Winter Solstice 2012 in astrology

Winter solstice 2012 occurs on December 21 at 11:13 AM GMT. Short of the end of the world, it marks the 3rd quarter of the astrological year whose beginning is at the vernal equinox. On this stupendous occasion we find the majority of planets in cardinal and mutible signs and in fire and air, which makes for a lively energy this winter quarter, but the Moon moving relatively slowly slows the course of change and makes for relatively fewer events this quarter than if the Moon were moving quickly.

The Sun forms the following aspects: conjunction Pluto, square Uranus, sextile Saturn, and sextile Neptune. The Sun's conjunction with Pluto, sextile to Saturn and sextile to Neptune tends to generate a more or less calming influence. Saturn and Pluto, exactly sextile one another, are in mutual reception, bringing a constructive, cooperative influence to the world in areas of large scale Government and corporate organization. The mutual reception also means that the situation is more or less flexible and different strategies are being tried out in order to find what works and what doesn't. The Sun sextile Neptune is peaceful, and favors large social groups, especially the poor and less fortunate. But, while this is true, the Sun and Pluto square Uranus will continue to generate tension and resentment in the world. While the world is tending more at this time toward cooperation tension and discontentment will continue to plague us.

The Moon forms the following aspects. The planet directly behind the Moon is Uranus. This brings some surprisng developments and turns of events this winter. The influence of Uranus tends to bring the unexpected and sudden. The chief aspects formed by the Moon are a trine to Mercury, and a square to Mars. Mars is at 26 degrees Capricorn, a critical degree. The Moon coming to square Mars points toward critical conflict in the world.

So, where do we find the conflict? The strongest indications appear in the Winter Solstice charts of eastern Europe and the Middle East. Charts were made for Moscow, Damascus, and Jerusalem. Mars at Winter Solstice is at 26 degrees Capricorn. The Midheaven of Moscow is 24 degrees Capricorn, the Midheaven of Damascus is 23 degrees Capricorn, and the Midheaven of Jerusalem is 22 degrees Capricorn. Mars is conjunct the Midheaven of all of the countries in this longitudinal region (approximately 37 degrees east). The Middle East, especially Syria, will continue to be a hot spot this winter, and the possibility of Russia entering the conflict is not to be ignored.

The chart for the UK has the Sun in the 10th house and the Moon in the 1st. Neptune rising and conjunct the Ascendent shows a liberal socialistic sentiment developing amongst the people, and needing to be heard by the Government. Pluto is in the 11th house. The Sun conjunct Pluto and square Uranus shows the Prime Minister and his party in Parliament engaged in a quarrel with the people. The issues are over money and debt; Pluto rules the 8th house of this chart. The Moon in the 1st house applying to trine Mercury shows productive talks. But, the Moon coming to square Mars in the 11th says that the people challenge the course the current Government has been taking. But, because the Moon and Uranus are intercepted in the 1st house, the people will not as effective as they would like to be, and are not being heard as they might wish.

The chart for Bruxelles, therefore the entire EU, are similar to the chart of the UK. Pluto, however, is in the 10th house. The Sun in the 10th conjunct Pluto and square Uranus in the 1st is a harsher aspect than in UK; it shows the Government acting with heavy hand.

What the above suggests, is that the peacefulness shown in the charts may amount to little more than Goverrnment suppression of popular opposition in the UK and EU.

Looking at the other side of the world, the chart for Australia has Jupiter is in Gemini, in the 10th house. Jupiter is retrograde and in mutual reception Mercury in Sagittarius in the 4th. This opposition and mutual reception in some ways shows the Government in a favorable light at this time. It also shows the Government consideratly bowing to opposition, but the mutual reception by opposition suggests that both sides are at a disadvantage, and won't benefit in their interactions at this time. Jupiter ruling the 8th house, and Mercury ruling the 2nd show that the clumsy dance is around money, and nothing short of a lot of wasted breath can be expected. The Moon is in the 8th house, and is applying to the square of Mars in the 6th. This warns of an epidemic, and points to difficulties in services, labor, and the military.

Looking at the chart for Brazil, we find Mars in the 12th house with Moon applying to square from the 3rd. This points to increasing anger and violence on the streets and in poor areas and neighborhoods. There will be an increase in crime. The chart shows a strongly emphasized Yod configuration between Saturn in the 10th house, Jupiter in the 5th house, and Uranus in the 3rd. This is saying that the Government must adjust. Saturn rules the 12th house in this chart. It strongly involves the poor and the disenfranchised.

