Madam Lichtenstein's Cosmic World

Horoscope for the Week of September 19, 2011

Start your engines, compadres. Mars enters glorious Leo and life rockets upward. We succeed at anything and everything...  at least we believe that we can. Repeat the mantra and light the fuse. Do I hear a sizzle and a  pop?

(Demi Moore has Mars in Leo)

Never miss your horoscope again -- free sign up here. Here is my favorite book on astrology and a "must" for anyone interested in learning more: Secrets from a Stargazer's Notebook: Making Astrology Work for You and here's a guide to the best books available this month. This column is (c) 2011 THE STARRY EYE, LLC., All Rights Reserved. For Entertainment Purposes Only. Madam Lichtenstein is the author of the best selling astrology book “HerScopes ” now in its 8th printing and available as an eBook.

ARIES   (MARCH 21 - APRIL 20)
Rams feel good about themselves and good thing too. Find numerous ways to have fun and let your emotions run wild. Open yourself up to being giddy and fun seeking. Your giddiness and sense of fun knows no bounds (unless, of course,  you are into it...). There is the chance that you will overdo but do you really care? Recuperate in the autumn.

TAURUS   (APRIL 21 - MAY 21)
Apparently there are a few things that you would like to get off your chest. And this week you cannot contain yourself any longer. Bulls can make any excuse to get the family together and can mend or bend a few fences in the process. You  have your say no matter what you think the outcome will be. Spruce up your surroundings to get ready for the hordes.

GEMINI   (MAY 22 - JUNE 21)
Twins are a bit full of themselves ... and why not? You are quite the intellectual and are ready to share your insightful opinions at every opportunity. A mighty wind blows, a dust storm ensues. What you may find once the air has cleared is that it didn’t matter whether you were right or wrong. What really matters is that you said it loud and clear. Ahem!

CANCER   (JUNE 22 - JULY 23)
Keep a watchful eye on your bottom line, Crab. Your need for glam exceeds your capacity to pay. There are so many alluring goodies that catch your eye that you are tempted to spend fast, feckless and furiously. But before you whip out the wallet be sure that the object of your desire can deliver on its purported promise. Will you wind up with trash? Will you care?

LEO   (JULY 24 - AUGUST 23)
Lions are prodded into taking a more active role in implementing any long dormant plans. There are no more “what ifs” and “oh wells” this week. Those stale excuses will no longer do. There is a short window of opportunity so get going. You sparkle and shine around others and can start a few social fires. Is it hot in here or is it you? Hey, nice ash.

VIRGO   (AUGUST 24 - SEPTEMBER 23)
There is a great deal of secretive activity going on behind the scenes. Much of it has to do with unresolved issues that you preferred to push under the rug. Keep an ear to the ground, Virgo. One of two scenarios appears to be in the cards; Either your hidden enemies are finally vanquished or they rise up for one last attempted coup. Prepare the guillotine for your revolution.

LIBRA   (SEPTEMBER 24 - OCTOBER 23)
What is it about the events this week that accelerates all Libras into overdrive? Your social swirl whips up into a lather and your dance card fills to overflowing. Friends come to you from all corners, from every nook and cranny, from under every rock, or so it seems. Can you dance at two parties with only one tush? Well you will certainly try....

SCORPIO   (OCTOBER 24 - NOVEMBER 22)
Scorps find themselves imbued with ambition and zest. This is the time to put your best professional foot forward and see how well you can impress those in charge. Confidence and calculated risks  make the difference between sitting among the upper class and sulking in steerage. Have a great idea? Float it and see who gets carried away by it.

SAGITTARIUS   (NOVEMBER 23 - DECEMBER 22)
Itchy feet must be scratched this week. Archers feel confined by the usual and staid. They must break out and escape, damn the cost. Choose some unusual destinations now and see if there are some interesting distractions afoot. If money is tight, expand your international reach with a combination of food, wine and exotic company... virtual or otherwise.

CAPRICORN   (DECEMBER 23 - JANUARY 20)
Your sexual appetite is piqued this week. The most uninspired  Capricorn gets an urge to merge. You have great stamina and are primed for a marathon rather than a short sprint. But try to be a bit discriminating. There is the off chance that the short term jolly can evolve into something much more serious. Or are you just into getting your jollies? Ho ho ho.

AQUARIUS   (JANUARY 21 - FEBRUARY 19)
There is something going on in your relationships  now. Do you feel more of an emotional connection or are you finding that the ties now bind? Aquarians wander into a crossroad of their own making and feel that changes need to be made immediately. There may be something that you say that brings understanding to a new level. Uh, will that be higher or lower?

