Subject: June astrofish.net outlook
from: Kramer
To: list

"There is divinity in odd numbers, either in nativity, chance or death."
Falstaff in Shakespeare's Merry Wives of Windsor (V.i.3)

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Astrological overview: The big news at the beginning of the month is that Jupiter and Saturn are still running neck and neck in an astrological foot race, but Jupiter, ever the faster planet, pulls out and he just barely graces the beginning of Gemini by the end of the month. Mars and Venus slide apart, but they are together in both Gemini and then Cancer this month, and Cancer gets a special birthday treatment from Mercury: Retrograde. So shortly after Cancer begins on the 21st, the little one starts a backwards crawl on the 23rd. The usual caveats apply.

Aries : A lot of astrology research goes into a decent prognostication. And this month looks like you finally get off on a right start with some new cycle which means money, happiness, and a chance to start over. And if I ever hear the term "reinventing" one more time, I think I shall grab a deer rifle and head to the post office. It's not an expression which has a lot of meaning, either. My loose definition of "invent" means to make something which didn't exist before, so if you're "reinventing" then it means the same thing, make something again, that didn't exist before. I hope you catch the circular reference in the term. But this month is no circular reference, other than there are two opportunities, one at the beginning of the month, and one at the end of the month, to do a little inventing. I doubt that you're going to sit down with pencil and paper and draft a new design for a fishing lure. But like the guy who made the now famous "no weed" hook, your day to day activities hold just such a possibility. It's not something that you notice right away -- this is a subtle influence, but you've got the gem of an idea that could actually benefit us all. Just remember to patent the idea before you go public. And whatever you do, don't get stuck trying to "reinvent" the wheel -- that one's been done already.

Taurus : There's one text which constantly referred to Saturn as "an old devil." Before this month is up, you're going to be inclined to refer to him in a similar way, as an old devil. But there's a strange connection in here, and I'm making an attempt to stray away from he conventional mythology associated with the the term "devil." In country music, a prevalent influence in my part of the planet, "fallen angels" are required on every singer's album. There's always one song about just such a character. This "fallen angel" and Saturn have a lot in common this month. Before you dismiss the ballad I'm alluding to, though, consider that out of the past carnage of the last few months, out of the apparent wreckage, you're going to rise, just like that fallen angel, and you've got a chance to save some one. Personally, and from the volume of mail I've received about this, I hope that some one is none other than yourself. A lick of hard work, a little luck when you least expect it, and a typical Mercury retrograde warning will go a long way in getting you through this month. It's going to be nasty little Mercury period for my fine Taurus friend, but you will survive. Besides, there is that ever present hint of a lucky break, you just have to keep after the hard work in order to create a place to have the luck show up. "If you ain't fishing, then you can't catch a trophy bass."

Gemini : My favorite Gemini really has some difficulty with Mercury going retrograde. But the upside of this equation is that it's a good month until the Sun slides out of Gemini, on the 21st. That gives several weeks of things being good, and if you're willing to take a little advice, prepare for the worst with this Mercury retrograde. It's not like it's a long period, but the first two thirds of this month are really quite fun whereas the last third is time when you feel like you just aren't getting anywhere at all. Under a similar influence, I once purchased a delightful piece of "bachelor" art work. It was a badly drawn topless woman (rendered to perfection in bad taste on black velvet). My male friends enjoyed this immensely. Female guests, however, found this dubious artwork in very bad taste. I suppose a Venus de Milo would have been okay, but I couldn't find that on black velvet. This particular piece of artwork is just what the final third of this month is like. Some folks love it, but the people you really want to impress find your efforts lacking. And with the planets moving into a Cancer position in your chart, you're going to find that you want to decorate around the trailer house a little. I wearily suggest, from a position of having "been there," that your Gemini self should not engage in bartering for artwork at the end of the month. It seems like your judgment is bound to offend someone. When Gemini is over, then "zip it."

Cancer : First it's having Mars in the last stop on the block before it gets to your sign (that would be in Gemini). To a lesser extent, the same applies to Venus, still in Gemini, too. Then, just about the time everything is supposed to get good again, it's a miscellaneous Mercury messing matters up for you. It's like you don't get ahead this month. There's going to be one or two Cancer individuals rather upset with me because I didn't adequately warn them that this month isn't going to go the way they want it to. And, of course, this whole Mercury problem is going to be a bit problematic. Now, in your proper Cancer fashion, there are ways to deal with this time frame. Slowly. Painstakingly. Step by step. Inch by inch. Check all the details. Make sure you read the fine print. I got a lure once, supposed to work anywhere. Of course, there was one small catch -- or lack of catch, as the case was -- it disintegrated in salt water. And to make this worse, after I pitched fit with the sales rep, he calmly pointed to the fine print, underneath the big label "Work ANYWHERE" and it said in tiny two point type: not for use in sea water. So much for Gulf Coast fishing. Read the fine print before you make a cast with that new high tech gear.

