PREVIOUS THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY February 16 2015 to February 22 2015 Monday February 16 Better Late We're now entering the Dark Of The Moon that will herald the start of Chinese New Year. Then, this weekend, we'll arrive at a conjunction of Venus and Mars. That's an auspicious omen for all with romantic aspirations. You might think it could have been better timed to happen on the weekend just gone by but there's often a disparity between the civil and the cosmic calendars. It may be better to see this alignment as encouragement for all who feel Valentine's Day lacked a little something. The true astrological version of this occasion is just around the corner. Tuesday February 17 Time Passages Jonathan, Relativity tells us the speed of the mass alters the 'speed' of time as we perceive it. Those atomic clocks in orbit show a different time to us merely because they are travelling faster. When the moon astronauts returned to Earth, they were a second or so younger because of the time distortion caused by the speed of their journey. Build a starship fast enough and time will seem the same to the people on the ship but when they get home, after what to them may have been only ten years, a hundred may have passed. David Wednesday February 18 Animal Magic Does today mark the start of the Chinese New Year of the Goat? Or the Sheep? Or the Ram? There's a degree of disagreement between authorities, largely due to translation. I'm not enough of an expert in this area to pronounce judgement, though I do note that the 'trigger' for Chinese New Year is always the moment when the Moon becomes exactly New in the equal division of the tropical ecliptic that western astrologers call Aquarius. The expected meaning of the New Year is less ambiguous. It's supposed to be all about love, peace and trust. Let's hope so! Thursday February 19 Beyond Belief Dear Jonathan, The notion of an omnipresent, omniscient and omnipotent force has long been the basis of human spirituality. If astrology is, as you say, a 'belief system', where does it stand on the common religious dichotomy of opposing forces such as good vs evil, positive vs negative? Keith. Dear Keith, Astrology reveals markers in time, calendar and clock points, clues to various natural physical or psychological cycles. It is a neutral measurement system. Although, you could argue that by its very existence, it stands for the idea that our relationship with time is deeper than we yet understand! Friday February 20 Judgement Call Yesterday, a reader asked, 'If astrology is a belief system, where does it stand on questions like good versus evil?' I tried to explain that astrology doesn't 'stand' anywhere. All we believe is that the sky is like a clock. It tells us what kind of a time it is. Or what it will be soon. Since then, I've been thinking. Suppose a regular clock says 9.15am. To someone, that may mean 'late for work.' Any astrologer who 'reads meaning' into time is surely making judgements about it. But then, don't we all do that, regardless of our beliefs? Saturday February 21 Your Week Ahead Venus has spent much of February, catching up with Mars in Pisces. Mars has just slipped ahead into Aries. This week, Venus enters Aries too, and the long-awaited conjunction of these two planets finally takes place. It is too late for Valentine's Day but it is an encouraging development for those with romantic aspirations. Then, towards the end of the week, there's a conjunction of the Sun with Neptune. This provides a further encouraging portent for idealists, visionaries and dreamers. If you have had your heart set on something for some while, this may yet be your week. Sunday February 22 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. Back to Index   Click here for Jonathan Cainer's Daily Zodiac Forecasts