due to Caesar, and pay God what is due to God". And they heard him with astonishment.



Neat. A nice example of "Libran" judgement - both profound and graceful.



Some Early Scorpio Birthdays. Private Eye (1961), The United Nations Organisation (1945), Wayne Rooney, footballer (1985), Modern Turkey (1923), Astrid Matthews (2009)-my Grand-Daughter.



The next session of Totnes Astrology - Fri. 5 Nov. 2-4 p.m.- at 6 Plymouth Road, Totnes, Devon.:- "SEASONAL FEASTS AND FESTIVALS"

- both Traditional and those evolving to match modern, and future, needs. Samhain/Hallow'een /being the next of these, at the end of October/early November.





Cheers, for now - OG (aka David Matthews.)

Popes and Pipers (at the Gates of Dawn).

Dear Friend - How are things with you? September is here, and so, for a few days, is the Pope.Who represents, in the eyes of some, a quaint old Patriarchal hangover from the Age of Pisces, a significant element of the Great Conspiracy of Control down here on Slave Planet Earth. Perhaps. But one can also sense the golden thread which leads , through many labyrinthine twists, back to the Light that was Jesus, the Christ, via Peter, the disciple to whom Jesus is reputed to have said (and you have probably heard this before...) :-

"Thou art Peter - and upon this Rock I will build my Church; and the Gates of Hell will not prevail against it."

Other Disciples were given, or found, missions of their own:- Thomas to India; Andrew eastwards- to become the founder and the figurehead of the Orthodox Church. Simon Zelotes (it is said) to Britain, as did Joseph of Arimathea, with a company of refugees, all of whom had been inspired and marked, for all time, by their association with the man Jesus, who had carried, for a while, the great burden and the indescribable glory, of the Christ. Mary Magdalene has been "rediscoved" - while St. John ? -perhaps the Interpreter of the coming Age of Aquarius.

And now the Age of Pisces yields to the Aquarian epoch - as we follow the Man with the Pitcher of Water to the Upper Room (raised vibration/higher consciousness..)- and we, the "friends", together have the responsibility for such teachings, or far better, a life lived as far as possible in that Spirit of Aquarian brotherhood/sisterhood, as is fitted for the present time.

And yet :- "Seek ye first the Kingdom of Heaven, and all else shall be added unto you ".

... still good advice after all these years..?

For the Astrologically inclined, the Present Pope, Joseph Ratzinger, born 16 April 1927, has Jupiter, in Pisces, right on the Ascendant of the Chart, with Sun closely trining Neptune. Jupiter Pisces rising is not a bad "signature" for the religious/devotional personality, and the Sun/Neptune aspect can represent innate attunement to "things beyond" . Both aspects lean toward the "cloistered existence", though with Jupiter, Uranus, Mercury, Sun and Chiron all in the First House, this is not much chance of languishing unnoticed in some remote seminary or on Father Ted's Craggy Island - speaking of which reminds us of the healing power of Humour, the good Zen Belly Laugh at the ludicrousness of most Human constructs.

Today's Jupiter/Uranus Conjunction falls upon the Pope's natal Mercury at 28 degrees Pisces. Where does it fall in your Chart ?For some, this aspect represents a major expansion of horizons and/or a chance to step out into something new.

Watching Uranus ! A few nights ago I was able to view, for the first time, to my knowledge, the Planet Uranus. Find Jupiter - unmistakeable - the brightest object at present in the Night Sky - look for the faint "star" just above and slightly to the right, and that will be Uranus (you'll need a decent pair of binoculars if you don't have access to a reliable telescope). The four major Moons of Jupiter can easily be seen, with binoculars, as they orbit rapidly their parent planet.

The discovery of Uranus by William Herschel on 13 March 1781, at Bath, England, represented a vast step out toward the Cosmos, for us all. Not to mention the advent of the Industrial Revolution and the genesis of the "Modern" world.But everything is cyclic, and no doubt Uranus was known to our forefathers long ago. Lost and re-discovered.Uranus/Ouranus = "Heaven" , while Gaia is "Earth". The Primal Couple. Venus, of course, was born of Uranus - showing us that Love (Venus) is our "heavenly" passport - "All you need is Love" ? - worth a shot, is it not ?

On that theme - a Seminar ! On FRIDAY 1 OCTOBER. 12.30-4.30. £30/25. "URANUS" . at 6 Plymouth Road, Totnes, Devon. Uranus then; now; as "ruler" of things Aquarian; and Uranus in your own Chart.(Drinks and snacks included).

Saturn is about to transit the Ascendant of the U.K. natal Chart (1.1.1801) at 7 Degrees Libra, for the first time since 1980/81( you'll remember that period, probably..). It will be interesting to see how things shape up, then, over the next several months for this Ancient Land, the abode of Giants, and some would say, a/the Heart Chakra of this Planet.

To paraphrase W.C. Churchill -he was referring to America (the U.S.A.):- " ...(Humanity) always does the right thing - after trying every other possible alternative ..." (!)

Yours, in Hope ... Og the Blog (aka David Matthews).

Raising Parents

Another nudge from the subconscious finds me here in Blogland, again, hope you will share with me, these ideas which seek admittance via the computerised portals of the 21st Century.

Early August, now, and the time of the Feast of Lammas - or "Loaf Mass" - when it is possible and practicable to begin the wheat and barley harvest - then, to grind the corn and bake the very first Bread of the season - a time of celebration, of deep visceral satisfaction - food for the furtherance of Life and the assurance that the family, the community will continue to develop through the generations.
Yesterday, 2 August, we did indeed see the very first (combine ) Harvesters out in the fields here in the South Hams of Devon. 2 or 3 men in attendance. 70 years or so ago harvesting was very much a community effort, with scores of people lending a hand, out in the field til dusk, continuing into the season of Virgo - the Lady who holds the Sheaf of Wheat. The many Summer Music Festivals of the present still bring thousands out into the fields ! Slightly different context, yet the underlying desire and motivation to celebrate Life and partake of "Mass" experience is not dissimilar.

Leo Time - and the Mayan Calendar begins, each year, on 26 July. There are 13 months in the Mayan Calendar, with 25 July as the "day out of Time" - a day for dream, contemplation, thanksgiving, spiritual orientation. It seems that increasing numbers of people are becoming aware of this new/old calendar. Will it "catch on"? Other groups, setting out bravely in new directions, have jettisoned the familiar Julian/Gregorian system - the Bahais, for example; the French Revolutionaries in 1789 ; the Quakers, who substituted "First Day, Second Day", etc. for "Sunday, Monday.." etc.

If, as some expect, the Earth will someday tilt, change its orbit, re-orient itself, then all our present co-ordinates, seasonal markers, rhythms, balance of Day and Night would alter completely- and that WOULD be a bold New Beginning for we who walk, down here, in the Field of Earth.

Leo - represents the energy, the Archetype of Creativity, especially as expressed through Fatherhood, though the Sun, Leo's Ruling "Planet", is seen by some cultures, notably in Germany and Japan, as Feminine.