Leo : Timing is everything, and while there are actually a number of influences which serve as excellent indicators for the tone to the month, the easiest way to look at is by thirds. The first two thirds of the month are good. The final third is "less than Leo wonderful." While it looks like I'm taking an easy way out of writing a decent scope, and just addressing Mercury, that's not really the case. There are numerous influences which have to do with this month. Of those, though, I noticed that they all seem to move in a synchronized pattern, and it looks like the final portion of the month begins to fray around the edges. If it's like the cut offs I was wearing to fish in, it's not much of a problem. However, at least one of my fishing buddies has taken great umbrage at my exposed body parts. So when this month begins to fray really badly, you're going to want to consider one of two routes: extensive, time consuming repair work, or maybe, this time, it's a good idea to consider just tossing the old cut offs out. There's only so much you can do with a final third of the month which keeps coming apart at the seams. Don't fix something that isn't broken, but don't try to repair something which isn't worth the effort.

Virgo : I was supposed to teach an astrology class overseas. Since this is the highly technological world, I did one of those terribly cute little graphic designs on my PowerBook laptop computer, and I had everything ready for a stunning presentation. I had a number of good slides, animations, pictures with circles and arrows, little visual clues to help the with the presentation. All I needed was a way to plug the computer into the the overhead projector. Having done similar presentations throughout the American Southwest, I was sure this was going to be a snap. I even included some "British" spelling and punctuation because I find it so terribly quaint. A bright Virgo reader can see where this is going, and a really bright Virgo reader will inwardly groan, too. Mercury is the Trickster, and he will have his way. All the work I put into that computer generated presentation was for nothing. To be honest, it was all a really good exercise, and it did eventually find its way onto the web site. But it wasn't displayed during my lecture because the American male parts didn't fit with the British standard female parts. And so forth. There is no way to prepare for all the contingencies this month. You can try, but I doubt everything will be covered. But you can do your very Virgo best, and you can be ready for some things. Of course, the final option is the lug an overhead projector with you wherever you go this month, that would really help get the point across -- but I'm not sure that's really a viable option for you.

Libra : In Texas, June is the time when the weather heats up. And it doesn't much matter where you on this spinning globe, you're going to find that "things" heat up rather nicely in Libra, at least, "things" seem to get the BBQ grill treatment in the early part of the month. This is because Mars and Venus, along with Mr. Sun himself, are all in Gemini. And this is a good thing for you. So as long as your personal BBQ grill is warmed up, even if it's not really summer time "down under," then you've got some options which are wide open. There's a problem, though, because Mercury is turning Retrograde, and he's going to pull his stunt at the latter part of the month, and there's going to feel like there's a sudden turn in events. Halfway through the month, the phone stops ringing. It might be because the phone was disconnected. It might be because the lightening struck a high wire. It could be any number of natural events. Or it could be because of the planets. Or you forgot to send in last month's bill with an appropriate amount. Best idea for things to do when the phone stops ringing? Head to the beach. Head to the lake. Head to the mountains. Go some place you like to go on vacation. In fact, the latter part of this month is ideally suited for a vacation of some sort. If you have problems arranging a vacation, suggest that your astrologer dictated it for your mental health.

Scorpio : There's nothing quite as good as a little Mars action to really get a Scorpio's tail in a twist. And there's nothing quite as much fun as playing a little game with a Scorpio's psyche to see just how tormented you can get them. The planets will have just such a game going on all month long. Now, in strictest of terms, this not so "bad" over all, but it is a little uncomfortable. You've got no big planets making strong waves to contend with. You've got lots of minor planets causing small amounts of friction. It's like my old truck's motor -- it needs oil. Some folks have suggested that the weekly allotment of a quart of oil is far too much, but it just makes the truck a lot happier. Besides, if it really is a Scorpio truck, then it is set in its ways, and it's a lot easier to add lubricant rather than trying to actually pull the motor apart and fix the leaking seals. You're like that, like the truck, this month. Solid, dependable, and somewhat lacking in lubrication. Do your very best to smooth over rough spots. Try something different. And rather than trying to take the whole motor apart (getting that transmission out is a big chore, in and of itself), consider just adding a quart of oil to your Scorpio motor. You might want to check the level of the water in the radiator, too, because you need to make sure you don't loose your cool, especially in the early part of the month. And in the last little bit of the month, even though Mars is no longer in an adverse position, you're going to want to make sure that the Mercury stuff doesn't get to you ass well.

