PREVIOUS THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY October 19 2009 to October 25 2009 Monday October 19 At sixes and sevens A report, published last week, recommends that children should not start formal lessons until the age of six. Politicians have been dismissive. They only seem to like it when experts support their existing ideas or make suggestions that are easy to adopt. But planetary alignments over the next few years suggest a more enlightened age awaits us, so perhaps they'll come round to this eventually. Having now sent all my children to a school where they hold back reading, writing and numbers till after seven, I can vouch for the fact that this does them a power of good! Tuesday October 20 Constellation Conversation Several readers have asked me to explain my recent comment that 'astrological Leo' is not the same as the constellation called Leo. So here goes. The constellations are different shapes and sizes. Even 'purists' still argue about the gaps in between. About 2,000 years ago, most astrologers made a conscious decision to divide the apparent path of the Sun into twelve equal units, each named after a constellation. The signs and constellations have since drifted further apart. We always knew they would. 'Precession' is not a new discovery. This confuses some astronomers... but makes perfect sense to us. Wednesday October 21 Sail of the Century My 17-year-old daughter passed her driving test, on her first attempt, a couple of months ago. She's confident and capable... but she still doesn't like going out without another driver by her side. Jessica Watson, meanwhile, is a year younger... and she'll be sailing around the world single-handed for the next eight months. I predict she'll find it intense and difficult. But she's a tenacious Taurean. If anyone of such a tender age can do this, she can. So I'm going to be brave (though not as brave as she is) and say: 'She'll make it!' Thursday October 22 Staying Stable Dear Jonathan, An astrologer friend of mine is concerned about a catastrophe at the end of this month. He thinks it might be something like last year, when the global markets crashed. What do you think? Susan Dear Susan, There's nothing on my radar. But your friend may be studying a particular horoscope - perhaps of an international corporation or an influential country. Maybe a difficult transit to that chart is bothering him. Even so, and even though we're not yet fully out of the financial woods, I'm confident that most markets will stay stable for some while to come. Friday October 23 Dark Side of the Moon Sign Dear Jonathan I found out, from a website, that my Moon is in Scorpio. It gave a dark, negative description which has left me very upset. Does everyone else see that awful person when they look at me? Gill Dear Gill, People can't generally see your Moon sign, any more than they can see your underwear! Your Moon sign describes your most private, profoundly personal emotions. It sounds to me as if you do have a Scorpio Moon because people with this Moon placement are notoriously sensitive. But if they gave Moon in Scorpio a 'bad rap', they were talking rubbish! Saturday October 24 Your Week Ahead Keep an eye on the sky this week. On Monday, you'll see Jupiter very near the Moon from soon after dark - and, as the evening goes on, they'll edge closer together. Is that auspicious? Extremely! Indeed, it's a sign of hope for all the world to see. If you're in the mood for making wishes, take a look at this heavenly alignment and send out your best thought, your most noble aspiration, your most generous dream. Some say the sky doesn't listen. But then some say, or used to say, that the Moon has no water, that Saturn has no remote outer ring. The cosmos is full of pleasant surprises. And so is life! Sunday October 25 Week Ahead Part Two Keep an eye on the sky this week. On Monday, you'll see Jupiter very near the Moon from soon after dark - and, as the evening goes on, they'll edge closer together. Is that auspicious? Extremely! Indeed, it's a sign of hope for all the world to see. If you're in the mood for making wishes, take a look at this heavenly alignment and send out your best thought, your most noble aspiration, your most generous dream. Some say the sky doesn't listen. But then some say, or used to say, that the Moon has no water, that Saturn has no remote outer ring. The cosmos is full of pleasant surprises. And so is life! Back to Index   Click here for Jonathan Cainer's Daily Zodiac Forecasts