As is said "Raising Parents is not easy", as each generation has to run the gauntlet, of the many prejudices and pre-suppositions of the previous generation... Fathers, in particular, still emerging from the collective authoritarian "fog" of the Piscean Age, will benefit from the warm, focused, affectionate steady Light of the Sun and Leo, in its higher manifestation. Aquarius;- the Group, all of Humanity, we, the Friends together (as a collective "Maitreya", too ), rings out the Keynote of this age, yet, Leo, and the Sun, represent a necessary and vital complement and counterbalance to what can be the rather remote, though sincere, idealism of Aquarius.
It is interesting to view, say, Barack Obama, with his Aquarius Ascendant and South Lunar Node: but Leo Sun, North Node and Uranus - as an example of this polarity in action (regardless, for the moment, of the System through which he has "ascended" and which grants him his position of influence).

Mythologically speaking (if you'll pardon the expression) - Ouranos, the original "Sky Father", when not impressed by the attributes of his own offspring- the Children of Gaia, would "bury" them - not fully acknowledge or admit them into his Heart. Similarly, Saturn, son of Ouranus, would "eat" his children - and this also a way of saying that Time (Saturn) devours all manifested Life - eventually. I suspect these legends refer to the "Gods" who, very probably "created" Mankind, in various stages, with more than a little Genetic Manipulation/Experimentation. Children grow up, though, Children of the Gods, no exception, and produce children of their own, and the same patterns, the Parent-Child dynamic repeats itself perpetually -Until the advent of Light, Insight, and the Understanding which arrives through the perspective of, say Psychology ( thanks, Herr Jung, old buddy..), or Astrology - just take a look at the Synastry (Birthchart Comparism) -between yourself and other family members - it will explain all/a great deal.
He or She who is your Son or Daughter, Father or Mother, Friend or Lover in this Life has almost certainly filled that, or some other role, in relation to you, in some Previous existence. There may be "karma" between you, which can be greatly ameliorated by patience and forethought, as we emerge from the rusting(and crumbling) shackles of a long dark era for Humanity.
Peter Deunov, the Bulgarian Sage/Teacher said that our Solar System, has, for a long period, been traversing a "contaminated" area of the Universe - probably true in different ways and on diferent levels. Perhaps that burden is due to be lifted - the Heart of the Sun, I suspect, holds the key and knows the timing of our likely release. In fact you are already "released" but may not know it....and birds, released, fly Upward. It has been a long, but interesting, detour for us, the Prodigal Sons and Daughters of the Heavenly Father..(you'll know the story.).

"Keep Calm and Carry On" - for the moment !

With Many Good Wishes -OG. (aka David Matthews).

Julian Days

Recently, I came across the following 2 bits of information, on the same day :- 1. There is a famous footballer, somewhere ,who earns £180,000 per week. 2. There is a small boy, in India, I believe, who earns 7p. per hour for a 97 hour week, making trinkets for sale in British shops.
Fair? And what does it say about values and standards extant on Planet Earth?

To be certain, everything is "recorded in the ether", and, sooner or later everything is balanced and accounted for, yet one wonders - why are we so slow to get the point - that such gross disparities contribute very little toward a sane and happy, even sustainable, life experience, "down here". IT NEED NOT BE THIS WAY.

There is saying, attributed to Jesus, though probably "as old as the hills" - " It is easier for a Camel to pass through the Eye of a Needle, than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven".- the Eye of the Needle, of course, being the small, low, gateway, easily defended against intruders, built into the wall of Near East cities, to pass through which, even a man of average height has to bow his head. If the above utterance represents an accurate picture of Terms and Conditions prevailing at Heaven's Turnstiles, then many will have much to think about...

While on the Jesus theme - " If your brother has no coat, and you have two, then give to him your spare one" (or similar.).
Or the advice given to the young rich man who wanted to join the band of Disciples :- " Give all you have to the Poor - and follow me"- advice which, at least initially, this young man was loath to follow.

Food for thought, yes? At the very least ,these are shock tactics designed to wake you from a complacent and customary groove.

All a bit serious - I am hoping to facilitate a Joke Channelling Workshop fairly soon. The following "came through" while travelling to give a talk at Kingsbridge :- A dyslexic Zoo Keeper in a stand-off with the Police sends a note "... I must warn you, I have a Gnu...".
Planned for Spike Milligan's birthday - 16 April 2011, please note.

"Nice Juan, Ferdinand !" - Spain! doing so well in football - European and World Champions. And Rafael Nadal winning Wimbledon.. I went off to consult Nicholas Campions' magnificent Book Of World Horoscopes to check on the Spanish "birthchart" - there are 2 in general use - "modern" Spain - for the coronation of King Juan Carlos on 22 Nov. 1975, and the other - for the creation of Spain by the marriage of Prince Ferdinand of Aragon to Princess Isabella of Castile on 19 January 1479. Using the technique of Secondary Progression on the latter Chart, we find that the Progressed Mars is now closely conjunct the natal Uranus/Neptune Conjunction in early Gemini. That well describes the burst of radical, sensational energy in the national psyche, expressed through their young Sportsmen by the progressed Mars, in Gemini, with the above mentioned Uranus/Neptune conjunction.( Mars represents young men, "warriors ", champions and "heroes" in a National Horoscope.)

As we move, collectively, through a Transition from one great Age to another (albeit that Earth-Life and our perception of it is partial, subject to distortion, seen "through a glass, darkly")- there is anticipation, uncertainty, vast potential, insecurity, yet one feels on the verge of liberation from the coils of the deadening materialism as we have endured "down here" for so long. I think the 5th Dimension beckons, what say you ? Is it to be:- Gradual Change, in Due Course, - or "The World Turned Upside Down ?".

We are of the Stars, made of Starry material, and yes, "anon" of my previous Blog - to the Stars we shall return. Meanwhile may we make best use of our Earthwalk, be patient with ourselves and one another, and sit, walk and move in the Light.

A quote from George Fox, - guiding Light , now as then, of the Quakers :- "When you "Sing" in the Spirit, you reach all others, in the Spirit."


Many Thanks - in Friendship - David Matthews (aka OG.)

Stars of Summer

Can this be real ? Blue skies and soft Summer Breeze, sea bathing at Torquay, sunsets of peach and pink ?? A reminder - and I hope you are benefiting from this more generous face of British Weather - that the best things in life are free and that our Earth life (our "Earthwalk") - was meant to be enjoyed and experienced in this way.

The Sun is "in" the Sign Gemini now (15 June 2010)- and we are heading toward the Summer Solstice - the "Longest Day" - on 21 June. The Sun is keeping company with the Stars of Orion- stars now subsumed in the radiance of that fiery Orb; - come the Winter Orion will be again a glorious sight in the Southern Sky. We CAN see, though, Arcturus, in Constellation Bootes, the Herdsman, bright Orange in colour, to the South, in the Night Sky - easy to spot.. The youngest and hottest stars appear Blue-White (Sirius, for example), while the reddish stars (Aldebaran, Betelgeux) are "old". Arcturus, in late middle age, hence the intermediate, orangey hue - is actually traversing our part of the Galaxy quite rapidly, -it is "passing through", albeit , from our perspective , a visit lasting many millions of years.

Arcturus, "Bear Guardian" or "Bear Ward" equates, of course, to Arthur, the mythical King and representative, along with Merlin, of the Soul of Britain. Do I hear him stirring?

Also visible - the" Summer Triangle" - of Vega, Altair and Deneb- high to the South as the Summer advances. Reddish Mars and pale, distant Saturn can be found, also, to the South. They are Conjunct on 31 July in 0 degrees Libra. By early August there is a quite splendid Cardinal T-Square gathering around us, with the Moon, on 6/ 7 August completing, briefly, a Cardinal Grand Cross.

