PREVIOUS THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY December 24 2012 to December 30 2012 Monday December 24 Season's Greetings. We're entering Christmas under a waxing Full Moon. So the further we get into the next few days, they greater the possibility of emotional outbursts. Expect intense experiences and moments of passion, followed by fleeting feelings of confusion. Beware exceptional sensitivity to inebriants. In my experience, alcohol becomes more intoxicating at Full Moon, just as it has more of an effect at high altitude! Be careful, be conscious, be aware that it's only another day, be sensible about where you place your expectations... and be ready for what could yet be a truly wonderful season for all! Tuesday December 25 All over the world today, people are commemorating the birth of Jesus. Yet even deeply religious individuals agree that this is not his real birthday. The date was selected by the Church to fit in with the long-established pattern of solstice celebration. Officials of the same church declared it an offence, punishable by death, to cast a horoscope for Christ. That law no longer exists but I still couldn't do it, even if I wanted to, because nobody knows when he was born. About the only thing we can say for certain is that Jesus wasn't a Capricorn! Wednesday December 26 The planets don't 'know' it's Christmas. Nor, indeed, do millions around the globe who have no tradition of celebration on this date. Even amongst those who do honour the date, there's a disassociation between the religious meaning of the festival and the frenzy of eating, drinking and shopping that it has come to represent. It is often said that Jesus would be horrified if he could see the event that takes place in his name. He might also be baffled. Why do so many deeply religious people commemorate his birth on a day that isn't even his actual birthday? Thursday December 27 Post Christmas Stress Routine has many benefits. If we stick with what we're used to, we can gain comfort and protection from knowing what's supposed to happen next. Yet at this time of year, many of us are out of our comfort zones. Even if we're at home, we may be overly exposed to family members that we don't always get along with or worse, we may miss people we love but who aren't with us any more. And nothing intensifies a strong emotion as effectively as a Moon that's waxing full. If feelings run high today try to make some allowance! Friday December 28 Divination Hi Jonathan, I am surprised to see that you seem to believe in God or a higher being. I didn't think astrologers did. I thought it was all based on mathematical calculations and alignments. Claire Dear Claire, Any astrologer who claims to have no belief in a higher power is in a strange philosophical position. Astrology is a belief system. At the essence of the art is the belief that events in the heavens are reflected by events on the earth. Astrology is a time-honoured form of 'divination' a method of 'knowing the mind of the divine'. Saturday December 29 Your January Monthly Forecast Another January is coming upon us. Another New Year has arrived. All this, in itself, is more than some gloom mongers were expecting. They thought that when the Mayan calendar ran out, time would run out for all of us. Well, we are still here. And that is not the only way in which we will soon start to find ways to beat back the pessimistic expectations that seem to have surrounded so many people and situations of late. 2013 gets off to a surprisingly good start for most people and then proceeds to just get better and better. Sunday December 30 Your Week Ahead - Love Focus Remember, your Love Forecast today doesn't just cover romance. A love forecast may also have something to say about your family life, your closest friendships and even some of your most important working relationships. UK residents please note I will be appearing on BBC2 in Jools Holland's Hootenanny on New Years Eve. Back to Index   Click here for Jonathan Cainer's Daily Zodiac Forecasts