PISCES   (FEBRUARY 20 - MARCH 20)
Are you taking vitamins? Are you exercising? It may seem that way even to lazy bones. Slothful Pisces may begin to feel robust and primed for action. Use this burst of energy to get a number of long standing tasks out of the way and prepare for new ones. At least if you are going to be a rat on a treadmill you might as well use it as aerobic fitness.

 

 

 

Lucky Numbers for the Week of September 16, 2011

Lottery ads tell us you only need a dollar and a dream. But it is also helpful to have a list of lucky numbers to help spur the good fortune ... or fortunes.

So with that in mind, here are some lucky numbers that can be used in any helpful way. I gazed into a pool of water, Nostradamus-like, and contemplated the cosmos. Then I mixed the tarot cards and allowed the spirits to guide me to the cards that represent the lucky numbers for this week. Nothing is guaranteed but who knows ....?

I choose eight numbers because 8 is the number of wealth.

Here are the lucky numbers for the week of September 16-22, 2011:

2, 12, 19, 25, 33, 49, 52, 68

There are many ways to delve into your own consciousness to find luck and intuition. Try reading Dream Power/Improve Your Luck (Super Strength Series) and see if your dreams give you any clues and premonitions. Here's a guide to the best books available this month

Green Tea and Tai Chi - Good for Bone Health

I continue to read about the benefits of green tea and tai chi but I did not know that they both enhance bone health and reduce inflammation in postmenopausal women.

Green tea is chock full of compounds called polyphenols known for their potent antioxidant activity. Dozens of epidemiological (observational) studies have shown that people who consume the highest levels of green tea polyphenols (GTP) tend to have lower risks of several chronic degenerative diseases such as cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis.

These findings have been followed up with animal studies suggesting that the mechanism behind this correlation may have to do with lowering chronic levels of inflammation.

The most recent research focuses on postmenopausal women and investigated the potential for green tea to work synergistically with tai chi -- a traditional Chinese form of moderately intense aerobic fitness activity grounded in mind-body philosophy -- in enhancing bone strength.

Carried out as a double-blind, placebo-controlled, intervention trial, this experiment involved 171 postmenopausal women (mean age: ~57 y) who had weak bones but not full-fledged osteoporosis. Subjects were divided into 4 groups:

•Placebo: starch pill (placebo) and no tai chi

•GTP: green tea polyphenols (500 mg/day) and no tai chi

•Placebo+TC: starch pill and tai chi (3 times/week)

•GTP+TC: green tea polyphenols and tai chi

The study lasted for 6 months, during which time blood and urine samples were collected and muscle strength assessed. The results show that consumption of GTP (at a level equivalent to about 4-6 cups of steeped green tea daily) and participation in tai chi independently enhanced markers of bone health by 3 and 6 months, respectively.

A similar effect was found for muscle strength at the 6-month time point. Participants taking tai chi classes also reported significant beneficial effects in quality of life in terms of improving their emotional and mental health.

Perhaps most remarkable, however, was the substantial effect that both GTP and tai chi had on biological markers of oxidative stress. Because oxidative stress is a main precursor to inflammation, this finding suggests that green tea and tai chi may help reduce the underlying etiology of not only osteoporosis, but other inflammatory diseases as well. Read more at Science Daily.

 

 

Horoscope for the Week of September 12, 2011

Will you upset the applecart of love this week with a careless phrase or action? Watch your step as Venus enters Libra and squares retrograde Pluto. Suddenly there is a bump in the road! But alls well that ends well if you can learn to add more spice to your applesauce.

(Woody Allen has Venus in Libra)

Never miss your horoscope again -- free sign up here. Here is my favorite book on astrology and a "must" for anyone interested in learning more: Secrets from a Stargazer's Notebook: Making Astrology Work for You and here's a guide to the best books available this month. This column is (c) 2011 THE STARRY EYE, LLC., All Rights Reserved. For Entertainment Purposes Only. Madam Lichtenstein is the author of the best selling astrology book “HerScopes ” now in its 8th printing and available as an eBook.

ARIES   (MARCH 21 - APRIL 20)
Relationships and the demands of your partner may cause some upheavals or extra stress in your career. Maybe a promotion and a possible relocation will lead to a personal crossroad where one of you will have to make a dramatic and unexpected life change. Rams on the hoof may meet the CEO of their dreams. It is good to keep things fresh. How fresh can you be?