NEPTUNE'S CUNNING PLAN:- investigation into the cycles of Neptune reveals the following :-

Neptune at Discovery by Johann Gottfried Galle at Berlin 23/4 September 1846 - was at 25 Degrees Aquarius, conjunct Saturn, also 25 Aquarius.
(Speculative, but very possible) Brutus the Trojan at Totnes, 1103 B.C. Neptune 25 Aquarius.
Joseph of Arimathea at Glastonbury (again, speculative but highly likely) by 40 A.D. - Neptune 25 Aquarius.
Death of Arthur (reputedly) 537 A.D. - Neptune 25 Aquarius.
King Canute and his encounter with the Sea ( he was demonstrating to his courtiers the limits of man's power in the face of the great impersonal Ocean, was he not?) A.D. 1026 - Neptune 25 Aquarius.
1190 A.D. Grave of Arthur and Guinevere ? found at Glastonbury, in an Oak cofffin at depth of 16 feet ( so the story goes) - Neptune 25 Aquarius.
Thomas More writes "Utopia" (reign of Henry the Eigth) - year 1515 - Neptune 25 Aquarius.
Neptune Discovery 1846 (as above) - also Brunel constructing the GWR - "God's Wonderful Railway" - this was exactly the time that the Exeter-Dawlish-Totnes stretch of line was under construction - Neptune 25 Aquarius. At same time the arrival of modern Spiritualism via the Fox sisters in New York State.

And now -2009/10 Neptune RETURNS to it's discovery Degree of 25 Aquarius, the third Return in this sequence in Late October/early November 2010. It is Stationary Direct(exceptionally powerful) in 25.55 Aquarius on 7 November.

One can understand that Neptune can represent sublime, "heavenly" inspiration and insight, designed to "loosen the chains of Matter" (Saturn!)..but also can manifest as (self) deception and mass delusion/illusion.
One would hope that the former case would apply, as true Vision, and an affirmation of the reality of the Communion of Souls, here and Elsewhere, would do us no harm at this most interesting stage of the Human experience...

A mention here - a Half-Day Seminar at 6 Plymouth Road, Totnes, on Thursday 22 July :-

" THE SATURN/URANUS OPPOSITIONS 2008-10" -a view of the interplay of these 2 Colossi in our world in general and- within our own Psyche ( bring your Birthchart, or ask me to print a copy for you. 1-4.15 p.m. £25.00


Many thanks for your kind attention. As Ever -OG (aka David Matthews).

Venus in a Blue Rinse

Hello, Friend; - the signs were there when Chelsea (the Blues) won the F.A. Championship. So now, we, (in the U.K.) have the Blue Party (Conservatives) , "in power"together with their new best friends the Gold/Yellow party, the Liberal Democrats. A combination of colours which engenders a greenish hue, I think. Different. Let's see how they progress.
A New Paradigm ? - possibly not, though some quite skillful Deckchair Re-arrangement.

Astrologically, our friends Cameron and Clegg have much in common. Both born in the year of the Fire Horse -1966-very early 1967. They BOTH have a close Opposition of Saturn and Uranus - perfect resonance with the current Opposition of these 2 Planets, though at their birth Saturn was in Pisces, and Uranus in Virgo. NOW , the 2 have "swapped" Signs, with Saturn back,briefly, in Virgo, opposing Uranus in Pisces. All very descriptive of the tensions and opportunities of the mid 1960's -now translated into the political arena by the emergence of a new generation - the 1960's born -into the Cabinet Room deliberations.
They BOTH have Jupiter in the 2nd Degree of Leo, in precisely the same degree as in the U.K. Chart - 1 Jan. 1801. So both can be Something Big in this land, as they touch a chord in the British psyche which, deep down, remembers a distant time when Kings and rulers did possess a divine, or "Golden" quality and expressed what we might describe as the Love/Wisdom; or 2nd Ray, aspect as represented by the Sun and Jupiter in combination. e.g. Sun conjunct Jupiter, or, Jupiter in Leo.

VENUS, during this Election period, has been in Gemini, describing the "courtship"that featured beween the Parties, the choices, or choosing;- the relative youthfulness of the main participants;
and, from a higher perspective, no matter how flawed the process, or how world-weary one might have become, Venus as Esoteric Ruler of Gemini acts here to blend, combine, interweave disparate energies, as Intermediary and Peacemaker.

If your head is reeling from this unsolicited barrage of Astro-Politics (which you didn't vote for !?) - then here is a verse of Folk-Song. -from "The Bonny Black Hare" (Trad.).:-

" On the fourtenth of May, at the Dawn of the Day,
with my gun on my shoulder to the woods I did stray,
Hoping to find, if the weather proved clear-
I might get a shot at the Bonny Black Hare..."

Euphemistic and not unconnected with the May-Time traditions (courtesy of Venus) of finding a partner and making some efforts towards procreation and continuation of the Species.- common to all species at this time of year- in this, the Northern Hemisphere.
There is a theory, that way back in time- Neolithic/Bronze Age ?, that many, perhaps a majority of children were conceived around Beltane -early May, as people expressed their natural, enforced by "Tribal",desire to unite as the Earth awoke under the influence of the strengthening Sun.
If that WAS the case, then many, perhaps a majority, would have been born around the time of Imbolc (Candlemas), in early February, nine months later. -A Society with a built-in Aquarian Majority ! The mind boggles - how were things -? Live and let Live? A lot of cool customers with an ingenious water supply and quite good Public Transport (Ox-carts, Canoes -or did they practise Levitation ?) Star-lore and Earth -Energies - they knew much that we are only just re-membering. John Michell and Alfred Watkins, Aquarians both -have opened our eyes to the works of our Ancestors. Stonehenge, Avebury, and a thousand other sites are now again "visible" to us all as we recognise the brawn, the brain, the body of the Ageless Landscape amongst which we are privileged to live and have our Being while in this physical sojourn.

It is possible, though, at some point, when the Universe "agrees", that Earth-life could take a very different direction - into the 4th/5th Dimension, up and away (vibrationally) from the strictly, physical, Time-bound, which is all too familiar. 2012 might be a step in that direction. Does the Phoenix await? The Crop Circles, I suspect, will continue to offer clues ..


"He who laughs at himself is never short of entertainment"


Many Thanks for your kind attention-

With All Good Wishes - OG (Aka David Matthews).

Dear Friend;

"What do we want?" - "Gradual Change !". "When do we want it?" - "In due course !"....
An old joke about the Civil Service - on strike. Our innate conservatism is indeed likely to be increasingly shaken by "events" - both in the Natural (that Volcano..) and Human Worlds :- that hot air vented by Political Parties - synchronous with the eruption of Eyjafjallajokul - ("Island-mountain-glacier").Remember though, that, whatever "happens" in this the "Field" where Humans live and walk, although you are "In" a Body (which no doubt you greatly value and maintain to the best of your ability and wish to enjoy and make use of for as long as possible !?) - the essential You is no more a "body" than a Driver IS a"Car", or a Bird IS a "Nest".

However, for many, our labours here are not yet completed, and we trust that our "contract" - agreed upon before you took the Plunge into this Earth Life ( Gosh ! -did I really Sign Up for THAT ?) allows Time for Everything (that you need to do while you are here...).The good news is that we are not alone, that we, the FRIENDS, together can accomplish the task. Keep plodding on!

