Jupiter in Capricorn for the coming year, grounded growth

This past week Jupiter entered Capricorn for a 13 month stay. Jupiter moves to a new sign once a year, the last time Jupiter was in Capricorn was January 1996- January 1997.

As the largest planet in our solar system Jupiter symbolizes growth, expansion, guru's, religion, gamblers, storytellers, and adventure, to name a few. This year as Jupiter is in Capricorn, growth will need to be practical and grounded to "stick". Capricorn is an earthy sign that demands quality and grounded determination for growth. Capricorn is symbolized by a mountain goat, that patiently works it's way up the mountain stubbornly focused on it's goal while taking each step cautiously. Capricorn is not flashy but it is known for the reliability, strength, and practicality that are especially needed when life seems chaotic.

Grounded, that's where we need to stay when life gets stressful. Growth through groundedness, practical applications to stay grounded, that is Jupiter in Capricorn. The "engineer" that "works the problem" will benefit from this transit.

To make things more interesting, next month Pluto the planet of transformation will enter Capricorn for a 16 year stay. Many astrologers see this as time of major change for our planet. Once again, more incentive to stay grounded and practical instead of being swept up into media driven anxiety. We can each do our part by practicing kindness and nurturing the planet in practical ways. Perhaps we can change to those environmentally friendly lightbulbs, plant a garden, use cloth recyclable shopping bags, and watch a little less T.V. It seems the writers strike will help us focus on "real world" issues. No Fear.

This Christmas eve, Jupiter is too close to the Sun to be observed. We will be experiencing a full moon in family-oriented Cancer. The full moon will be very large and close to Mars in the night sky. For more information, go to the Nasa sight: http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2007/20dec_christmaseve.htm?list944426

Namaste, Anne

Laughter yoga

Laughter is uplifting and releasing at once. If you stop to think about it, laughter is a long exhale with noise! Many groups have formed devoted to "laughter for no reason", no jokes are told. People get together to laugh together, enjoying spontaneous laughter which quickly follows a few moments of "Ho, Ho, Ho, Ha, Ha, Ha..." When someone else gives into the inevitable laughter and joy that follows, more people join in. Laughter is contagious. What a wonderful gift to be able to laugh for no reason, and pass it along to others. Try it.

Dreams for being 50 years old

This coming year I will be celebrating my 50th birthday. I recently decided to celebrate this year with Five Things that I have a passion for. To identify what I have a passion for, I looked for things that make me "light up" with energy when I talk about it with others. I started looking at lists on the internet, like "100 things to do before I die". I realized I have a passion for yoga, for adventure, for laughter, for learing to use the internet, for sharing my passion for life with others.
In January I will travel to Tucson to spend a week studying yoga with Amy Weintraub, a yoga teacher I highly respect. Amy teaches "yoga for depression" to yoga teachers, psychologists, therapists, and others. When we can use yoga to give people the energy to overcome depression, I think that is miraculous. I look forward to sharing what I learn with my students in the future.
One thing I have ALWAYS wanted to do is raft down the Colorado River. I started checking trips available. I started to mention it to everyone. So what if my husband and daughter don't want to go, I'm going. Maybe my son is going. I am not letting other people's resistance discourage me. The Grand Canyon has always been magical for me, I am going to do this before I get too old and "rational" to not go.
I have made a list of things that I want to do. I was inspired by an advertisement for the movie, "The Bucket List". I realized when my mother died last summer that my life will be remembered by what I loved. I asked myself "Do I show my family what I love?", "Do I live with passion?"
When I started talking to people about this idea, other people got excited and wanted to participate. Passion is joy for life, we just have to figure out what we want the most, how to get there, and believe it is possible. I started with a couple easy things, like learning 3 good jokes to share with others and getting a good picture of myself for a future website.
Celebrating life is way more appealing than dreading getting old. I am going to keep looking for the glass that is 1/2 full.
Namaste