Looking at the chart for the USA, we find the Sun rising in the 1st house, and the Moon in the 4th. Mercury is conjunct the Ascendent. Mars is in the 2nd house. The Sun in the 1st house shows, despite the complaints of so many of the people, a period of increasing prosperity. But to whom, and from where? The Sun rules the 9th house. Money is coming into the country from abroad, and money is to be made in iternational trade and commerce.The Sun coming to conjunction Pluto and square Uranus, however, shows that, despite the more sanguine indications, the people will continue to be discontent, and the public health will not be good. Saturn in the 11th house trine and mutual reception Neptune in the 3rd house shows the Democrats in Congress having a strong influence over the press, and the press flattering them. The Yod to Saturn in the 11th house from Jupiter in the 6th and Uranus in the 4th shows the Congress having to make adjustments to accomodate the different demands of labor and of the opposition from the Republicans. Jupiter, ruler of the Ascendent in the 6th house retrograde and opposite Mercury shows a lot of useless talk and bickering while everybody compromises around serious economic issues to nobody's liking. Saturn rules the 2nd house. Compromises are based on economic limitations. Mars is in the 2nd house. The Moon coming to square Mars at a critical degree there presages critical trouble coming up in financial affairs, the general economy, banking, stock market, and the housing market. Mars rules the 4th house. The 4th house signifies real estate. The Moon applying to square Mars shows the Republicans and Democrats not cooperating well at all in the contested area of the economy. In the area of international politics, the opposition and mutual reception between Mercury and retrograde Jupiter amounts to a lot of noise, wasted breath, and agreements to disagree. Jupiter is the ruler of the Ascendent in this chart. Retrograde means that the USA backs down. Mercury, the ruler of the 7th house says that there is a strong and confusing influence in this country from foreign interests.

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Raphael is available for personal astrological and psychic readings. To find out more visit www.raphaelsimons.com.

Chinese astrological portrait of Gianni Versace

The well-known Italian fashion designer, Gianni Versace, was born on December 2, 1946. He would now have been 66. He was shot in the back on July 15, 1997 and died at age 50. The Chinese astrological signs of the year, month, day, and hour of his birth are Fire Dog, Metal Rat, Metal Dog, and Earth Rabbit, respectively. Versace was an extremely dynamic personality. Metal Dog, the strongest sign of all sixty signs in the Chinese system, is capable of greatest good and greatest evil. It is also called a peach blossom sign; Versace was attractive, seductive, and had strong sexual desires and good social standing.

The balance of elements in Versace's birth chart are 2 Water, 1 Wood, 4 Fire, 3 Earth and 4 Metal. Fire and Metal are most prominent. Fire and Metal clash. Versace was born on a day of Metal. Fire, in his chart is his enemy.

The chart showing strong Metal with strong Fire tells us that Versace was a leader who defiantly stood up against opposition; he was defiantly individualistic. This worked in his favor professionally, but in the area of personal involvements it cost him his life. Had he been more careful he might have been able to reach his peak cycle at age 82 to 92. The balance of yin and yang elements in Versace's chart is 6 yin and 6 yang; he was strong.

With only 1 Wood element in his chart, Versace's vital element was Water. In terms of fenshui, this would have meant that his best color was black, and that his best orientation was North. He should not have been in Miami in July, the place and time of his death. Summer and south were for him the worst. Water opposes Fire.

Versace moved to Milano in 1972 at age 26, during a cycle showing good fortune for him in love and money. He launched his Gianni Versace label in 1978 at age 32 at the beginning of a new cycle that brought him big challenges in the personal and professional spheres. He was the type to welcome challenges. In 1982 at age 36, in the same cycle, he launched his line of perfume, and in 1983 at age 37 went into designing theater costumes. This was a most dynamic cycle. In 1990, at age 44, in a new cycle, Versace opened his exclusive New York shop. But, Versace's cycle from age 42 to 52 brought up the enemy: Fire. Trouble was brewing.

