 |
|
October 8 , 2004 In
this issue:
Announcements October
Give-Away
Do You RSS?
Western
Astrology for Feng Shui - Part 3: This is the third article in a three-part series. If you missed Parts 1 and 2, you can find them here. Retrograde motion is one of the three key factors that I consider when planning my activites according to the western astrological calendar. Many of you are probably familiar with Mercury's retrograde cycles, but other major planets bear watching as well. When a planet goes retrograde, it appears to slow down, stop, and then move backward for a period of time, before stopping and moving forward again. The planet is actually continuing in its normal orbit around the sun; the apparent backward motion happens because we view it from our moving vantage point here on earth. It's rather like when one train passes another moving in the same direction on a parallel track. If you are seated on the faster train, the slower one appears to you to be moving backward, even though both trains are moving forward in the same direction. During the time leading up to a retrograde, when the planet appears to be slowing down, the areas of life influenced by that planet will also seem to move less easily. For example, Mercury appears to start slowing down about two weeks before it actually goes retrograde. During this time, communications and travel (both ruled by Mercury) are more prone to delays and to errors caused by trying to go faster than conditions permit--from fender-benders in rainy weather, to written communications that contain errors that slipped due to hasty proofreading. When the planet does go retrograde, it's influence goes from sluggish to dysfunctional. If you travel while Mercury is retrograde, be prepared for delays, cancelled flights, missed connections, flat tires, and the like. Mercury rules technology, too, which is a double-whammy on transportation, so "mechanical problems" are more likely to manifest during this time. Mercury retrograde doesn't mean you shouldn't travel. It's not an indication of disaster, but it does increase the chance things not going smoothly. Schedule lots of extra time for your connections, make sure that your bags have been checked to the correct destination, and bring something to read or work on while you wait at the gate for that delayed flight to finally be cleared for takeoff. Keep in mind that Mercury's dominion over communication technology means it can wreke havoc on your computers, too. If you usually rely on your notebook computer for in-flight entertainment, it's a good idea to take a low-tech paperback novel along as well during Mercury Retrograde. Whenever a Mercury retrograde period is approaching, be sure to back up all of your computer systems. Try to do this before the slow-down starts -- i.e., at least two weeks before the retrograde officially starts. If you're in any kind of a sales or service business that depends on technology, expect to encounter more problems during a retrograde cycle. As internet entrepreneurs marketing digital products online, our own experience backs this up; we definitely see an increase in customers reporting download problems or damaged files during a Mercury retrograde period. These kinds of problems are easily fixed, but the time and frustration involved for both us and our customers is very typical of a backwards-moving Mercury effect. One of the best reasons to pay attention to a Mercury retrograde cycle is when purchasing new technology (computer, cell phone, DVD player, car, etc.) -- which should never be done during a Mercury retrograde period, when there's a greater chance you'll bring home a "lemon." Go ahead and use this time to research and plan your purchase; just wait until a week or so after Mercury goes direct again to plunk your money down and submit that eBay bid. You also should try to avoid signing contracts while Mercury is retrograde, as the paperwork may include errors, or may be based on a fundamental misunderstanding among the parties involved, or you may even find later that the deal you agreed does not meet your needs. Use this time instead for reviewing, revising, and updating previously prepared material -- just don't do a project relaunch until Mercury goes direct again. If you can't avoid a Mercury retrograde for travel, important communication, contracts etc.--and often we can't--there's no need to panic. Plan extra time to proofread and double-check details, and be prepared for missed flights and cancelled appointments. When they do happen, you'll feel less stressed, knowing that you've prepared in advance for this to happen, and that there's little you could have done to prevent it. Mercury goes retrograde three times a year, for approximately three weeks (exact cycle length can vary). The next Mercury Retrograde is coming up from November 30-December 20, 2004. Mark on your calendar to back up your computer files the week of November 8th, and cross hi-tech gadgets off your holiday shopping list this year, unless you plan to purchase them after December 20. The effects of Mercury retrograde are fairly well-known, but it's not the only planet subject to this effect. Mars and Venus also go retrograde -- less frequently, but for longer periods -- and can cause their own kind of problems. Mars is the planet of action. When Mars goes retrograde (as it will late in 2005) regular business tends to decline and it can be very difficult to get new ventures off the ground. Business decisions made during this time may be based on inappropriate goals or strategies, and are not likely to bring the desired results -- or you may be unable to come to a decision at all, due to conflicting desires and priorities. New products, services, or businesses launched when Mars is retrograde are extremely unlikely to succeed. Use this time instead for doing market research, beta testing your new products, or rethinking your marketing plan. We think of Venus as the planet of love, but in a broader sense it rules partnerships of all kinds (just like kun