Tips for the coming period 

Two of the outer planets turning backwards—what can we do with that? Both Uranus and Neptune are in this mode in this period.  This happens now and then and there has been much speculation and argument amongst astrologers as to what this might mean.  All planets appear to go backwards though the zodiac sometimes (except for the Sun and Moon which are not really planets anyway), caused by the position that the earth holds in the Solar system.  To us it seems as if they go over the same spot 3 times and sometimes even 5 times. It is as if they have to go back to get something they left behind!  I would suggest that as with Mercury, which was discussed in the last E-zine, it is a time to go back or to go inwards or re-evaluate something.  Both Uranus and Neptune have very long cycles so perhaps being slower and therefore staying in one spot longer, they may affect the collective at a deeper level or be more unconscious. 

Uranus will go retrograde on June 27th 2008 and stay that way until November 27th 2008.  Neptune went retrograde on May 26th 2008 and go forwards again on November the 2nd 2008.

Uranus rules all things technical, computers, technology and any form of innovation. In a chart it shows us where we have innovative skills, where we want change, revolution.  Where we want to be different. So:
 

Tip 1:  Between 27th June and 27th November it might be a good time to see whether you need to go back and collect a bright idea that you may have had. Did you miss a chance for change at either the personal or company level?  Check out your technology, as this might be a time when you need to use those backups. Re-evaluate whether you are not being honest with yourself, if you are not being authentic, Uranus might send you back to get it right. It can also be a time where people are not openly honest.

Neptune rules things like imagination, fantasy, dreams, drugs, music—anything that gets us out of reality to another realm. Film, dance, meditation and the like.  In a chart it shows where we are imaginative but also where we want to escape.  Where we want to be compassionate and help people but also where we can feel like a victim, feeling taken advantage of. So:

Tip 2: Between May 26th and November 2nd it might be a good time to see where you have no borders or boundaries. Where are you doing too much? Are you addicted to something?  I think Neptune retrograde is a good time to meditate on things of the past. To look inwards and heal old wounds.  Where have you been taken advantage of? Perhaps it is a time to find out how to turn this archetype around from a negative to a positive.  So from being idealistic and having fantasies about how things might be, to using your imagination for creating something positive. From being addicted to getting lost in something you love. Perhaps there is some dream that you need to go back and get.

It is interesting in the light of the many disasters recently, to note that Neptune in the sky, is very near the star Deneb Algedi which he passes by these 3 times. It is as if he wants a good look at this star, which is in the tail of Capricorn the goat. It is associated with wisdom and knowledge in protecting people. A genuine desire to help by serving. Perhaps we do need to observe this star more closely!

Internet, Balance sheets, Goals and Structure

As the theme this month is Gemini, internet and company documents seem a fitting topic to discuss.

As I begin my E-zine,  which of course I won’t send out yet, (for once taking my own advice and waiting for Mercury to move forwards again just in the nick of time on the 19th - has everyone had as much trouble as I have with internet email and phones?)  Pluto has just gone backwards into Sagittarius again before he finally goes into Capricorn on November 27th, where he stays until 2023.  In the short period since January when he made his first tentative steps into Capricorn, we had a taste of the areas he might be going to target. We astrologers, being a Uranian-Aquarian lot, like to be right.
So I was glad to come across someone who validates what I said in earlier E-zines!  Or maybe he is just someone in tune with the time.
 

Here’s what I said:  

This from the Capricorn 2007 zine:
 

There is a movement afoot in business that I feel will become more important and accepted in this phase, so it would be wise for companies to start thinking about how this could be implemented. That is the idea known as triple bottom line, where balance sheets for companies will contain not only profit in financial terms but will also be expected to cover the people and planet aspects as well.  Sustainability will need to be measured and accounted for. For both people and the environment. Hence the three P's  'people profit and planet'. 
 

And these from the Capricorn 2008 one:
 

However the internet cannot continue as it is.  And  Accountability will be more important and the internet will definitely be affected by this. 
 

Here’s what Joe is about 

Who? I hear you ask. I came across Joe Firmage through Barbara Marx Hubbard’s newsletter, also worth a look. Joe is someone who has mixed his love or science and things technical, with his skills in leadership.  I also listened to a couple of interviews with him -  see websites below.  The first topic that caught my attention was what he calls Evolving Economics. One of the basic premises is that company directors should not be rewarded on profits. 


Joe maintains that this sets up a system where everyone tries to please shareholders and it is totally money based, causing all sorts of difficulties and dilemmas.  He is calling for different measures based on company goals, even better than the PPP idea in my view. The example he gives is for energy companies. Directors would be measured on providing a good service and maintaining a financial break-even system by supplying the cheapest possible green energy.  The government would fund the start-up and after set up, these companies would be self-supporting.  The better they run by providing the best and cheapest energy to the consumer, the better the rewards for those in charge.  So we see that the company balance sheet documents would look very differently and would include agreed goals and measurements.  In his words: “ with a framework allowing far more diverse kinds of performance and success metrics, we can enable measures of value and productivity to index to any qualitative ideals established by democracies of people. Within such a framework, a new paradigm for the sharing of wealth becomes feasible.” Pluto in Capricorn is certainly starting to plant some seeds here. 
  
Tidy Up Internet

The one I got really excited about though, mainly because it would make my life of writing and researching much easier, is what Joe has set up already for the web.  It’s called the Digital Universe and it will be managed by his non- profit company called ManyOne.  It has many features and will take a long time to set up as it is an extremely ambitious project. However it will sort out the internet and make it much more structured and accountable.

The vision taken from his website:
 
The vision of the Digital Universe is to organize the sum total of human knowledge and make it available to everyone.  It is an ever-growing array of commercial-free portals mapping the highest-quality Internet destinations, as recommended by experts recognized in their fields. These experts review public contributions, create context and attest to the reliability, integrity, and accuracy of the portals.

A sort of quality wiki - BBC? But then much better - and no advertising! If this is your passion, it appears you can get in on the ground floor and volunteer as a steward or a volunteer consultant. See websites below. With Pluto helping to sort out the excrement on the web this might just be a very successful project! 
   
Interesting websites  

www.manyone.net/tomorrow  - the site of the non -profit organisation ManyOne,  with a description and information on the Digital Universe.

www.firmage.org  Joe's own site.

www.dufoundation.org/participation.php 
the page you need to participate as a volunteer consultant or as a steward of information on the web under the Digital Universe.

Remember too that the last Gemini e-zines are also relevant to this period:  2006 and 2007

Gemini Quote 

“Internet is a giant international network of intelligent, informed computer enthusiasts, by which I mean, "people without lives." We don't care. We have each other...” Dave Barry American Writer and Humorist