The year, month, day, and hour of Versace's death are Fire Ox, Fire Sheep, Earth Horse, and Fire Snake, respectively. This combination has 7 Fires. Fire is extremely strong. Fire came out to attack Versace's Metal. Other indications in the chart show Versace's weak Wood and his vital element, Water, being destroyed.
What could have saved Versace from such a tragic end? The advice a good Chinese astrologer and fengshui expert would have been not to go south in the summer that year, but to go north, and cultivate Water element, meaning concentration and calm reflection. Had he gone to Maine rather than Florida he would have lived.

1997 was the year of Ox. Ox is hostile to dog. Ox punishes Dog. Remember, Versace was born in the year and day of Dog. Ox year would alone have warned Versace that he was in potential danger. The year, Fire Ox, was in a violent clash with Versace's day of birth sign, Metal Dog. Fire Ox is the worst sign for Metal Dog. That would really have been the year for Versace to lay low and go north. But, he didn't know. Chinese astrology is fascinating.

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Raphael is available for personal consultations in Chinese astrology and fengshui. To find out more visit www.trs-fengshui.com or contact Raphael at simons.traphael@gmail.com.

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Winter season 2012-2013 in Chinese astrology

Chinese winter season began this year on November 8 and will end on February 4, 2013. This year, the year of the Water Dragon has 13 lunations. While Chinese new year often begins in Chinese spring season, this year began in winter season. It contains two beginnings of springtime, February 4, 2012, and February 4, 2013. The year of Water Snake begins on February 10, 2013. This is a long year.

The new year chart for Water Dragon showed a strong overbalance of Water element. This points to cold and wet conditions. This winter brings it out. The new year chart had 7 Water, 3 Wood, 2 Fire, 4 Earth and 1 Metal. 7 Water suggests floods, and a very cold winter later this year, especially on the east coast of North America and in Europe. So far we have had a devastating storm on the east coast with massive flooding in which many tens of thousands of people lost their homes, and now there are floods in the UK. At the beginning of the Water Dragon year Europe was experiencing an arctic winter.

At the beginning of the winter season, at around November 8th, the east coast of the US, and areas of the mid-west and Canada endured a hurricane with devastating floods. Now there are floods in the UK.

The chart for this winter strongly reemphasizes Water element. The winter chart made for the US has 6 Water, 2 Wood, 1 Fire, 3 Earth, and 4 Metal. The winter chart made for the UK has 7 Water, 2 Wood, 0 Fire, 2 Earth and 3 Metal. Water is extremely overbalanced. The East coast of the US, Canada, and the UK, not to mention Europe, will probably experience severe coditions this winter. Water element is particularly strong later in November through January.

In the realm of human emotions, this intensity of Water comes out as fear. Fear will pervade social and political relations this winter. Water is also secretive. That means that much will not be revealed directly, and a lot of false information aimed at arousing fear will circulate. All the end of the world mania that has been developing is seen in the imbalance of the elements in Nature. It doesn't mean the end of anything. But it does mean that people are collectively expressing the negative negative side of Water. The positive side of Water is CONCENTRATION and CALM REFLECTION. The part of wisdom tells us that through this intense energy we can reflect calmly so that we can become better attuned to the natural course that will bring us to grow later on.

If you wish to apply this understanding to fengshui, it would make perfect sense to clear a space in your home where you can sit, walk, stand, and/or lie down and bring yourself into a state of calm, clear reflection and concentration. The appropriate color for this energy is deep blue. Giving into fear takes in the poison of the Water Element. The poison of Water element causes bone, nerve, and brain disorders, sexual dysfunction, and falling hair. Time of Water calls for collecting, concentrating and bringing the Chi to stillness. Do this even though the world is prone to fits of terror and hatred now.

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The solar eclipse as seen in astrology

The solar eclipse at 21 degrees Scorpio was at 10:19 PM GMT, November 3. The affects of a solar eclipse unfold over one to three years, the first year being the most significant. 21 degrees Scorpio is in the 3rd decanate of that sign. A solar eclipse in the 3rd decanate of Scorpio denotes the rise of a tyrant, and the hatred of the people against their rulers. We now have in the United States a surprising movement of people to secede. It won't happen at this time, but it is an ominous sign of the deep discontentment of the people that has been brewing for years as well as secretive maneuvering involving certain individuals in the military, political circles, and the Government.

The eclipse happens in the 19th lunar mansion. This lunar masion, called Azarala, unsettles commercial activities, but favors the persuit of personal ideas; it is a good time to go hunting, as it were. Mars, the dispositor of the eclipse is forming sextile aspect with Neptune. This favors the adventurous spirit that the eclipse is showing.

