Saturn conjunct Alphecca - Accepting a change but a price to pay.

This aspect is effective from today until 25th February 2013

Saturn in the next few days starts to make contact with the fixed star Alphecca which sits in the constellation of Corona Borealis, the woman's crown. This constellation represents a garland of flowers but laced with thorns. As such you may get an honour, a gift or an advancement in your life or position, but it will come with a price attached or a cross that you have to bear. Often you have no choice in the matter as the "gift" comes through a moment of fortune or through an association that one makes.

Saturn represents slow steady advancement in life, restrictions and the passage of time and connecting with this star one can assume that any advancement made now will have as it's price some strict conditions that you will have to adhere to, maybe time restrictions may apply to you. Maybe the gift you will receive will be an arduous one where you will have to work diligently to get any type of reward? If you make any advancement now through meeting someone, maybe the fortune coming your way will be through the actions of a senior person in your life, someone to whom you will remain accountable to in the future?

In the world I suspect that governments around the world will use this aspect to reform parts of their economy that are failing or are corrupt, by putting them under severe pressure to tow the line. Remember Saturn while making this contact will be sextile to Pluto, so this connection will especially apply to big business, the banks, financial institutions and heavy industry as well as the black economy and behind the scenes dealing too.

Pope Benedict announces his resignation

Pope Benedict has announced his resignation as Pontiff at the end of the month citing his old age and inability to carry out his papal duties as the main reason. It will naturally start a great amount of speculation of who will be voted in by the cardinals as his successor in the coming weeks. Joseph Ratzinger to give the Pope his real name has been the leader of the Catholic Church since he was elected in 2005 following the death of his predecessor Pope John Paul II.

Justin Welby – The astrology of the new Archbishop of Canterbury

Just a couple of days ago, Justin Welby was ordained as the latest Archbishop of Canterbury, taking over the post from Rowan Williams who has held the position since December 2002. Justin is the former Bishop of Durham and a rising star in ecclesiastical circles and yet he admitted that his nomination to the highest post in the Anglican church was a complete shock. He now takes over a church which has seen declining numbers attending to church as Britain becomes a more sceptical and secular society in general.

Australian Drug Scandal - Drug taking widespread in competitive sport.

In Australia, it has been reported that rampant drug use in sport is tainting their national reputation, and the government has vowed to stamp it out. For such a competitive country, this is a hard pill to swallow and there will be a lot of soul searching and anger about the situation that is unfolding. There was a news conference in Canberra today where the government there vowed to crack down on anyone found to be breaking the rules. As yet, no particular sport or perpetrators has been singled out, although it is thought it is connected to organised crime syndicates.