Horoscope for February 2009 and the Week of February 2, 2009

How do I love you? Let me count the ways as we creep towards  Valentine’s Day. Of course we may love for reasons that one cannot explain. And that is good too since Sun conjuncts dizzy foggy Neptune and we become dizzy with desire through the next few weeks. Don’t put into dry words what can be accomplished by lusty actions (or the right gift -- check here for Valentine's Day gift ideas).

(Alan Alda has Sun in Aquarius)

ARIES   (MARCH 21 - APRIL 20)
If you have designs on particular platonic pal, you may want to make your intentions known this week. Rams should not and cannot be dissuaded from actions stemming from their hearts, even if their common sense minds disapprove. Take a chance and see what happens. Or take a wait and see attitude and maybe they will come to you?

TAURUS   (APRIL 21 - MAY 21)
If you begin to feel exciting vibes at work, resist the temptation to take things to the next exciting step. The next weeks bring a heady lift to your career environment but it may just be a passing fancy with no momentum. Bulls should build their professional reputation on solid bedrock and not on shifting sands. And that means no distractions of a sorted sort.

GEMINI   (MAY 22 - JUNE 21)
Twins have an urge to travel and cast their net globally this week. And why not? Make your best moves earlier rather than later. You have that certain special something that attracts interesting types from all corners. The trick will be to choose the best from the pack. Some are not who and what they appear to be. Maybe this is not a bad thing....

CANCER   (JUNE 22 - JULY 23)
There is something about you that turns heads and gets hearts pumping. Whoo hoo! Not only are you especially alluring and attractive now, you also seem to know just what to say and do to enhance your sexuality and nab anyone you desire. Try to bottle it and pour it on all through this Valentine’s month. Sizzling Crab is on the menu... at least this week..

LEO   (JULY 24 - AUGUST 23)
This is the perfect time to connect. Lions who are in a relationship find mystical and romantic ways to cement the love. Those who are searching for the right match can find their eternal flame. While it is not usually advisable to accept things at face value (because there is always an underlying motive) you may find that vulnerability can be very attractive... for now.

VIRGO   (AUGUST 24 - SEPTEMBER 23)
Virgins may over-do in exercise or diet this week. In your zeal to tone and buff, you may take things to the extreme. But that may not be a bad thing, after all. Love will find you pumping iron at the gym or perusing the occasional salad bar or even taking a brisk stroll around the park. The better you feel, the better you look. This is the month to become a looker.

LIBRA   (SEPTEMBER 24 - OCTOBER 23)
Party hearty you party hound. The next weeks offer you an array of romantic possibilities and opportunities for creativity and fun. Find time to balance your artistic inspirations with your desire to just kick back. Libras will find all the romantic hot spots by tagging along with the “in” crowd. But when does too much become too too much? I suspect you will know soon enough.

SCORPIO   (OCTOBER 24 - NOVEMBER 22)
Keep your romantic interludes close to home. Scorps can be passionate and jealous. What better way to keep your valentines all to yourself than by sequestering them in your castle? Be sure that you have enough provisions to keep them well fed and lubricated. Before you know it they make themselves comfortable and at home. You soon crave solitude.

SAGITTARIUS   (NOVEMBER 23 - DECEMBER 22)
Archers become very eloquent now. Not only can you express your deepest feelings in a compelling and attractive manner, you can also deliver sharp advice or criticism in a way that is accepted by others. So why wait? Tell them how you feel and see if you can move certain things forward in your life. Next month it is back to the old foot in mouth.

CAPRICORN   (DECEMBER 23 - JANUARY 20)
Money comes in and goes out again. What is it about Caps now that makes them so scatter brained about finances? It is very unusual ... and expensive. Whatever it is that tempts your wallet, try to sock away a few pennies for the proverbial  rainy day. Spend only what you can afford to spend be sure to enjoy it to the hilt. Oops do I feel a drop?

AQUARIUS   (JANUARY 21 - FEBRUARY 19)
Not only do you make an unusual and glorious first impression, you also manage to charm acquaintances and assorted friends of friends. Expand your social circle and let your innate charm ooze out. Not only will you be able to increase your possible valentines, you may also find someone to help you launch some of your new pet projects. Hurry before it grows fuzz.

PISCES   (FEBRUARY 20 - MARCH 20)
Fish can rely on their intuitiveness to help them out of a jam this February. Following your gut will help you avoid or triumph over any secret enemies. There is a great deal going on behind the background that could impact your plans. The secret to your success is to stay above the fray, do good charitable deeds and trust in the gods to protect. Take revenge next month. 