Scorpio, the sign in which we find the eclipse, is ruled by Mars and Pluto. The aspects of Mars and Pluto are Mars sextile Neptune, and Pluto square Uranus. These say that the affects of the eclipse are mixed good and not good. We see also that Mercury is retrograde and is exactly square Neptune, and that gives Mars licence to do some pretty adventurous mischief, so the eclipse has an air of danger of treachery. The square of Mercury and Neptune is very significant, as it denotes fraudulence and underhandedness in world affairs. It also denotes scandals happening everywhere.

The eclipse was visible in the far southwestern Pacific, and passed over northern Australia. It reached total in Australia at 9:19 AM on November 14, in the 11th house. This denotes upsets in Parliamentary affairs. Mercury is also in the 11th house and, square to Neptune in the 3rd house, denotes deceptions by the press. There are also dangers of mishaps while traveling, especially on water. Mercury retrograde also rules the 10th house. Applying to square Neptune, who rules the 4th house, it appears the Prime Minister or other leading figure in the Government would wish to avoid a potentially chaotic quarrel with the opposition; some ugly and distorted things will come out. The media in Australia, as shown by this eclipse, is in the dark, and is distracting the people and lying about something. Mars is in the 12th house showing trouble behind the scenes.

The eclipse in New Zealand was at 11:19 AM in the 10th house. It is telegraphing a significant earthquake or volcanic eruption to come over the course of the year. The solar eclipse in the 10th house is also very unfortunate for the Government. The eclipsed Sun rules the 8th house of this chart, and denotes the death of a leading figure in the country, very possibly someone in the higest circles of the Government.

The eclipse in the UK and the EU was in the 4th house denoting the land itself, and the opposition to the Government. Harsh winter conditions will develop. The eclipsed Sun rules the Ascendent of this chart. This denotes that the people are tremendously upset. Serious problems in the Eurozone are coming. Pluto will transit the Euro Sun and UK Sun to bring worse turmoil in this region in December and into 2013. Pluto is square Uranus. Deep organizational crises are working out. Greece is at the brink of defaulting. It may happen in December. In the eclipse chart for the UK and EU we have Mercury square Neptune in the 7th house denoting treachery and double dealing on the part of foreign powers. Mercury rules the 2nd house. The 2nd house is the treasury and banks. Double dealing involves money and banking. Europe is vulnerable to international crime, plots, schemes, secret attacks, and scandals.

The eclipse in the USA was in the 6th house with Mercury in the 6th house square Neptune in the 10th. A scandal in the military involving the Administration is unfolding. The press is involved as shown by the Moon ruling the 3rd house of the chart. The eclipse happens in interception in the 6th house. This shows that the trouble is very deep and that much of it escapes attention. There is more to it than is being revealed. Mercury ruling the 2nd house square Neptune in the 10th house mutual reception Uranus in the 11th house shows alot of tricky business involving the economy, the Congress and the Executive branch of the Government. The eclipsed Sun ruling the 4th house is showing that the opposition to the President, while eclipsed, is involved in a deep and secret way in what is showing on the surface to be a scandal involving Petraeus. There appears to be some deep power brokering happening involving the military, the highest circles of the Government, and the economic forces. The eclipse does not show international conflict coming. Jupiter who rules the 7th house of this chart is retrograde and in the 1st house. It shows foreign powers disinclined to conflict with the US at this point. The eclipse Sun ruling the 4th house also shows that the opposition to the Administration is extremely discontent. The Sun at 21 degrees is on a critical degree. The discontentment is being experienced as a crisis. This explains the secessionist movement.

Mercury is the ruler of the Ascendent of the USA eclipse chart. Mercury is retrograde. The people will back down. There won't be any secession at this time. The movement is running into confusion as shown by Mercury exactly square Neptune. It is possible, from what this chart looks like, that people in the Government and/or military are involved in this secessionist movement. The eclipse Sun rules the 4th house. The 4th house is the opposition to the Administration. The eclipse happens in interception in the 6th house. It involves the military, and interception means secrecy. It is this writers opinion that there is a connection between the recent firings of Petraeus and other high ranking military personel and the secessionist movement; it is possible that the secessionist movement is in part triggered by individuals connected with the military and opposed to Obama. This is more complex than it may appear to be.