TAURUS   (APRIL 21 - MAY 21)
Treat yourself to something healthy and relaxing this week. You have been too stressed, Bull and need some calming potions and oils. Before you melt into a mellow puddle, tie up all loose ends a t work and book yourself a relaxing retreat to some faraway destination. This is definitely the time to recharge so you can shock the office upon your return..

GEMINI   (MAY 22 - JUNE 21)
Even a light flirtation can get totally out of hand. And that is exactly the point! Twins find themselves in various fun and creative situations now where the possibility of romance is high. Make yourself presentable and hit the party circuit. It is never too early to prepare for holiday festivity season and you want to be in the right place at the right time.

CANCER   (JUNE 22 - JULY 23)
As much as you would like your home to be a quiet refuge, partners and pals have other plans. Don’t be surprised if your home is the center of all the activity with crowds clustering on your doorstep. You are the shining star and the one to know. Forget about retreating into your shell, Crab. You will be boiled, shelled and eaten. I guess things could be worse....

LEO   (JULY 24 - AUGUST 23)
Even a little stray comment can take on mammoth proportions this week. So if you have something dramatic to say, be prepared for the fall-out. And maybe that is a good thing. At least if you are angling for changes, changes are possible. The secret is to be able to harness those changes into something meaningful and permanent. Otherwise you are just fanning the hot air.

VIRGO   (AUGUST 24 - SEPTEMBER 23)
There are so many lovely items to buy that you may not be able to make up your mind. No matter, Virgin. Most of your desired objects are currently out of your price range anyway. My advice is to wait and see if what you want this week is what you want next week. Your taste is evolving. Good thing too. So  hold off on the “perfect” puce ottoman for the living room.

LIBRA   (SEPTEMBER 24 - OCTOBER 23)
The paparazzi love you and why not? Libras are glamorous front page news this week. Maybe it is because you are so charming, charismatic and totally outrageous that others naturally want to be near you. All of this attention may infringe on your privacy and your ability to enjoy a quiet home life. But maybe that is exactly the point?

SCORPIO   (OCTOBER 24 - NOVEMBER 22)
There are some things that you just know instinctively. And now you have a pretty good sense of who is on your side and who isn’t. What is your next step? Listen to your inner voice, think about what you want to say, speak up at the right time and take charge of the situation. Scorps can no longer be doormats for less scrupulous people. Rise up and get a rise!

SAGITTARIUS   (NOVEMBER 23 - DECEMBER 22)
This can be a festive and fun filled time with friends. There is so much to do and so many new friends to meet and greet. But you may also discover that the bill for these jolly times is higher than you anticipate. Monitor your spending, check the final bill and budget carefully Archer. And still expect to dip into your rainy day savings. Ah but what a way to go!

CAPRICORN   (DECEMBER 23 - JANUARY 20)
Expect great things to happen for you this week. All your hard work and careful outreach could pay off in dramatic and profitable ways. Not only can you advance in your career, you will also find ways to showcase your amazing talents to the world at large. Show off a bit on the international stage, Cap. You deserve it. To those who still have more to do, do it now.

AQUARIUS   (JANUARY 21 - FEBRUARY 19)
Aquarians have the world on a string. But don’t get tied up in small minded projects. It is time to see how your actions can impact as many people as possible. Expand your charitable outreach and do good deeds on a massive scale. You are capable of dramatic and positive change, should you set your mind to do it. Set your mind to do it this week.

PISCES   (FEBRUARY 20 - MARCH 20)
A simple platonic relationship can evolve into something hot, heavy and highly sexual this week. Are you ready to turn a shallow friendship into something much deeper? If so, take the plunge. For those Pisces who seek new connections, try fishing in new social pools. You never know who will swim by in a skimpy swimsuit. Or is it shrimpy?

Lucky Numbers for the Week of September 9, 2011

Lottery ads tell us you only need a dollar and a dream. But it is also helpful to have a list of lucky numbers to help spur the good fortune ... or fortunes.

So with that in mind, here are some lucky numbers that can be used in any helpful way. I gazed into a pool of water, Nostradamus-like, and contemplated the cosmos. Then I mixed the tarot cards and allowed the spirits to guide me to the cards that represent the lucky numbers for this week. Nothing is guaranteed but who knows ....?

I choose eight numbers because 8 is the number of wealth.

Here are the lucky numbers for the week of September 9-15, 2011:

4, 39, 41, 42, 47, 55, 76, 77

There are many ways to delve into your own consciousness to find luck and intuition. Try reading Dream Power/Improve Your Luck (Super Strength Series) and see if your dreams give you any clues and premonitions. Here's a guide to the best books available this month