Astrology for Dummies.

            Many people think that astrology is useful, interesting or bogus, or they don’t think about it at all.  But if you are one of those people who say, “There’s something about it…” or “I guess I just don’t know enough about it…,” then let me give you my astrology-for-dummies explanation.  After you learn a little more about it, you might even be intrigued enough to take a session with my astrologer friend, Sylvia Friedman, or, at the very least buy her book, The Stars in Your Family.

            So think about it: There’s all these planets that orbit around the sun and earth and each other.  They have mass, gravitational pull, and they all influence each other; think tides, weather, light & dark.  Why wouldn’t planets and gravitational-pull influence our personalities when we are born? 

            The biggest mass is the Sun and when it is in a certain place when you are born that is your “Sun Sign.”  Your Sun Sign position gives you your “main” or most dominate trait or gift to your personality make-up. The second mass is the moon.  Where was it when you were born?  Wherever the moon was when you were born will influence how you process emotion information.  Wherever Mercury was when you are born will influence how you process intellectual information. Once you know what kinds of gifts or influences they give you when you are born, all you have to know is what each sign is to decipher how intricate and individual you are.  We are all dichotomies and contradictions and astrology is just one way to show you how great we all are and where we can focus on bringing our good traits to rule over our not-so good ones.

            My astrologer, Sylvia Friedman, not only gave me the information of what makes up my personality and lots of guidance, she gives me a year to year chart which outlines what the coming years’ continuing influences the ever changing planet alignments will be for me, individually, as well.  For instance, years ago, I was going to produce and direct a play.  I hadn’t told anyone and when Sylvia did my yearly chart she told me I was going be interested in opening a new business in January of that year, and then she told me I was going to need to watch over my money issues in May and by August all my money worries would be over.  In October I would probably be inclined to start dating again but November I would probably delve into another project and relationships could suffer.  I credit that chart for making a profit on that play that year while not going insane as I spent so much money before the ticket sales came in.  And I did meet *someone in October of that year but workaholic-ed that relationship away by December.

            Prove it:

            An example of how a planet influences our personalities day to day (after we are born) is the full moon. We know (and can scientifically prove?) that full moons seem to influence a rise in fuller occupancy in emergency rooms, more calls to police and more mayhem in general.  This is due to the fact that when the moon shines on you, your “emotional battery cells” are being charged up.  A full moon gives you a super charge so we all go a little hyper-happy, or hyper-sad (whichever or in-between is your mode of being at the time) and we can make decisions based on that hyper emotion which may put us in the hospital—or influence us to drink more or stay out later than we usually do.

            There’s another planet that anyone can prove if there is something to this astrology stuff or not, and that’s Mercury.  It’s the planet that shines on us all and gives us our intellectual power.  When Mercury is in “Retrograde,” one can experience a muddy mind which translates to not being able to concentrate or multi-task as well.  You can’s seem to find the word in your brain that you’re looking for—your quick humor isn’t so quick—and you forget the grocery list etc. all of which makes you feel more tired and frustrated.  Look for more traffic congestion, longer travel times.  And do the 3 minute-manager technique instead of the 1 minute-manager because your co-workers brain power will be set on low as well.  Additionally, you might witness your electronics and mechanical machines take on a glitch or break all together during Retrogrades—they seem to be influenced by Mercury too.  Mercury Retrogrades happen three or for times per year.  Here are the ones left for 2011.  Aug 3 to Aug 26 and Nov 24 to Dec 14.  Prove me wrong: Write them down in your calendar.  Watch and listen and just be calm while everyone else around you seems to be tired and stressed while trying to get things done that would normally be easy when not in Retrograde.  Always wait till after Mercury Retrogrades to travel, sign documents, ship things and make big decision. 

            Sylvia does yearly charts for many celebs and Execs in big corporations.  I send all my clients to her who might be thinking of starting a new business or job.  She can tell you the months when you’ll be good at math or open to romance—and she’s never been wrong in her interpretations of the planetary influences. 

            Check out her book, The Stars in Your Family.  You can use it in many ways but it’s the best must-have astrology book.  Look up your sign and the sign of you son or daughter, mother or father, lover.  It will tell you the inherent relationship follies, blind-spots, and connections that each pairing can have.  

   http://insighttrack.com/ Here is Sylvia's website.  One hours sessions for a one year predictive chart is only $100.

            *If I had relaxed during that relationship as I relaxed during my months of investing in my play, would I still be in that relationship?  Who knows?  That’s called free will and astrology is just about traits and influences.  What you do with the information is up to you.