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Raphael is available for private personal readings. To find out more visit www.raphaelsimons.com

The election on 11/6 seen astrologically

There is a method used to get an idea who will win. According to Elbert Benjamine, of The Brotherhood of Light fame, the chart to use is the new or full moon just prior to the election, and the planets to pay attention to are Jupiter and Saturn, Jupiter for the Republicans and Saturn for the Democrats. The full moon prior to the coming election was on Oct. 29. While this method generally works, it is the opinion of this writer that it is better to look at that chart in the context of the charts of the fall equinox of Sept. 22, the new moon of Oct. 15, the chart for the day of the election, Nov. 6, then Mercury going retrograde on Nov. 7,  and finally the solar eclipse that comes on Nov. 13. The reaon for the chart of the solar eclipse is because the solar eclipse acts as a big magnet that draws the entire tide of human emotions and opinions that bears upon the consensus at the election. At first glance it looks close, and vigilance will be needed to deal with voter fraud.

All of the charts are made for Washington DC.

Looking at Saturn first, we see that this planet is in the section of the sky called Via Combust Way in all of these charts. Any planet in Via Combust Way is weakened. Nonetheless, Saturn was in Libra. Saturn is exalted in Libra, so this makes him very powerful despite his weakened condition. The Democratic party is strong if not as strong as it would like to be.

Looking at Jupiter, we see that this planet is in Gemini, its sign of detriment, and that it is retrograde.This weakens the Republicans as well. When Mercury goes retrograde, it does so in Sagittarius, Jupiter's sign, so the retrograde weakens the Republicans even further. Mercury goes retrograde square Neptune. This warns us of fraud and errors in the election process that will not look good.

The chart of the fall equinox gives Saturn three good aspects, and Jupiter two. Saturn's aspects are sextile the Sun, sextile the Mid Heaven, and trine Neptune. Jupiter's aspects are trine Mercury and sextile Venus. Saturn was in the 12th house, and Jupiter was in the 8th. Mars was at 19 degrees Scorpio in the 1st house showing the people very angry this fall; the nation is in an angry mood. Mars is conjunct the star Serpentis, the most malefic star in the sky. In this angry mood, the conditions of Saturn and Jupiter are pretty similar, although Saturn is stronger. Therefore, the Democratic party as seen from the fall equinox chart is the stronger of the two.

The chart of the new moon of Oct. 15 has Saturn in Scorpio. Saturn is peregrine in Scorpio, not as strong as in Libra, and prone to being pushed off course under bad aspects. Nonetheless, Saturn in Scoprio is in mutual reception Pluto in Capricorn, so Saturn is strongly reinforced. Pluto rules over the largest mass of people. The Democrats are therefore seen as winning more support from the grassroots. Saturn is also forming a sextile aspect with Pluto, and that acts very favorably and gives opportunities for succeeding. In the new moon chart Saturn has five aspects, all seen as good. They are conjunct the Ascendent, square the Mid-Heaven, Conjunct the Moon and conjunct the Sun. Retrograde Jupiter has three aspects: trine the Sun and trine the Moon, and square Venus. The Sun and Moon are separating from trine to Jupiter and are applying to the conjunction with Saturn. The force is moving from the Republicans to the Democrats. Saturn, i.e., the Democrats, appears in this chart to be gaining.

The chart of the full moon, the key chart according to Elbert Benjamine, has Saturn combust the Sun, opposite the Moon. This can weaken Saturn, but the mutual reception Pluto can get him out of a tight spot. The full moon happened at the disaster on the east coast, and Obama has risen to the occasion while Romney has not. The mutual reception between Saturn and Pluto has turned a disaster into an opportunity for Obama. In the full moon chart Saturn has four aspects, and Jupiter has three. Saturn's aspects are conjunction the Sun, opposition the Moon, sextile and mutual reception Pluto, and trine Neptune. The aspects of Jupiter, now retrograde, ae square the Ascendent, opposition the Midheaven, and and exact opposition to Mars. The opposition to Mars is very unluck for Romney. Also Mars is in the 9th house. Romney is being frowned upon by foreign Governments. So, the full moon chart shows the Democrats gaining yet more.