The subsequent chaos -sparked by the volcano, and the grounding of virtually all aircraft, is well denoted by Mercury - slowing down and turning Retrograde, in Taurus, at precisely that time -14 to 20 April or thereabouts. A Study of the Natal Chart for Modern Iceland- the Republic- 17 June 1944, with 2 Degrees Libra rising, Neptune conjunct:- (a mysterious, sea-born land), squaring Saturn in Gemini, conjunct the massive Star, Betelgeux, in 28-29 Gemini( fluid and uncertain boundaries)- with a total of 6 bodies in the Sign Gemini, mostly in the region of ORION - the GIANT. Surely a tale of Nordic/Northern giants, trolls, fire spirits- and, over many years of investigation, I have seen that Betelgeux "crops up" in connection with massive, overwhelming manifestations in Nature, such as the above, or explosions, or with "giant" personalities, hard to handle in a normal "social" context.

The Stars, certainly those on or near the Ecliptic, freqently contribute their energy and "influence", as indeed one would expect - as we contemplate the Timeless maxim - "As Above, so Below".

Back on Earth- yesterday, 24 April 2010, I took the train to Camborne in Cornwall to partake in the Trevithick Day celebrations. Who? - Richard Trevithick, born 13 April 1771, Inventor of the High Pressure Steam Engine, Railway Pioneer, progenitor of much that we take for granted in the modern world. A day when the Cornish "let off steam".With 30 or so great Engines assembled in Trelowarren street. There are miles of stalls and Thousands of people. I have never seen a bigger crowd except for, perhaps , Late Night Shopping in Totnes in December. Which probably suggests that I really do need to get out more often.

A few Cornish Place names :- Camborne = Cam Bron - the bent or curved Hill. There IS a hill nearby called Carn Arthen- "Arthur's Hill" - and the great Hillfort at Carn Brea (the Rocky Hill) between Camborne and Redruth (the Red Ford, or, more imaginatively - "Druids Town")- would have made the perfect "Camelot", in the far West, for an Arthur/Commander/Protector with cavalry to deploy.
For "Round Table", though, see "Somerset Zodiac" - of which more later.

Taurus Time, now, appropriate to touch base in the landscape, the reassurance of Earth, the familiarity of place.Flesh, skin and bone, pulse and breath of the Motherland. The memory and comforting touch of turf and stone.West Cornwall for me- how about you?

The Full Moon of Taurus is at 13:18 BST on Weds. 28 April. The Full Moon of the Buddha, by tradition, of his Birth, Enlightenment, and Death. A time, it is said, to celebrate our connection with those who encourage and uphold us in our life here, and especially, in our move toward Enlightenment. You are, already, in fact, Enlightened- it's just that you normally don't notice.Be Still! (that helps...).

Meanwhile... the Oppositions of Saturn and Uranus continue - the next on Tuesday 28 April.Presenting, for us, the contrast between "Old" and " New", although Uranus actually represents Timeless values and points the way to Heaven, the Stars. First, the Lessons of Saturn. Then - the Freedom of Uranus.Uranus, also Ouranos -"Heaven", together with Gaia "Earth", of course, are the Primal Couple who gave birth to Saturn and the Titans - which again reminds us of Icelandic (or Cornish) Giants and their doings.

A Book I wish to recommend:- "THE SPIRIT LEVEL" ..Why Equality is Better for Everyone.A Principle far too simple and obvious to be readily digestible by our"growth-obsessed" Society. Or is it ? By Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett. Published by Penguin Books. Recommended to me by son Hugh in Glasgow.


What good weather !- blessed by the Sun (here in England -how about you?).

Many thanks for your kind attention !.Regular Astrological Events continue here, E-Mail me:-

dave@starlynx.plus.com

for details of these, or to enquire about Birth Charts, Astro-Cartography, Synastry Reports, and other interesting Astrological angles.

David Matthews (Aka OG.)

Mountains Green

Hello, Friend. Today is Good Friday - rather than the usual Good! Friday! Friday, of course named after the Nordic Goddess Freya or Frig - patroness of the arts of Love.
In the Christian Calendar to-day is an anniversary of the Crucifixion of Jesus, who was overshadowed by, and inspired by, the Cosmic Christ. ( Old English Crist - from Greek Christos, from Chriein - to anoint.)
For speaking so truly and directly he got into a lot of trouble.However,on the third day in the tomb, he Resurrected, the Shroud and bandages abandoned. A mystery, this;- he was seen by Mary Magdalene, who mistook him for the Gardener. As she reached out to him he said (Latin Version..) " Noli me tangere" , "don't touch me".. This incident, as recounted, so poignant and vivid, has a ring of authenticity about it. Perhaps it is so, that, later, he, with Mary and a few others escaped to the South of France, even, then to Britain, where he, Jesus, had set foot before ;- hence Blake's epic verse - "...And did those Feet, in Ancient Time, set upon England' s mountains green...?" Oh, probably! He would have felt at home amongst the Druids and the byways of Devon, Cornwall and Somerset. As well as being amongst relatives - a Cornish Grandmother Anne or Ana - or is this an allusion to the ancient title of the Goddess??Conveying legitimacy and authenticity to his work and mission from the Feminine perspective.

On the south wall of the Lady Chapel at Glastonbury Abbey are engraved the words:-

JESUS
MARIA

As I, with 2 friends, on a visit to Glastonbury 2 years ago, stood below the Abbey walls, studying this inscription, I was , in my "default" mode of "Glastonbury Guide", chuntering on about this feature- saying .."perhaps it IS true that these two, Jesus and Mary were here, perhaps even buried here...!?" - there was, out of no-where, an almighty clap of Thunder,from, it seemed, above Chalice Hill nearby. Mmmm !


Now, 2000 years later, as this Age of Aquarius dawns ( and Dawn happens gradually!) it is us, surely,the "Friends", together, collectively, who manifest and make good the Divine impulse which opens the way for the next great phase in this, the journey of Mankind back to the Source, enriched, wiser, for our experiences "down below".
"Maitreya", as has been said before, has a PLURAL connotation, and refers to "Friends, Friendship". That's us, folks, we CAN do this thing,together.One rainbow contains 7 colours with infinite gradations between. There are12 Signs of the Zodiac Wheel, a total of 360 degrees, each of equal validity, all equidistant from the Centre, each has its turn, each "has its day", each its special genius and function. Not a bad example of Divine Democracy. ( next chapter in the handbook;- "HUMANITY - operating instructions:21st Century Upgrade.").

The Sun, the Solar Logos,the heartbeat of our System, holds us in orbit: this Earth, the Nursery of Souls. Uranus, representing, higher, intuitive Mind, with Magician's wand upraised, points us to the Starry Spectacle beyond.It will be interesting to see how the forthcoming Jupiter/Uranus Conjunction, right on the actual Aries Point, 0 degrees Aries, manifests in early June and beyond. New "postings" and fresh horizons, in different senses, for not a few, we think.

Just returned from first visit to my "new" grand-daughter, Astrid, in Glasgow. Re-connecting with that great, now not so grimy, gritty, City, with its rich warmth and humour flavoured with "Buckfast" (wine) and punctuated by vertiginous, windy Tower Blocks was a revelation - passion, poetry, Art, Music - and at the heart of it St. Mungo's Cathedral and the Museum of Religious Life and Art. The Infirmary nearby. In theory-one can be born, christened, married, die, be buried -all with one hundred or so square yards. There is a Stone Circle, with 2 "New Age" shops just down the road;- heart of Glasgow, pulse of Scotland.

