PREVIOUS THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY February 20 2012 to February 26 2012 Monday February 20 Grand Trine In March, a few days before the equinox, we will be treated to a rare 'Grand Trine'. A 'trine' occurs whenever two planets are 120 degrees apart. (The zodiac circle, like all circles, contains 360 degrees. Angles of 120 degrees split it into thirds). Now, sorry about all this geometry but If ever Planet A forms a trine to Planet B, while Planet C trines B from the other side of the circle, then C must also trine A! That's what we call a Grand Trine. Tomorrow, I'll tell you why this Grand Trine is due to be special. Tuesday February 21 Elementary School You have heard, I'm sure, of the zodiac elements: fire, earth, air and water. Three signs of each element are spaced evenly apart around the zodiac. When planets in signs of a matching element form an exact alignment, we call it a 'trine'. Next month, Mars in Virgo trines both Jupiter in Taurus and Pluto in Capricorn on the same day! That's called a Grand Trine or, because it involves earth signs, a 'Grand Trine in Earth'. This rare event is rendered more auspicious by a fourth planet, Venus, which will be in conjunction with Jupiter on the day. Wednesday February 22 Tibet Today, in Tibet, they celebrate New Year. Or rather, they don't - because Tibetans can't see anything to celebrate. For more than 50 years, the people of this land have lived under a brutal occupation. I went there in 2008 and met some of the very monks who are now setting fire to themselves in a desperate attempt to attract the world's attention. Tibet is famous for a culture steeped in tales of telepathy, telekinesis, even teleportation. Let us hope the national faith in miracles is well founded - for nothing less will now make China give this country back its freedom. Thursday February 23 One Good Turn Several readers have told me about a 'global improvement initiative' which plans to meet, in London, at the end of March. Apparently they're called Pay It Forward, which was also the name of a film that came out some years ago. The basic idea is simple and sweet. If someone does you a favour or makes you a generous gift, you need not repay them directly. You may agree, instead, just to be similarly kind towards someone else when you can. Neither givers nor recipients need be socially connected. Pay It Forward could equally be called Pass It On. Friday February 24 Sentimental Journey Dear Jonathan, This past year, I keep losing important jewellery. I am baffled and upset. Sally. Dear Sally, May I ask, why is that jewellery so important? Is it sentimental? Might there be some memory attached to the sentiment, that you inwardly yearn to leave behind? Dear Jonathan, I had a painful love affair with a married man who won't leave his wife. After I ended it, from the train home, I saw a heart shaped cloud in a ray of sunlight. What could it mean? Dear Marguerite, That heart sounds to me like a blessing for your bravery. Saturday February 25 Your Week Ahead Why do people say, 'Many happy returns' on your birthday? It is an old astrological phrase. Once a year, every year, around your birthday, the Sun returns to the same part of the zodiac that it occupied at the time you were born. An astrologer has to do some fairly complicated sums to work out the exact moment - and for people born this week, those calculations get a little trickier. But though February 29 babies don't, sadly, age four times slower than the rest of us, they can rest assured that they get a real solar return every year! Sunday February 26 Why do people say, 'Many happy returns' on your birthday? It is an old astrological phrase. Once a year, every year, around your birthday, the Sun returns to the same part of the zodiac that it occupied at the time you were born. An astrologer has to do some fairly complicated sums to work out the exact moment - and for people born this week, those calculations get a little trickier. But though February 29 babies don't, sadly, age four times slower than the rest of us, they can rest assured that they get a real solar return every year! Back to Index   Click here for Jonathan Cainer's Daily Zodiac Forecasts