Sagittarius : This month starts out so well, it has such promise, it shows all sorts of signs of being a great time, and then, everything slows down. Gemini is a remarkably good time for the ever ebullient Sagittarius. The early summer mornings in Texas have this ethereal quality to them, the air is warm, but not too sticky. There is a cool breeze on the lake, first thing, and even if you're not in the Northern Hemisphere, you can appreciate the fact that the first part of this month is like one of the tranquil moments in the early dawn of the day. Just you (and me), a cup of coffee, the rose colored light seeping into the sky, you inhale the fresh aroma of the ground beans, and figure out that this is a good day -- or month. Like I've suggested, it shows much promise. The problem is that the planets seem to conspire to make this a little less than wonderful. From the idyllic beginnings, you sip on the coffee one more time, and Mercury is in Cancer, and then slows down, goes retrograde, and you find yourself, by the end of the month, spitting up those coffee grounds which have leaked through the filter into your otherwise wonderful beginnings. By the end of the month, the coffee filter over flows, and there are some remaining detritus floating in that morning cup of coffee which started out with such promise. Do like any decent Sagittarius cowboy would at a time like this, at the end of the month, be prepared to strain your coffee with your teeth. It's not that much of interruptions, and you can make the most of it -- not letting it disturb the scene -- if you're willing to.

Capricorn : This is another month when I will look absolutely stellar in what I do. My typical "Mercury is Retrograde" tales of woe, warnings of plans that go horribly awry, the misunderstandings and misfires, all of that which accompanies this single planet's movements will be cataloged and sent by my faithful Capricorn friends. But it's not really just Mercury that's causing the mayhem. There's a lot more up with the planets, and there's a deeper significance than the usual Mercury shenanigans. Mercury can't be responsible for everything. In this case, he's certainly not. Just about the time he starts slowing down and creating havoc, there's a strange little strength that you get from another corner of the sky. I'm not naming planets for fear that would give away my secrets, but a certain car [brand name] like planet is lending you a degree of ease and grace. And unease. This month, think about the rodeo metaphor which I use too much. This month, think about what it means to get on top of that 2 ton animal with a small brain and bad attitude. This month, consider the actions before you take them. Mercury is seldom a heavy hitter, but he's got a few planets stacked up behind him, and these planets are going to act "as if" Mercury was right. There will be a sudden change in direction this month. You've been causally drifting down stream, and then, in the blink of an eye, your fishing partner wants you to roar the boat to some distant point, way back where you've been before. Call it Mercury, and at time like this, a Mercury outboard motor is a lot better than oars.

Aquarius : This month, select a fantasy. Pick one of your favorites. Get one that you really, really like, and indulge yourself a little. Sit there and have a long day dream about it. Get that picture firmly worked out in your Aquarius brain. Maybe, try like we do in Texas, visualize a five pound bass. Because the fishing allusion misses the mark with so many people, try then to visualize something that you really, really want. Maybe something you want for breakfast -- like a five pound bass. The way this month works out, while you're sitting there, working out the details of the catching that fantasy, the real world goes slipping by, and then, it slips backwards. If you stay out of touch long enough, you'll find that a lot of water does, indeed, go under the bridge. And this water does wash away some dreams. It also washes away some problems. That's the secret this month. Like a famous painting hanging in some French museum someplace, you've got that secret smile all month long. In fact, some of your furtive grin is due to the day dream. But whatever the source, you're going to find that the somewhat buoyant but reserved attitude is the best way to approach this. Maybe dream up a new job where you can fish -- and catch -- that five pound bass.

Pisces : The beginning of the summer months in the northern hemisphere is not a time when most folks think about work. But if you past the usual, relatively minor influences this month, you're going to find that the bigger issue has a lot to do with employment. AS bothersome as the term "gainful employment" might sound to a polite, kind, gentle, caring, and sensitive Pisces soul, it's time to address this question. Got a job? Looking for a better one? Looking for ways to improve the odds for advancement? The stars are on your side at this time. Of course, there are the usual Mercury warnings, and the planets don't always comply in the best of order, but you do have a degree of hope for getting yourself ahead right now. Pulling yourself up by your own Pisces self works well. There's a good chance to start something, like pretty soon, and then, once the planets fall out of perfect alignment for you, there's a good chance to reap some benefits. The only warning is that it doesn't quite work the way you think it's going to. As you plan to become the dominant one in the work place this month, make sure you keep yourself fluid enough to make some radical changes to the general order of things.

© Kramer Wetzel 1999, Y2K

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--Kramer Wetzel, home of the Texas Shakespeare Massacre
"Ripeness is all" -- King Lear [V.ii.11]