I thank you for your kind attention- Happy Easter !

With Kind Regards - OG (aka David Matthews)

Lions and Lambs

The Spring Equinox this year, 2010, is on Saturday 20 March at 17.32 U.T./GMT;- a point in the Year equivalent to the "Big Bang"- as a new cycle comes to birth, arising from the amniotic waters of Pisces.Each year a reminder of the cyclic, but also spiralic, nature of all existence.
The last 10 days (..the ScorpioDecanate) of Pisces have Mars as a sub-ruler, as have the first 10 days of Aries -(the Aries Decanate), and one can appreciate the 20 day span of this Planet's stirring, stimulating, influence as Winter tips into spring. The irresistable force of new Life.Green shoots piercing the humus, leaping Lambs, and the joyful time of Easter. The Infant Year, Aries the Lamb, drawn from the gestating depths of Winter, and the Chamber of Dreams - Pisces.
In the Southern Hemisphere- the reverse- the Year in mid-life, the fruits developed from blossoms long since gone.

Mars, Aries! = Rams, Arise! (Anagram ).As for Mars - it/he has been on one of those regular (every 2 years or so), longish Retrograde passages- a line-of-sight phenomenon cased when the Earth (on the "inside" track) 0vertakes Mars (on the "outside" track) causing Mars to seem to be slipping backwards. Similar to the experience of being on a train which is overtaking another train alongside- the "other" train then seems to be going backward. Illustrates the need to stand well back (in one's mind) from the whole process of living on this Planet in order to observe and better understand how things look from a reasonable distance... Mars is clearly visible now, forming an alignment with Procyon , and Sirius, in the late evening sky. Find Mars, elevated, orange-red, and let the eye follow downwards to Procyon and the twinkling radiant Sirius low on the horizon.
Mars, then, began to Retrograde on 20 Dec 2009, and turned Direct/ceased to Retrograde on 10 March 2010, and finally leaves the Retrograde "loop" on 17 May 2010. The "Fire" of Mars, while "loitering" in early Leo has been seen in Greece:- Natal Sun 0 degrees Leo, - Chart of 24 July 1974- public unrest and anger ;- and around the many tributes paid to Michael Foot, a Hero (Mars) of the Left and a man with profound and sincere Democratic instincts- born 23 July 1913.Plenty of huffing and puffing,too as the Political Pugilists set out their Fairground pitches.If there is a General Election on 6 May, as expected, with Sun closely squaring Mars, then the scene resembles rather a Tournament, complete with dented helmets, splintered lances, etc...now, now, boys!!

On the "Lion" theme - I see that David Icke's next book is entitled "The Lion sleeps no more"and will be published in April - with Mars still in Leo. Probably a good read.And respect here to a man who has done so much to expose some very uncomfortable truths concerning the Human world. Icke has South Node in 27 degrees Leo - indicating that "past life" experience featured this Sign and its lessons. North Node in 27 Aquarius - suggests a desire to share, circulate, disseminate the information that liberates.

Incidentally, are "Chemtrails" intended to degrade the Bee population to the extent that, oh dear! , the only solution open would be the use of "GM" crops and seeds with all the repercussions, dependency, genetic "lottery" etc.? Surely not! But, if so - HOW DARE THEY!.(if anyone has definitive knowledge of this subject - I would like to know the facts concerning this...).

A Quote here from Rudolf Steiner:- "History cannot be permanently falsified, the myth cannot stand up to the scrutiny of research, the sinister web will be brought into the Light and torn to pieces, however artfully it has been spun".
Collected from the website of Ian Crane. Under a heading "The Karma of Untruthfulness".

However, we are "all in the same boat" and it is LIGHT, rather than Heat, that will illuminate the way and encourage companions, followers and friends.

Coming up :- a SEMINAR on SUNDAY 25 APRIL :- SATURN and URANUS - 2 sides of Aquarius.In Myth, in Aspect, in History. Time, and Time Machine. Lord of the Rings and Prometheus !
2.30-5.30 P.M. at 6 Plymouth Road Totnes . £30/25. Drinks and snacks included. 01803 867145 ,or :-
dave@starlynx.plus.com - to book.

Many thanks ! Be blessede by the Spring Sunshine - OG. (aka David Matthews).

Piscean Pot-Pourri

The Sun is now (lateFebruary 2010) transiting the Sign of Pisces, and, as often, the weather -here in Britain - is characteristic of the time of year. "February Full-Dike"- well, yes ! To the Saxons February is Solmanad - "Mud-Month". Between now and 21 March, when the Sun enters fiery Aries, we are awash, afloat, adrift, on the turbulent, unpredictable, magnificent waters of the two Fishes.
To our ancestors, living closer to the elements, less insulated from the power of Nature than most of us today, February and March could bring grim and testing circumstances.A bright sunny morn could ( and still can..) turn into a day of howling wind, driving rain, or enveloping snow. Animals, livestock at risk; - travellers in peril ;-fuel and food running low. Concern for fellow beings, the need to share whatever food and comfort is at hand, the need for Faith , prayer and humility in the face of the awesome power of Nature - all hallmarks of Pisces and Piscean natives, who often seem to find themselves in circumstances which require, or compel a belief in a power greater than the Self alone.

In Pisces, we prepare for the renewal of life and Power in Aries, where the Sun is exalted. It is Venus that is exalted (as honoured guest) in Pisces itself, showing that Love (Venus) can become translucent, unconditional, universal, all -conquering, when operating through this, the last of the Signs.
Amor Omnia Vincit - "Loves conquers all".
Pisces- and the Piscean Age- which we are now leaving/outgrowing, is replete with imagery of the Christian era. Apart from Jesus Christ - known as "Icthus" - the Fish ! - and the 12 Disciples, several of whom were Fishermen- Andrew and Peter; James and John; - the seminal events and myths which shaped the last 2000 years -the Age of Pisces -do reflect and encapsulate the nature of the Age. The Seas- a great era of Navies and Navigation. Religion - men with "funny hats" (shaped like fishes' heads)- the Popes and Prelates of Christianity. An emphasis on Faith, submission, sacrifice, and the "will of God".Many Schools (shoals) of thought, religious Sects in abundance- splintering into many shards of religious thought and practice. The Abbeys, Priories, Convents and Nunneries. Franciscans, Dominicans, Cistercians, Benedictines (as at Glastonbury; also here in Totnes, the Priory founded in 1088.) At Torre Abbey, Torquay, the interestingly named Pre-Remonstratensians.

All of these caught, netted, speared and boiled for dinner by King Henry the 8th by the year 1539.

Then the long cuspal progression towards Aquarius, the Sign of Fixed Air (The Atmosphere; Space itself..) -and Fish becomes Water-Bearer, learns to fly, to access all knowledge at the click of a mouse ( man or mouse- is that the question??), then to prepare, we imagine, for 4th/5th dimensional life. 2012 and all that.

Meanwhile... the Saturn/Pluto Square is beginning to tell, is it not ? If like me, you have Planets
or sensitive points in the very early degrees of the Cardinal Signs you may be aware - of the pressure and discomfort associated ( though from the perspective of the Higher Self I suspect this may be acknowleged as a helpful, necessary cathartic karmic clear-out session.). This aspect is well named the "shrinking transformation".

Mars - turns Stationary Direct in 0 degrees Leo on 10 March. Plans and initiatives delayed stand better chance of implementation from that time onward.