gua, the "marriage" area of the ba gua). When Venus goes retrograde, business partnerships -- including your relationships with your customers and suppliers -- are at risk. Although this is not a good time for establishing new business relationships or signing contracts, it is a good time for renegotiating existing agreements. New product introduction are also not favored at this time; customers are not likely to embrace them (i.e., engage in their side of the partnership) with enthusiasm. While Venus retrograde is not a good time to apply for a new loan, you can often take advantage of this period to get a better deal on an existing loan. Needless to say, Venus retrograde is not a good time to get married, or for major social events of any kind. The next Venus retrograde is from Dec. 24th, 2005-Mar. 7, 2006, so if you've been thinking of tying the knot or holding a big family reunion then, there's still plenty of time to change your plans. It's a good idea not to make any major feng shui changes when any of these planets are retrograde: Mercury retrograde may mess up your calculation or placement, Mars retrograde is inauspicious for any new activity, and Venus retrograde may cause conflict or detachment between you and anyone else involved in whatever life factor you are trying to impact. Use this time instead for revisiting your previous feng shui actions, evaluating how they have worked (or not) for you, and for planning improvements to be made when astrological factors are more auspicious. © 2004 Stephanie Roberts
Feng
Shui Q+A (Most questions will have been edited for clarity and length, and any identifying details have been changed. Please note that due to the high volume of email I receive, it is no longer possible for me to respond to every question personally. I still welcome your questions, and if I cannot provide a personal response I will try to address your issue in a future Q+A column.) Q: Is there a way to map a 5th wheel recreational vehicle to make it feng shui friendly? A: Since the whole point of an RV is that it is mobile, the compass-based methods of feng shui are useless here. Use the western method of placing the ba gua according to the entry, and map the space that way. I am not very familiar with RVs, but it seems to me that this would put the driver in kun gua (relationships), and the front passenger seat in chien gua (helpful friends) -- a good place for wrestling with maps, reading directions, digging out change for the tolls, and rummaging for snacks and refreshments, all of which are best handled by someone other than the driver. Basically, all the standard feng shui principles will apply, just as they would in any other space. Anyone else out there feng-shui-ing a mobile home? Let me know what you're doing, and I'll share it in a future issue.
Featured
Resource
Featured
Charity
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. For more than 20 years, the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation has been a global leader in the fight against breast cancer through its support of innovative research and community-based outreach programs. Working through a network of U.S. and international Affiliates and events like the Komen Race for the Cure®, the Komen Foundation is fighting to eradicate breast cancer as a life-threatening disease by funding research grants and supporting education, screening and treatment projects in communities around the world. You can find out more about this great organization at: http://www.komen.org
With warm aloha,
Feng
Shui Shopping - Transform Your Home and Your Life!
Miscellaneous Reader Feedback Wanted! We would like to add more reader comments to our book webpages. If you've read one (or more) of our Fast Feng Shui books, please let us know how it helped you and what you liked best about it. There's no length limit, although we may edit long comments for brevity. If we select your comments for posting on our website(s), we'll send you a small thank-you gift. Send your comments to me at: . Please include your full name and mailing address. We will only use your first name, first letter of your last name, and your city/state or country for attribution. We can't promise to post all responses. By submitting your comments, you grant us the right to use them on our websites, in our newsletter(s), and in printed promotional materials at our discretion. ••• Whitelisting our Newsletter If you have been receiving our newsletter issues rather sporadically, your ISP' or email provider's anti-spam filters may be screening them out. To make sure this doesn't happen, please add our sender addresses into your whitelist, safelist, address book, contact list or something similar. For more information, please read our whitelist information page. Thank you. ••• Newsletter Archives This newsletter is published approximately twice a month. If you missed our previous issues, you can read them here. ••• We also invite you to visit our other sites: All About Prosperity - Articles and resources for developing Prosperity Consciousness and Wealth Building skills: creative visualization, goal setting, emotional intelligence, as well as affiliate marketing, money management, and more. Clutter-Free Forever Home Coaching Program - Is a cluttered, messy, disorganized home slowing you down, stealing your energy and depressing your spirit? Our highly acclaimed program will help you reclaim your space and your life! Feng Shui Ebooks.com - The popular Fast Feng Shui ebooks are now available in ebook format for immediate download: Fast Feng Shui ebbok for transforming areas of your life by energizing your home; and Fast Feng Shui for Singles to transform your home and heart into environments that welcome romance.
(c)
2004 Stephanie Roberts. All rights reserved.
Our records indicate that you have expressed interest in receiving emails and have provided us with your email address. If you no longer wish to be included in our email updates, please send an email to: ). Thank you. Lotus Pond
Press LLC |
|||||||||||||||||