The chart of the day of the election, made for noon in DC has Mercury at retrograde station opposite Jupiter retrograde and square Neptune. This warns of fraud. Mercury is in Sagittarius, the sign ruled by Jupiter, and Jupiter is in Gemini, the sign ruled by Mercury. They are in mutual reception by opposition. It works like jumping from the frying pan into the fire. The mutual reception is destructive, and brings out a lot of confusion, all the worse because of Mercury's square aspect to Neptune. Something fishy about Romney that day. Jupiter's aspects, besides the mutual reception by opposition to Mercury, are opposition to Mars, trine to Venus, and sextile to Moon. Romney despite the confusion will win plenty of votes. The aspects of Saturn are mutual reception by sextile to Pluto, and trine to Neptune. Obama is getting the votes of the poor and the greater mass of the people.

Let it be said that the Mercury square to Neptune, while it involves Jupiter, also overshadows the entire election. The people are being deceived by both sides. Something ominous is in this, as shown by the solar eclipse.

The chart of the solar eclipse on November 13 has Mercury retrograde exactly square Neptune, a sign of fraud and confusion. Because Mercury is the dispositor of Jupiter, still retrograde, it points at the Republicans. They don't play fair. Mercury is trine to Saturn, so it favors Saturn, and Saturn is in mutual reception by sextile with Pluto which works in Saturn's favor. Jupiter has one aspect, trine Venus. Venus is intercepted in the 6th house showing a small group working from behind closed doors. Saturn's aspects are opposition the Ascendent, mutual reception and sextile Pluto, and trine Neptune. Saturn is in the 6th house denoting labor. The working class favors Obama. The solar eclipse is in the 7th house, the eclipse being at 21 degrees Scorpio. A solar eclipse in the 3rd decanate of Scorpio shows the rise of a tyrant. We will learn what that means. The eclipse in the 7th house points to disputes and complications not only between opposing forces in the country, but also involving foreign powers.

Decide for yourself. It looks like Obama will win unless there is election fraud. Either way, the outcome will be difficult. The people are being decieved.

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Feng Shui of the heart: the three fortunes

In Chinese thinking bearing upon fengshui there is what is called the three fortunes. The three fortunes are always taken into account in fengshui. The three fortunes are the luck of heaven, the luck of the human, and the luck of the earth. Heaven luck refers to the configurations in the person's horoscope. Human luck refers to the person's state of morality, health, energy, and personal culture. And earth luck refers to the condition of the person's living and working environments. When all three fortunes are in harmony the person thrives.

To ascertain your heaven luck a Chinese astrological chart is made and analyzed. It shows how the elements unfold through your life, when they support your growth and when they go against you. Without this knowledge it is very difficult to make any sense in arranging the fengshui of your environment, as it is completely necessary to see what the different elements mean to you in time and space. If you don't know what element the person needs, you can easily go astray and use the wrong element in the fengshui, and bring bad luck to the person. The elements in Chinese astrology directly translate into directions in space and colors. If a person needs the element Wood, meaning green colors and east orientation, and you give them the element Fire, or red colors and south orientation, you exhaust their Chi and weaken their luck. Chinese astrology is the only reliable guide for doing personal fengshui. It tells everything about the person's life, as it unfolds in time, and helps to understand what the person needs for all of the different areas of life to develop well and smoothly.

The person's human luck develops with personal culture, moral, mental, and physical cultivation. If the person has excellent heaven luck and beautiful earth luck but is unethical in his or her dealings in the world the human luck will eventually attract disaster. Good heaven and earth luck will come to no avail if you don't act correctly to realize it. It is like serving delicious, nourishing food to someone who is too lazy to lift a fork. Human luck means work and action. Without it nothing helps. Self-cultivation to build a magnetic personality is the most important key to success. A person with strong human luck and bad earth luck can become very successful in life. A person with good earth luck and poor human luck will at best be weak, and will more likely than not meet with bad luck. Human luck is the hub of the wheel, so to say. A good fengshui expert can arrange the fengshui of a person's environment in such a discordant way that forces the person to become strong and active, and succeed in life. You have to understand the person correctly in order to do the fengshui appropriately. Understanding the person's human luck is just as important as knowing how to read the person's Chinese astrological chart.

The earth luck refers to the actual arrangement of the person's environment. That arrangement depends on knowing the person's Chinese astrological chart, and understanding their level of personal culture. Arranging the person's earth luck is making a magical talisman of their space. Everything is put in the right place in the right alignment according to the compass situation of the place, the underground energetic condition, and the astrological reading of the person living or working in the space. And, when the human luck of the person is correctly understood the space can be given the appropriate objects to support the development of the person's luck.

