One Starry Night...

I had to share a little astrological bit with you all, courtesy of AstroBarry. I often find myself reading his horoscope for amusement and just to see how close to the current state of affairs it is. Often, he is dead-on... but even if you don't believe in the Zodiac, his words of wisdom are worth a gander.

Here is mine for this past week:

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Your sign, Aries, is one of leadership… at least in the sense that, generally speaking, you Mars-ruled types don't often wait around for others to give you permission to do that which moves you. You just pick yourself up—sometimes without even thinking things all the way through (which, incidentally, isn't always a bad thing)—and launch into it. Aries-style leadership, as such, isn't a 'stand up in front of everybody and tell them what to do' didacticism. Rather, it's more the 'grab a machete and cut a new path through the brush' variety, inspiring others to follow through your own actions. And gosh darn, don't we all need a little bit of such guidance-through-example (as opposed to hot-air declarations) right about now? The time is now upon us, Aries, when we need you to step up to the plate and occupy the unmistakable public role of defiant pioneer, the leader who takes it upon him/herself to create something new (and, in the process, to ignore something old) wherever it's become obvious that official 'talk' of principles has gapingly diverged from actual behavior. This is a role you mustn't try to avoid, nor one that's short-lived… and chances are, either very soon or a bit later, you will piss somebody off and/or cause some fracture that may not be reparable. No matter. Among us all, you are one of the bravest, overflowing with 'fuck it' attitude when it's most needed. Apparently, it's needed now.

Fortunes, Forecasts,... and Homoscopes...

What do the stars hold in store for you?

Even though most of us take astrology with a grain of salt and treat it solely as a source of entertainment, it can be quite a fascinating pseudo-science. Most of us would like to believe there is some order to the cosmos as well as our own lives. Yet traditional horoscopes seem to lack that one thing: a gay slant.

Believe it or not, there have been many gay and lesbian astrologers over the years. And I'm not talking about Miss Cleo.

Still today, you can find them anywhere on the web. One of the best resources is AstroQueer. It's a free site jam-packed full of anything and everything astrology-related for the GLBT community at large. And then there's Homostrology, another online site featuring gay horoscopes.

Personally, I've been visiting AstroBarry over the past few weeks for a little amusement. He's quite an amusing (and often funny) individual... and his weekly forecasts are certainly worth a read.

And sometimes, a little too uncanny.

Here's a brief excerpt of this week's Aries horoscope. I think it's quite fitting to some parts of my life!

"The jumping-off point from last week's horoscope that I want to begin with is the idea of getting up and walking away, should you find that some shit-stirrer or drama-queen wants to drag you into their shit or drama. The moment you begin to sense traces of a ridiculously irrelevant power struggle brewing, that's your cue to move it along. And why stay put, Aries? With all the people and possibilities out there, there's no real need to overstay your welcome in any one place—particularly if it's just not very friendly. Perpetual social motion is one of your best pals this week, to be sure..."

If you're really into astrology, check out the books Queer Astrology for Menand Queer Astrology for Womenas well...

Buy, Sell, or Shuffle?

Obviously, we consider banks to be rather meticulous with their money and cautious with what they do with it. Brits may not have as much faith anymore, considering some of the nations largest financial institutions are using an interesting method to play the market.

Astrologers.

And they aren't the only ones turning to the stars. Even investment funds and retail companies are turning to the zodiac for major decisions. As the credit crunch worsens, a growing network of discreet astrologers are finding the times very profitable.

And why do they do it? Apparently, it is working somehow. High and Mighty, a men's big and tall clothing retailer, has successfully used readings to make business decisions.

The key is planetary alignment. This principle has been around for centuries in heliocentric astrology. Hitler relied on it to plot moves (but didn't factor it in with the Battle of Britain). Ronald Reagan and Boris Yeltsin planned their travels around the planets. Many celebrities seem to have certain similarities concerning which planets were rising and falling during their birth.

Dr. Percy Seymour, a retired astrophysicist from Plymouth University, claims that after studying the planets for decades, they have a point. Magnetic fields are altered slightly as the planets rotate, and though it doesn't control us "it can influence us."

So, what do the planets say is in store with finances? Things will begin a slight upswing in April, but starting in August, the global economy is expected to be in for a very rough 4 or 5 years. October of 2008 will mark another crisis. And 2012 itself is supposed to be a crucial year of major catastrophe (ironic, since London hosts the Olympics in that year.)

Why can't we ever get good news from astrology?

No matter what you believe, in all probability we are in for a difficult few years. But do I need a chart or book to tell me that?

Fortunes, Forecasts, and Lucky Charms...

Normally, I'm quite a skeptical person with astrology. I know it's based on generalizations. Not reliable. Often wrong. But I just looked at my overview for this year, and so far I have to admit it's quite accurate!

Aries

New opportunities arise this year, resulting in a positive turn for your career. You will learn to master your energy to meet your goals. You are good at taking leadership, and you'll make deep, transforming changes and tap into this abundant energy in new and dynamic ways. Even though you may feel pulled to accomplish great things, you will still be able to keep balance in your personal life and your energy alive and renewed.

Amidst this change, you will be able to remain mentally focused. You may become more methodical and practical than usual in managing your responsibilities. Stopping to think things through carefully will impact you and your surroundings in a very profound and positive way. Seize the opportunity to think things through during the first few months of the year. Even though you enjoy beginning new projects, make the time to relax a bit to complement your natural tendency toward activity, both physical and otherwise.

As you successfully achieve your career goals this year, it will be important to maintain a watchful eye over the security of your family life. You may find yourself doing some remodeling in your home and you will take pleasure in spending more time and energy enjoying the creature comforts you have created. You will cultivate good relationships through the end of the year, which will reflect positive changes in your life. Your will enjoy socializing more than usual. You will be networking and connecting with different types of people from all over the world and it will feel like a breath of fresh air. As your career takes off, it will be much easier than usual to express yourself with warmth and charm.