Interestingly, 3 of the Celtic Nations have their National day in the season of Pisces:- Wales - 1 March - St. David's Day. Cornwall - 5 March- St. Piran's Day. Ireland - 17 March - St. Patrick's day.
Cornwall, in particular, manifests distinct Piscean qualities. At the tail end of England, an ancient Celtic stronghold, at the end of the Earth ( in Brittany, "Finisterre" has the same connotation - surely Pisces also..). Land of Arthur's Birth and Death - Excalibur forged by Cornish metal-working art, and returned to the depths - of Loe Pool ? The Cornish mottos:- "Onen Hag Oll" - "One and All" - boldly democratic and inclusive. But - "Pysk, Sten, Ha Cober" -"Fish, Tin and Copper"- are all Piscean issues;- Fish - self evident. Tin -the metal of JUPITER, the traditional Ruler of Pisces. Copper, the metal of VENUS, the Planet Exalted in Pisces.
One often senses the nearness of the Other World when in Cornwall, the more so furthest West. Like the Sign Pisces, the veil, the membrane is thinnest in such a place:-this brings to mind the phrase (from the Church of England/late Piscean Age manual known as the Book of Common Prayer) - "Lord, lettest now thy servant depart in Peace, according to thy word. For mine eyes have seen; thy salvation..."

Can't think of prose more Piscean than that.

On Sunday 28 Feb. the Sun is Conjunct Jupiter, in Pisces, at the Full of the Moon in the opposite Sign of Virgo. Faith, belief, goodwill, generosity of spirit (Sun/Jupiter/Pisces ) finding expression in dedicated work and service one to another (Full Moon in Virgo). What opportunity !


Hope this finds you well .
We ARE the people we have been waiting for.
Anyone can be a Friend.


With Kind Regards -OG (aka David Matthews).

Here comes the Sun

As the Sun warms the rooftops of Ogland and the Gulls begin to scurry about on their daily mission (finding food...) all sharp-eyed and beaky, the postman calls with a parcel from E-Bay, the cheerful inanities of local Radio are cut with solemn information concerning roads, weather, the tides; I go up into the garden, and then, a Raven, flying low, "Cronk! Cronk! ", with a large twig grasped in its bill, circles, deliberately, over our row of houses, then flies back in the direction from whence it came.
A Chart for that moment shows Jupiter in Pisces exactly rising, and Asteroid Ceres (The Earth Mother/Mother Earth representative) exactly on the mid-heaven. In Druidic mode, I contemplate the significance, the meaning of this. The Bird as Messenger. Then there are faces in the clouds , messages conveyed by Vehicle Registration Plates, bits of conversation overheard in the street, the song currently on the radio, and so on, and so forth... All is One and life speaks to us in many ways.
What is life saying now, then ? The Astrologically inclined will know of the ongoing "crunch"of the Saturn/Pluto Square- the agency of "Shrinking Transformation" - especially for those with Planets and sensitive points in the early degrees of the Cardinal signs;- Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn.No gain without pain?
And soon- the forthcoming New Moon on 14 Feb. in 25 degrees Aquarius is in very close conjunction with both Chiron and Neptune.An influx of Wisdom and Compassion from the Water Carrier's great Urn, which gathers the essence of the Cosmos and channels it toward we Earth dwellers- the Water of Life, freely given, each according to his need. ( Unlike the Earthly concept of Water Rates...).Some Aquarians have become very sensitised by the long passage of Neptune and Chiron, together, through Aquarius, and need rest and withdrawal to assimilate the potential gifts which accompany this transit- heightened intuition,acutely sensitive perception, developing awareness of and interest in the Divinatory and Healing Arts.Especially those born 14-18 February, or who have Ascendant, Moon, or key Planet in the last few Degrees of Aquarius.

And then... Mars, still retrograde in Leo, near Perigee(closest to Earth), and proving, on this occasion, quite a handful.Short fuses and frayed tempers; old warriors back in harness, campaigns of the past revisited. An example:- on Monday 8 Feb. I visited St. Andrew's Church in Plymouth- the only Church, incidentally, I know of,with a TRIDENT rather than a standard Cross on the altar - in recognition of Andrew the Fisherman, and, Plymouth's Maritime associations. The lady "on duty" there showed me "Drake's Graffiti"- a drawing, deeply etched upon a window ledge, showing a Globe, two Ships and some curious, meandering wavy lines, presumably indicating Drake's Round The World Voyage of 1577-80- this drawing, reputedly by Drake himself, revealed when the plaster, at some time, was chipped away from the window sill. A campaign revisited.

THE SUN. -Some signs ,now, of the Sun "waking up", as embryonic Sun spots are forming, as the Solar cycle, seemingly delayed, begins to move forward. Satnav. systems, this time may be affected(they hardly existed last time there was a Solar Maximum.)In another sense, the Sun, as the Heart (the Hearth) of our System, and our intermediary with the Cosmos of Suns/Stars is supremely important - life here could not exist without it. Even the Planets we watch in the skies shine by virtue of reflected Sunlight. The Sun is representative of the 2nd Ray (if you follow this line of thought...)- of Love-Wisdom; as is Jupiter. The Solar Logos -(Greek-Logos-"word") is the motive force and the "brain" which shepherds manifested life in our part of the Universe, the Parent of us all, a representative of the Divine. No wonder people have gone to such lengths to pay honour to this, our local Star.So obvious, yet so taken for granted in our "modern" world.
A small stirring of the Sun shakes the Planets as Gulliver stirs the Lilliputians. I suspect that the Sun, as before, is/will be transmitting the codes and messages which, in perfect timing, synchronous with a New Thought of the Cosmic Being, will precipitate amazing and necessary changes "down here". What say you??


Must mention;- A Seminar "A NEW COSMOLOGY" on Sunday 28 Feb. 2.30- 5.30,. £25.0o
at the Sun/Jupiter Conjunction and at the FullMoon. Come and explore this theme, with Charts
to enjoy; Astro-talk and visionary stuff. Hot drinks and snacks included. in Totnes. tel 01803 867145 or Email me:- dave@starlynx.plus.com




Cheers, for Now ! - your Old Friend OG (aka David Matthews).

Nodes of Neptune

Awake ! for Morning in the bowl of Night
Has cast the Stone that put the Stars to flight..

-from the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam.

Hello, Friend - an early morning missive at the Full Moon, this, the 30th of January 2010, and the birthday of the writer, Og the Blog.(...yes, I will make good use of the bus pass...). This particular Full Moon falls along the Nodes of the Planet NEPTUNE. ( the Nodes of the Planets, as with the Nodes of the Moon, are the 2 points in the Zodiac where the orbit of the Planet intersects the Ecliptic, which is the apparent path of the Sun, as viewed from Earth).
The Sun now is in Neptune's South Node, 10 Degrees Aquarius. The Moon, now at Full, and conjunct a Retrograde Mars in Leo is in Neptune's North Node at 10 Degrees Leo. This rare alignment, last seen on 30 Jan 1972, emphasises Neptune's role and significance in our lives. Look for a "downloading" of Ageless Wisdom and ongoing realisation that we are all "in the same boat", interdependent, with mutual obligations one to another, representing the Planetary Mind (south node Aquarius); yet also Individuals, with a right to stand in our own strength, unfurling our creative powers and capacity for loving warmth -little Suns ! (north node Leo.).