Fengshui without a complete understanding and skill in working with the the three fortunes is more likely than not going to cause trouble. Without the proper knowledge of the Chinese astrology this art should not be practiced in any way but to a superficial depth as it can do a lot of harm when not used intelligently.

A good fengshui expert uses all of the elements and the three fortunes to change a person's luck and life. This is a subtle and powerful art. The traditional way of practicing the personal form of fengshui, called fengshui of the heart, begins with a Chinese astrological reading. The astrological reading shows the person's situation and what it needs to move in a positive direction. The person's face may also also read and/or they are engaged in conversation to arrive at an understanding of their human luck. The sound of a person's voice tells the expert even more about the person than the words they use, as different vocal signals and inflections reveal the balance of the elements in the person's Chi. When the person's situation is suffiently understood, the fengshui expert looks at the person's house to analyze it and make those recommendations that will change the person's luck. This is the way it has been done in China for centuries.

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Chinese astrological portrait of Fidel Castro

Upon hearing the news that the much loved and hated leader of the Cuban revolution, Fidel Castro, had a stroke, a Chinese astrological chart was drawn up to view his life and see how much longer he has to live. Fidel Castro was born on August 13, 1926 in the hour of Ox. The Chinese astrological signs for the year, month, day, and hour of his birth are Fire Tiger, Fire Monkey, Wood Dog, and Wood Ox, respectively. He was born in the year of 2 Earth star and the month of 5 Earth star, and his tendency star is 2 Earth. The combination of Fire Tiger year and Wood Dog day made Castro a passionate, creative character who was full of surprises, and who loved adventure; he was tremendously optimistic. The combination of birth stars, 2-5-2, allowed Castro to persist and develop his vision gradually, following the examples of those political figures he most admired. Oddly enough, he was a conservative, and detail oriented man, and he had the support of some powerful magicians on the island. He was oriented to service, was hardworking, and single minded. And he felt deeply connected to the people and to the land that he so zealously ruled, although his chart shows major conflict with his parents and with figures of authority when he was growing up; he didn't have the support of his parents.

The balance of elements in Castro's chart are 4 Metal, 2 Water, 3 Wood, 4 Fire, and 4 Earth. Water is weakest, and Wood and Metal are the strongest at his birth. His vital element is Metal. Metal was strongest in his life in his first 29 years, and then again from age 39 to 59. In the 10 year period from age 29 to 39, which for Castro was a pivotal cycle, he won his war, and made an enemy of the USA. Having won control of Cuba in that period, he established a Government that has proved to be long lasting. Anything established in a pivotal period lasts long. Breaks and fallings out also happen in such periods.

The balance of yin and yang elements in Castro's chart show 10 yang and 6 yin. Castro is an initiator. The balance shows that yang Fire and yang Earth are overbalanced. This adversely affected his digestion and circulation. This, combined with Castro's weakest element, Water, ruling the brain, and blood, shows how he came to have a stroke which will invalid him for the rest of his life. This year, 2012, Water Dragon, having a superfluidity of Water, is attacking the elements of the year of Castro's birth, Fire Tiger, and is overwhelming Castro's circulation and brain, hence a stroke; he is very weak now. The elements of the current 10 year period that he is in, from age 79 to 89, Wood Dragon, fight with the elements of the day of his birth, Wood Dog. And with his vital element having been absent since he was 59, Castro is in fragile condition. Still, the sequence of 10 year cycles in his life show that he reached his peak of personal power and strength between 69 and 79, and that, while he is declining, he is still capable of holding on. How long he does is a question.

Death could come between now and 2016, sometime between 2013 and 2014 being likely. The sequence of years shows a steady decline of strength between 2011 and 2016. It would be a miracle if he held on past 2016. The 10 year cycle of Castro's age 79 to 89 shows him reclusive. If he survives past his 89th birthday he will die in that period. Castro will be 89 in 2015.

What will become of Cuba beyond Castro's death, according to his chart, is a modification and undoing of his ideas about how to rule the country. His original conflict with his family, and, by extension, the wealthy class from which he came, is not over. When he dies, those people will try to reassert themselves in Havana.

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Raphael is available for private readings and consultations. To find out more, visit www.raphaelsimons.com.