Once In A Blue Moon

This will be an extra special new years - even more so astronomically. Once in a blue moon there is one on New Year's Eve. Revelers ringing in 2010 will be treated to a so-called blue moon or harvest moon. According to popular definition, a blue moon is the second full moon in a month. But don't expect it to be blue — the name has nothing to do with the color of the moon.

A full moon occurred on Dec. 2. It will appear again on Thursday in time for the New Year's countdown. The New Year's Eve blue moon will be visible in the United States, Canada, Europe, South America and Africa. For partygoers in Australia and Asia, the full moon does not show up until New Year's Day, making January a blue moon month for them.

And in the Eastern Hemisphere there will also be a partial lunar eclipse on New Year's Eve when part of the moon enters the Earth's shadow. The eclipse will not be visible in the Americas however.

A full moon occurs every 29.5 days, and most years have 12. On average, an extra full moon in a month — a blue moon — occurs every 2.5 years. The last time there was a lunar double take was in May 2007. New Year's Eve blue moons are rarer, occurring every 19 years. The last time was in 1990; the next one won't come again until 2028.

If the Earth Had Rings Like Saturn

I've been thinking a lot about Saturn as it sits in Libra and retrogrades. Saturn in Libra shows a certain grace under pressure. Our need to be diplomatic may bring on stress.

And then I discovered this great video that, just for fun, examines how Saturn's rings would look in certain cities if the Earth had such rings. It seems nice for the new year -seeing world cities all linked peacefully from an astral perspective. Happy 2010 everyone!!

Here is the video:

Yael Yardeni

Yael Yardeni is a kabbalistic astrologer who works out of the Kabbalah Center. Her writings and predictions are very well respected.Her astrology readings through the center are very popular and, some say, very accurate. The Kabbalah Center has had an interesting history and has many celebrities as its members including Madonna who studies Kabbalah with Yael's brother-in-law Etian Yardeni at the center.

 Born and educated in France, Yael Yardeni was interested in spiritual studies from a very young age. Following studies in mathematics and physics, Yael went on to medical school. However, following an opportune meeting with Kabbalist Rav Berg in 1987, she decided to leave medical school to study Kabbalah full-time.

Kabbalah is a life long study. Here is a site with FAQ on Kabbalah in case you want to learn more.

Intuitive Spiritual Hairdresser and Tarot Card Reader

Gila Lyons writes in The Forward about the religious and spiritual belief that hair is a retainer of one’s vital essence. She talks about hair across cultures such as the Rastafarians who consider hair their connection to God, calling their long dreadlocks “God antennae. and the Sikhs who allow their hair to grow naturally as a symbol of respect for the perfection of God’s creation. Ancient Middle Eastern tradition includes offering hair for religious rites in place of human sacrifice and the fulfillment of vows. Samson lost his battle when his hair — the secret source of his power — was cut.

As interesting as hair is generally, Gila also writes about her visit to Amber King who is an intuitive “spiritual hairdresser” in the East Village in New York City, Amber reads her clients’ tarot cards, discusses with them their spiritual paths, and cuts their hair so that their outside appearance will reflect and serve the processes taking place within.

Read about Gila's happy and fulfilling experience in this fuller article in The Forward.

In short - Gila went for a haircut and reading. Some of the cards she chose depicted a pale, naked woman on a boat; a knight on a white horse; and a fool. King spoke with her about a lover who had mostly left her life but was still hovering around the edges, about a mother figure offering her great support lately, and about setting the stage for the realization of her goals. Amber King was dead-on in all accounts.

After the reading, Amber simply trimmed the ends of Gila's hair, explaining that her hair was an important source of power and protection for here, and that it was good and grounding to have “all that protein around her crown chakra.”  Then she gathered some of the hair off the floor, placed it in a small envelope of handmade green marbled paper, and gave it to Gila. She also handed her a matchbook with 40 matches, instructing her to light one match every morning while focusing on a wish she had for heryself. “The Hebrews wandered for 40 years in the desert to change their slavery consciousness,” she said. “In the New Testament, Jesus meditated for 40 days and 40 nights on the Mountain of Temptation. Working with a prayer for 40 days is transformational.”

King, the “spiritual hairdresser,” sees people’s hair as their own Tree of Life, a record keeper like the rings of a tree. “My haircuts last longer than anyone’s I know because they’re an action of love. When you do anything with love, it grows beautifully,” she explained.

Could Beer Prevent Prostate Cancer?

I am chalking this up to "wishful drinking". Scientists in Scotland are saying that beer could be the new weapon against cancer.  As we raise a few glasses this holiday season we could take comfort in knowing that it may have its helath benefits. Here is to many years of drinking beer!

New research suggesting that a compound in beer may prevent prostate cancer. Tests showed that the ingredient, xanthohumol, blocked a biological pathway that allows prostate cancer to be fuelled by the male hormone testosterone. The disease is commonly treated with drugs that act in a similar way.

Xanthohumol is a powerful antioxidant derived from hops. It belongs to a family of chemicals called flavonoids found in fruits and vegetables that are known to have anti-cancer properties.

Previous studies have already suggested that xanthohumol may block the female hormone oestrogen's ability to stimulate breast cancer. Scientists now believe it may have a similar effect in men. In laboratory tests, the compound blocked the molecular "switch" that allows testosterone to trigger changes in prostate cells that may lead to cancer.

I am thinking that maybe I can stock beer continuously, for any medical emergency of course, with a Mr. Beer Premium Edition Home Microbrewery System