Pisces, the enigma of the zodiac

New Moon in Pisces, February 28th 2006, 00h30

This month we'll be taking a closer look at Pisces, possibly the most enigmatic sign in the zodiac. Just before I get started on that, though, I'd like to share with you a personal experience which illustrates the power of the lunar cycle in our lives.

For some years now, I've been using the cycles of the moon to plant seeds in my life to promote personal growth and success. On each New Moon, I write down a set of affirmations or positive statements about areas of my life in which I would like to see results. One such statement I regularly repeat is about being able to find the most appropriate and effective way to promote my business. The advertising question is a particularly thorny one for astrologers - does it work or not? Astrology being a profession which is not in the establishment mainstream, conventional methods of advertising tend not to bring in many new clients, so astrologers have to find more original ways of letting people know what we do. Imagine my delight when on the Full Moon last month, the point in the lunar cycle which represents culmination and fulfilment, I was invited by BBC Radio Leicester to spend a day in their open centre and broadcast live on air! Not only that, the day also led to me being offered a regular slot as a guest on the John Florance Friday afternoon show. So if you tune into 104.9FM on a Friday afternoon around 3.15 you will hear my dulcet tones spreading the word about astrology on the beeb! This event was particularly meaningful for me, as my Sun is in the sign of Leo, the very sign the Full Moon occurred in. So every time you receive your copy of New Moon Messenger, try making a list of the things you want to happen in your life. Over the next few months and given repetition and belief, it’s amazing what you could achieve! For more details of the best way to go about this, please send me an email with New Moon Wishing in the title.

And so, on to Pisces. This is, by its nature, is a difficult sign to describe as it has the capacity to take on the colour of whoever or whatever it is associated with at any given time. It's the chameleon of the zodiac, if you like. Being a mutable sign, Pisceans are ultra-adaptable, and generally have a horror of structure or boundaries. In many ways Pisces strives to become one with something bigger than itself, to melt into the sea of consciousness, so to speak. This can manifest in many different ways, ranging from the heights of musical or artistic creativity, to the depths of addiction to drugs, alcohol, destructive relationships or whatever other negative manifestations are available to the individual. Extremes of behaviour for Pisces can also manifest in the saint or sinner archetype, with those who have the sign strongly represented in their chart potentially being a martyr to a cause, or a victim in life, often of their own making. It's such a fluid and complex sign that very often the "real" Piscean (and that doesn't just mean those with the Sun in Pisces) seems difficult to find: in reality, Pisces truly is a mix of all of the faces he or she presents.

Because of their innate sensitivity and the ability to put themselves into the emotional shoes of anyone they come across, Piscean people make good actors, singers and songwriters. They're also often found in other creative fields such as the movie industry or the arts in various guises. But this capacity to deeply feel others' every pleasure and pain can be very wearing too, meaning that Pisceans, like the other water signs Cancer and Scorpio, often need to escape the sea of emotions around them and will recluse to recoup their energies. To illustrate these points, here's a look at some famous Pisceans.

When considering Piscean elements in the acting world, we can also see the influence of the modern ruler of Pisces, the planet Neptune. Neptune in its positive manifestation represents the heady mix of glamour, popularity and fantasy which actors at the top of their field inspire. Drew Barrymore, Elizabeth Taylor and Liza Minelli all have the Sun in Pisces and have all at some time been in the popular spotlight. Julie Walters is another example of a Sun in Pisces who is able to portray her characters with real emotional depth. An example of the less positive side of Neptunian glamour and fantasy fulfilment is Christine Keeler, who found herself at the centre of one of the biggest scandals of her time in the Profumo affair. As I said, Pisces can scale the heights or plum the depths.

George Clooney is a typically versatile Piscean actor, but this time it's his ascendant and not his Sun which is in Pisces. The ascendant is our front door to the world, the face others see when they first meet us, and his versatility in the face he presents with each different film role is evident in his latest offering, Syriana, for which he put on 35lbs - literally changing his appearance! Mel Gibson, who has his Midheaven or point of career in Pisces, has embraced another aspect of the celluloid world of film, not only being an actor but having now established a name as a controversial director. Interestingly enough the film which has caused most controversy is The Passion of the Christ, the story of the last hours of Jesus, who was the archetypal martyr in the Christian world and the man who made the ultimate sacrifice. These are strongly Piscean themes, and ones which Gibson felt it was worth taking the risk of ruining his popular reputation to present in film. Another famous director with his Midheaven in Pisces who is associated especially with fantasy themes and transcending boundaries of an earthly kind is Steven Spielberg. His films have often explored outer space and other life forms and include ET, AI, Close Encounters and Back to the Future.

In the world of music, Piscean adaptability is surely embodied in Charlotte Church, who has the Sun, Venus, Mercury and Jupiter in Pisces. This child star who started out as "the voice of an angel" has transformed herself big time to become a rock chick celeb of the pop world. Other Piscean musicians have tried but failed to lose themselves or find redemption in their art, becoming figures of tragedy and the ultimate surrender. A prime example is Karen Carpenter, whose glittering musical career with her brother masked feelings of deep loneliness and dissatisfaction with life. Her addictive side manifested when she fell victim to the eating disorder anorexia nervosa, resulting in her tragic death in 1983. Suicide was also the tragic route taken by Kurt Cobain, a Sun Pisces. In 1991, the arrival of Cobain's best known song, "Smells Like Teen Spirit", marked the beginning of a dramatic shift of popular music away from the dominant genres of the 1980s, glam metal, arena rock, and dance-pop. He served not only as the band's frontman, but as its "leader and spiritual center" (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurt_Cobain#Addiction_and_death). The Piscean theme continued in Cobain's life with drug addiction, rehab and escape, all eventually culminating in his suicide.

Finally and on a more uplifting note, consider a world famous scientist who transcended all previously accepted boundaries in his work. Sun Pisces Albert Einstein might not be the most obvious Piscean who comes to mind, but his genius lay in his ability to let his imagination roam free, unfettered by the established thinking of his day.

So as the Sun makes its transit through the sign of Pisces, what does this mean for you and your life? Well, start by examining a few of the structures you've established or perpetuated in the last year. Are they benefiting you or do you need to stretch your horizons beyond them? What limiting beliefs are holding you back in your life and how will you see beyond those limits? What addictions or obsessions, however small, do you want to be free of? How can you freely express your creativity and become at one with those around you? Above all, use this Pisces season to think of others and to find ways to contribute or interact more with the wider community you live in. A little Piscean idealism, tolerance, flexibility, not to mention romance, wine and song will go a long way!

Mercury Retrograde Alert!
This month sees the first of three Mercury Retrograde periods in 2006, between March 2nd and March 25th. This means it's time to catch up with your admin, filing and organising paperwork. It's also a time to think very carefully before taking action, especially where signing major contracts or making large purchases are concerned. For more information see my article
http://www.star-maps.co.uk/art_detail.asp?astrology=1

Learn the art of astrology and explore your own chart!

I will be running a one day course at Uppingham Summer School this year, on Wednesday 9th August. During the day we'll be looking at what astrology really is and how it can be used in the context of your life. If you'd like further information you can contact me, or visit http://www.uppinghamsummerschool.co.uk/ Anyone who'd be interested in attending a similar workshop in the comfort of my home, please let me know!

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