Can’t get enough? Don't miss out -- click here to subscribe to my Cosmic World news feed. And take a look at Lichtenstein’s astrology book "HerScopes" -- it's an international sensation. Buy it and feel the vibration. (c) 2008 THE STARRY EYE, LLC., All Rights Reserved. For Entertainment Purposes Only.
----------------------

ADVERTISEMENT

The Sign of the Pig in Chinese Astrology

The Pig

The Twelfth Sign of the Chinese Horoscope for those born in February 1911-1912, 1923-1924, 1935-1936, 1947-1948, 1959-1960, 1971-1972, 1983-1984, 1995-1996, 2007-2008, 2019-2020

Those born under the sign of the Pig are lucky indeed! The 12th sign of the zodiac and corresponding to Scorpio in western astrology, Pigs have a lust for life and are the quintessential party animals.

No one is more intense and persevering than a Pig. They can become totally absorbed in a project and will not stop until it is finished. At the same time, they make excellent, supportive friends who also know how to kick back and just enjoy life. There is something of the humanitarian about them too. They are the first ones to call if you are in trouble because they would go to the ends of the earth to help you. Their loyalty and faith transcends mere friendship.

It is hard to insult a Pig because they have such thick skin. So it is easy (and refreshing) to have an honest conversation with them. They are the perfect hosts who can make any guest comfortable and welcome.

The Pig is a true innocent in love and their heart is there for the taking. So treat them well, love them honestly and don’t take advantage of them. They deserve the best and will give the best in return.

Pigs can be pushovers and can be easily deceived. The life lesson for Pigs is to weigh and balance situations with more of a cynical eye. Just because someone is adamant doesn’t mean that they are in the right. It is okay to be less accommodating on occasion.
-------
The quest for self-knowledge has been a universal pursuit for millenniums. Who are we? Learn more about the 12 signs of the ancient Eastern zodiac, read: Chinese Astrology: Exploring the Eastern Zodiac.

Weather Affects the Stock Market

"Gone With the Wind" is not just a novel or a movie, it is also the name of a new study released by professors at Texas Christian University and Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok. This study says that the windier the day, the worse the trading on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange futures.

Comparisons to active traders and weather data for Chicago found that gusty mornings correlated to poor trading days. On calm days, incomes from trades was higher. There is no clear reason why however other scientific data shows that strong winds are linked to fatigue, headaches and irritability. So if traders step outside for a break, they might return to their work with less concentration and greater fatigue.

There is a great deal of research on the impact of weather and the stock markets including the influence of sunshine, the lunar cycle and geomagnetic storms. Back in 2003, for example, researchers Hirshleifer and Shumway concluded that stock returns are significantly lower on cloudy days than on sunny days. But I have to admit that I am not sure how the markets can be impacted by the weather when trading is global and therefore face a variety of weather conditions. However as I write this the weather is sunny in NYC and the NYSE stock market is up over 100 points. Who knows.....?
-----------
Turn to Stock Trader's Almanac 2009 for advice on using historical patterns and trends to help forecast the market.

The Feng Shui Detective - Catherine Brophy

I first read about Catherine Brophy in the New York Times Real Estate section. They reported as how she used feng shui to locate the perfect Manhattan apartment. In her search, she would carry a loupan which is the traditional feng shui compass so she could more easily check the direction of an apartment's door. Apparently the location and direction of the door can impact harmony and good vibes.

Her apartment search led her to upper Manhattan, Greenwich Village and Brooklyn. Upon finding a one bedroom in Brooklyn she found that the doorway faced southeast - a good position for her. When she decorated her new apartment she used the tenets of feng shui and placed her sofa against the wall where she can see the front door - a secure position. Also, a metal element in the front entryway would bode well for her career so she painted the entry a pewter color. All these touches would help her maximize the good vibes of her personal space.

Ms. Brophy's website The Feng Shui Detective doesn't have a lot of information about feng shui but is a way to contact her directly.
----------
An excellent book on this has been written by Jayme Barrett, a feng shui consultant to the rich and powerful of Beverly Hills. In Feng Shui Your Life she explains the techniques that she uses to create positive space in the home, room by room.

Happy New Year! Year of the Ox.

The Chinese New Year started on January 26, 2009 and welcomes in the Year of the Ox and a two week worldwide celebration. It is based on the lunar calendar with the first day of the new year occuring on the darkest moon and culminating about two weeks later approximately mid-month with the brightest moon.

According to InfoPlease, "Legend has it that in ancient times, Buddah asked all the animals to meet him on Chinese New Year. Twelve came, and Buddha named a year after each one. He announced that the people born in each animal's year would have some of that animal's personality. Those born in ox years tend to be painters, engineers, and architects. They are stable, fearless, obstinate, hard-working and friendly."

I have written about the attributes of each sign in this blog. Find out what sign you are born under by clicking here. Some notables born under the sign of the Ox are Jack Nicholson, Jane Fonda and Walt Disney.

Of course some humbugs think that this Year of the Ox will be inauspicious. But I see this Year of the Ox to be one of hard work, maybe some struggles, but eventual success.

Happy New Year! Get started on your goals today!