Neptune itself, in 2009/10 has returned, for the very first time since we "discovered" it on 24 September 1846, to 25 degrees Aquarius, its Degree of discovery. Neptune "coming home", in fact. It was discovered in close conjunction to Saturn, the ringed Planet, which represents the limitation and density of the Physical, the limitations and parameters of our experience of incarnation, and, indeed, the process of Time itself ("Old Father Time", complete with scythe).
This especial and obvious link with Saturn suggests that Neptune's "mission" is to SPIRITUALISE THE PHYSICAL; representing our capacity, through aspiration, prayer, meditation; through art, music, the contemplation of grace, beauty and the realities of many levels of existence interpenetrating and "beyond" our own; to uplift and infuse our world, our circumstances with a knowledge of the Divine. There we have the positive side of Neptune, as a higher Octave of Venus, together intoning the line :- "...Beauty is Truth, Truth Beauty, and here on Earth this is all ye need to know."

Matters connected with Neptune - SOME have origins traceable to the late 1840's, the time of Neptune's emergence into our awareness as a Planet:- Communism, Socialism, Spiritualism, Photography,Poetry, Anaesthetics,Impressionism. The Hippie culture, "Flower-Power", the mind-expanding practices of the 1960's; Meditation. "World Music" - sponsored by, amongst others, George Harrison, the only Beatle to have Neptune in synthesising, harmony-seeking Libra (the other 3 have Neptune in Virgo).
Also- fraud, deception, (and self-deception), gases, drugs, disguises, disorganisation. The Sea and Marine Life generally. Dolphins, Whales ! ( also Jupiter). Disappearancies, mysteries, myths, magic and legend - think Arthur, Round Table, Grail, Merlin, Celtic mist and mystery. Cornish seas and bottomless lakes. St. Ives. Lennon's "Imagine". Martin Luther King:- "I have a Dream...". Hold on while I go for a cup of tea....(nice Neptunian interlude...). Thanks !

Incidentally, and here is a typical episode of Neptunian mystery and obfuscation ;- Galileo, in the winter of 1612/13 actually viewed and noted the position of Neptune, without, apparently, realising it was a Planet. He probably thought it was either a Fixed Star, or, as it was in close conjunction with Jupiter (in Sign Virgo), a Moon of Jupiter.Neptune waited another 234 years to make itself known - to Johann Galle, at the Berlin Observatory, guided by calculations of John Couch Adams and Urbain Leverrier.

The Annual journey around the Sun brings us shortly to the feast of Candlemas, on 2 Feb. Otherwise known as Imbolc, or Oimelc;- old English for "Ewe's Milk " - the Lambing season, and an assurance that newborn infants, too, could benefit from the milk of the ewe if needs be. Also the time of Bride or Brigit, and the WHITENESS of snow, snowdrops, milk, the Candle, and great white clouds which often drape the February sky. One candle can kindle many another - let our Lights shine forth !

You may have heard of the passing of Hamish Miller, in Cornwall, on 25 January. One shining light that sparked hope in the hearts of not a few. God Bless, Hamish.


Strength and Joy to you in this New Year !

All the Very Best: - OG. (aka David Matthews.)

Achievable Aquarian Aspirations

Dear Friend- as the rigours of Winter gradually recede - and quite a test it has been, the Sun now, from our Earthly perspective, eases across the border from Capricorn to Aquarius.
Indeed, at this time of year we might marvel at the occasional unexpected appearance of the Sun, strong to cheer and inspire, a reminder of the great unfailing Heart, or Hearth, of which it is the symbol and representative.
There are early stirrings of new life emerging from the dark womb of winter - the green shoots in hedgerows and gardens: the Primrose which, biding its time, beneath a carapace of ice, now stands as a messenger of Hope, soon to be joined by a million others.
Similarly, with ourselves - perhaps you and I have waited for some great clarion call to signify the change of the Ages, the Word delivered, the declaration of Prophets. Maybe. But such great events arrive quietly at first, sneaking up on you like First Light, appearing unobtrusively like tender leaves on the Willow. This IS such a time in the life of Humanity, there have been times before, and there will be times to come, but NOW it is us, the friends together, who are the People We Have Been Waiting For.
To quote a phrase -"If not us, then Who ? If not now, then When ?"
Yes, folks , it's all happening, and we are asked, it seems, to envision the possibility that we are given/have asked for the opportunity to "ground" a NEW PARADIGM for living on this ancient Earth in this, the physical "department" where the work is done. ( No Worries - one day at a time will do...).

Whatever apparent chaos and despair is around on a global scale, make no mistake, there is a new World being born in the midst of it. It is most helpful to hold in the imagination, with heartfelt anticipation, a vision of a world where gross inequalites cannot exist and people live at peace with one another and with the Natural World, in fuller communication with the greater Cosmos . Idealistic ? Of Course! but "Without a Vision, the People perish..."

The Beatles, in 1967 with "All You Need Is Love" caught the message and expressed it for millions. One might look back to that period and smile at the apparent naivety- yet, the Flower-Power Era may have left a few seeds, evolutionarily mutated, yet to grow, insistently, up through the concreted driveways and shopping malls of the 21st Century.

Then -"Give Peace a Chance"- John Lennon - who, by this means, has given Peace a Chant.

Astro-News. Jupiter, now in Pisces, encourages Faith, stimulates charitable impulses ( all contributions gratefully received here! ); inclines to Pilgrimage - when did you last visit Glastonbury,Iona, Lindisfarne ?, and calls us to distant shores.Music, incense,chanting monks and Hebridean skies salted with spiralling screaming sea-birds, perhaps. And a new pair of walking boots ?

May I tell you about a Half-Day Seminar to be held in Totnes on Sun 28th Feb., 2.30 - 5.30. £25.00. tel. 01803 867145
:- on the subject of JUPITER in all its/his facets both orthodox and esoteric, mythological and astronomical, on this Full Moon Day, which will include a meditative/silent period toward the end of the session.We will include:- the forthcoming Jupiter/Uranus Conjunctions; and Jupiter in 2012.


I hope that the above is acceptable to you, friend, as we salute one another at what may be, here and now, the threshhold of an Age of Light .


Sincerely; Og the Blog (aka David Matthews).

Cautionary Capricornian Commentaries

Mercury, in Capricorn, and Mars, in Leo, are both now Retrograde - that is, from our viewpoint on Earth, both appear to be moving "backwards" - an effect caused by the complex "dance" of the Planets as they orbit our Star, the Sun. (Sunlight is also, of course, Starlight, and vice versa.)
With both the above Retrograde, we might experience delays, hold-ups, "hassles" and a degree of frustration concerning:- A. Travel, communication, and trade (Mercury) : B. Machinery of all kinds, Initiatives - thwarted, delayed; the "Masculine" side of life - of necessity may focus more on the Inner , or be turned towards more selfless expressions of strength on behalf of others.
Well! The present Cold time does provide opportunity to experience and express all of the above, as we have seen ,over the last few weeks.
Traditionally, during such periods, one should exercise patience, not embark upon major new ventures, buy new vehicles or machinery, not embark upon new sexual relationships, or sign important documents or contracts.
BUT, in reality, such things are sometimes inevitable, because of pressure of circumstances, and one simply has to go ahead regardless of the old astrological nostrums.In which case:- "Go ahead in Faith, young man!".

