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.)