Weather. Cold, yes? I am fascinated by the correlations between Weather/Climate and Astrological Cycles, and am compiling a hefty file on the subject, learning as I go along. Here is some data from the "Anorak" department-( in more than one sense, bearing in mind the cold North Wind.)For example, Mercury, when Retrograde in Scorpio, seems to be associated with storms, gales, and the power of the Sea. Great Cold, such as many of us are experiencing now, seems linked to a specific area of the Zodiac, around 21 Degrees of Cardinal Signs, especially 21 Capricorn, and 21 Libra, which is the degree of Exaltation of Saturn -where Saturn is most strengthened and effective. I won't belabour you with the details, yet these degrees (as now with Sun, Venus and North Node in tight conjunction at, believe it or not, 11.11 a.m. U.T. on Mon. 11 Jan. in 21 Capricorn..) feature time and again where severe cold and heavy snow are experienced.

From Keats- "The Eve of St. Agnes" ( the Feast of which is 21 January,at the early degrees of Aquarius, generally the coldest period of the entire year, as late July/early Leo, at the opposite
end of the Zodiac brings the hottest days in our Northern Hemisphere.)

St. Agnes' Eve - Ah, bitter chill it was,

The Owl, for all his feathers was a'cold.

The Hare limped trembling through the frozen grass

And silent was the flock in woolly fold.

He strikes some deep, "shamanic" level here, which engenders a strong, visceral response.

Even in deep Winter, the Sun shows his/her(depending on your tradition!) benign face- a few minutes bathing in the rays alleviates many ills and takes one "out of time", to a place where one can, for a while lose the "burden of Self". What relief !

Try Rolf Harris' "Sun Arise" - as an effective modern-day Invocation of the sense and spirit of the Sun. Nothing like the throaty sonorous, growling , earthy"Didge" to loosen a few knots in the psyche and attune you to your locality on this Earth.

Mercury turns Direct (begins to move forward again, slowly at first) on 15 Jan. the day of a Solar Eclipse (visible South India-Burma-China area.) New stirrings despite winter torpor.

Mars turns Direct, still in Leo, on 10 March - of which more later.

Thank you once again for your kind attention. As Ever -OG (aka David Matthews.)

Og's Christmas Cracker

Dear Friend - As we pass through the portals of another New Year, 2010, I, like you, am contemplating the 12 months that lie ahead, observing the messages and synchronicities that add a little spice to the Christmas left-overs. Using the analogy of ship-board life - it seems that "we" are set forth upon a journey together, a journey that WE HAVE TO MAKE. Navigators sail "by the Stars", trusting the hand of Providence, envisioning the welcome at journey's end, whether the context is Drake's circumnavigation of the World, Star Ship Enterprise with Captain Kirk, Spock, "Beam me up" Scotty, "Bones", etc., or, "Round the Horne" with Kenneth Williams..!?

There will be questioning, doubts, and "issues", within our complex selves, and between us, as we have not yet achieved Perfection, though one might expect bold rather than bland ;- rough edges on distinctive "specimens"(you and I), that achieve a polish as they are tumbled together along the way. The motivation for the journey? Well, the "place" we are heading for is an evolutionary leap ahead of the "place" we have been for the last few thousand years. And we are turning homeward vastly enriched by our extended "posting"on "Spaceship Earth". (We are already "there", but we are not able, yet, to see this.)



Another analogy, to explain why we have been so often guests on this blue-white marble/marvel which careers through space at 19 miles per second:- here, and here only, can be found priceless "PEARLS" of great beauty. We don our diving suit ( the physical body), and descend into the murky depths. Creatures, known and unknown , some with bright Lures to tempt our interest, some vast and essentially benign, call to us or loom up in the darkened deep. By the light on our brow we discern the pearl-bearing shells, and, for a while lose ourselves in pursuit of these. Remembering, then , the "crew" above, (our guides, friends and companions in Spirit), we tug upon the guide rope, and, in response, are drawn back to the surface to survey and assess the treasures we have secured, then to enjoy a healthy span of Shore Leave:- rest, review, contemplation of our "dive", perhaps to plan another immersion once we are ready and the tides are right, for us.



Random things, found in Christmas Crackers, that might amuse:-



Alexander the Great to Diogenes, the "minimalist" Cynic Philosopher (sitting in his Barrel.) -" Is there anything I can do for you - I have a fair bit of clout around the place these days ?". Diogenes to Alexander:- "As a matter of fact, dear boy, you could stand aside, you are in the way of the Sun".



From John Hurt, Actor;- " I am only alive out of curiousity. I am very curious about where we are all marching".



Drake's Drum - from the well known poem ( try not to see this as being old-hat, chauvinistic, nationalistic nonsense, but as an invocation of what we might call the Spirit of Albion - enounced, perhaps, in the style of Sir George Trevelyan -who knew a thing or two about the power of the Spoken Word) :-



"Take my Drum to England

and hang it by the Shore.

Strike it when your powder's running low.

And if the Dons sight Devon

I'll quit the Port of Heaven

And drum them up the Channel

As we drummed them long ago".



Shiveringly good stuff.



When will Time end? 2012- or not ? Time will tell.... However, David Tennant the latest "Dr. Who" (a Time Lord), came to the end of his Time, on BBC T.V. on 1 January. Interestingly, our dining room clock stopped just after this climactic televisual event- as well as light bulbs and fuses popping off with unusual abandon over the last few days. What can it all mean ?? If this continues much longer I will be communicating before long from the 5th dimension, having indeed transcended Time.



As to the "Production" which is Life on Earth, and a phrase which has always intrigued me, since boyhood, from Shakespeare :- "All the World's a Stage, and all the men and women merely Players..." Quite so, though we tend to over-identify with the roles we have chosen and take it all too seriously at times. Do we, then, having completed our part in this great Production, get out of costume and back to our "true" selves on the other side of that great Stage Door?.



The Coming Buddha - "Maitreya"- the word is plural (I am told) meaning "FRIENDS" - that's you and I, all of us together, folks. How Aquarian is that?



Peter Deunov, Bulgarian sage, in his last communication before dying to this world, let it be known that he "saw" that we, in our Solar System, had been travelling, as he put it, through a vast area of the universe that had been contaminated with the debris, physical and Astral/Psychic, of a Galaxy long since destroyed, but that, quite soon, we would be emerging into a much clearer and "healthier" region, whereupon conditions would be much improved, as we become able to live as we were intended - in a new Golden Age, or similar. Good. V. similar to other prophecies and Insights concerning the next stage for Homo (showing glimmerings of) Sapiens.

Some would say that the next "label" could be "Homo Translucens". Look forward to it.





Forthcoming;- next session of Totnes Astrology Group (for those that need it/can get here!)

is on FRIDAY 15 JANUARY, 2010, 7.30 - 9.15 p.m. £10.00 . Subject:- there are several items to cover - The SOLAR ECLIPSE, 15 Jan ; JUPITER -now moving from Aquarius to Pisces; the SATURN-PLUTO square - How has it been, so far?



And;- at LUPTON HOUSE, Brixham Road, Churston Ferrers (between Paignton and Brixham here in South Devon) on Sunday 21 March (at the Spring Equinox);-



"THE JOURNEY" - an Itinerary for the Age of Aquarius, 1-5 P.M. £30.00.



Tel. 01803 867145 for info/details/to say hello. Totnes Astrology Group meets at 6, Plymouth Road, Totnes. My E-Mail : dave@starlynx.plus.com.



MANY THANKS for your kind attention. I wish you Joy in 2010 .



from OG . (aka David Matthews).