Fashion and the Elements

New Moon and Solar Eclipse in Virgo
Can you feel the tension in the air at the moment? If so, there are at least two key astrological combinations around at the moment that you could be tuning in to!

Firstly, the new moon is also a partial solar eclipse. This means that the moon is passing between the sun and the earth, partly obscuring the sun. Eclipses bring a burst of unexpected energy which can play out in various ways and generally bring heightened tension into our lives. This will be particularly felt if the eclipse falls on a significant planet or point in your birth chart. If it's your birthday on or a couple of days either side of September 11th you're likely to be feeling this particularly strongly. Bernadette Brady, author of "Predictive Astrology", describes the particular energy of this solar eclipse as follows: "This saros [eclipse] series appears to be concerned with the bringing to the surface of long-term worries about loved ones, health or issues to do with paperwork or communication. This could manifest as a worrying piece of news about a loved one or responsibilities with paperwork coming home to roost. Any news will have a sense of destiny or fatedness about it." If you're feeling this type of energy you may have key points in your chart near to 18 degrees of Virgo. Eclipse energy can often be felt just before the actual event and for up to a month afterwards. I'm experiencing this one in a very personal way, as the eclipse falls right on top of Pluto in my birth chart, this symbolising beginnings and endings and facing challenges. I attended the Astrological Association's annual conference last weekend as not only a delegate but also as a speaker, which was definitely a huge challenge to do with the paperwork and communication mentioned in Bernadette's description! It also hopefully heralded a new beginning for me as a regular participant on a teaching level within the astrological world.

The second configuration of planets causing tension at the moment is called a Grand Cross. This is a combination of four or more planets all at a 90 degree or so angle to each other, otherwise known as a square. Just two planets making this angle means that potentially difficult energy will manifest, so four or more going at it at the same time is tension indeed! This combination includes the Sun and Moon eclipse combination, Jupiter, Mars and Uranus, all of which adds up to a whole lot of potential anger if we allow ourselves to be taken over by it. A much more positive way to react is to use the huge energy resources available for change, growth and determination to push towards personal goals. If big changes are required in your direction, relationships or attitudes you can use the Grand Cross to move mountains right now! The key is to focus on one thing at a time and not get distracted by the other areas of life which may be pulling at you.

Astro-News: what in the heavens is happening?!
Saturn into Virgo 3rd September
Aside from the eclipse and Grand Cross, the other big news this month is that Saturn, planet of karma, structure and the material world has moved from fiery Leo into practical Virgo. For anyone born under the sign of the maiden, this is the start of a period where you get to re-examine the structure of your life, how you are handling your responsibilities and where you need to put in some hard work. Saturn can be difficult to handle, because he represents facing the hard truth in the cold light of day, but if you can do this and work towards making improvements on your past delusions or mistakes, you will be rewarded with a tangible result by the time he has passed through your life. Pisces, Sagittarius and Gemini people will also need to come to terms with reality over the next couple of years or so. Be practical and pragmatic, decide what you want to build, and then get to work on it!

Fashion and the elements - dressing by your birth chart!
I recently had a call from my good friend Sue, who's an image consultant and Fashion Feng Shui expert. She'd been asked to do some training with the personal shoppers at John Lewis department store. If you haven't come across this concept before, personal shoppers provide a service to customers in-store by selecting clothes for them to try on according to their particular needs. Sue was training two ladies on how to dress people according to their shape and personality, and needed a model: would I be interested in helping out? Would I ever! I have more than my fair share of fashion-conscious planets and points in my chart, and I was fascinated to see what the personal shoppers would choose for me. Would it suit me? Would it be to my taste, personality and my perception of how I should dress?

As the training session progressed, the consultation began, and I described the kinds of clothes I like to wear and my lifestyle. My shape and body type were scrutinised. I needed an outfit to wear for the lecture I was about to give at the Astrological Association conference (see above) and had some pretty set ideas about how it should look: conservative suits were out, but I wanted to look authoritative and credible. The personal shoppers went off to find suitable suggestions for my ideal outfit whilst Sue and I caught up over coffee.

When we reconvened, I had a great time playing dress-up with the items that had been selected for me. One shopper found a lovely jersey dress, and the other a sassy waistcoat, which Sue had the genius idea of putting together. As they analysed their choices and worked out why the outfit was so right for me, I had an "aha" moment: they were describing two key points in my birth chart, namely my ascendant, representing my outlook on life, and my Sun, representing my self-identity! The dress complemented my colouring and was practical and comfortable. I'd said I didn't want to be restricted whilst I was giving my talk, and needed to be able to move around freely. This perfectly describes my Libra ascendant. Libra is an air sign and air needs freedom of movement and communication, so being restricted in these areas would have made me very uncomfortable. In addition, the waistcoat was original, quirky and added drama: perfect for my fiery Leo Sun! Ergo, looking at your ascendant and Sun can give you clues to dressing for success. Here's a quick run down of how you can do the same, using the element of those two key points in your chart. Just consider the element your ascendant is in, and combine it with the element your Sun is in. If you're not sure where your ascendant is and you have an accurate birth time, go to www.astro.com and click on Astrodienst Services, Free charts, Chart drawing/Ascendant.

Fire: Sagittarius, Leo, Aries
The key for fire signs and dressing is personal expression. Fire signs like to stand out in a crowd, want to be different and noticed. Blending into the background is not an option! Fire also relates to freedom of power and action, so dress to impress and you're far more likely to get your own way. Go for signature pieces from smaller boutiques with limited editions, that way you won't end up having your thunder stolen by someone else turning up to your key event in the same outfit.

Air: Libra, Aquarius, Gemini
Air signs are characterised by the need for freedom of movement and communication, so anything that will hinder them from getting from a to b or from being free to express themselves is to be avoided. Go for comfortable, practical fabrics which stretch and expand with your body's natural movement. Tight waistbands or awkward and overly fussy details may also be prohibitive, so stick to classic lines and chic but simple styles to complement your busy lifestyle.

Earth: Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn
Earth signs are practical above all else, so delicate confections that will stain or rip or dry-clean only pieces may not be so appealing. Like the air signs, earth needs comfort and the ability to move around, so make sure that your clothes are serviceable and ultimately wearable. That doesn't have to preclude style, though! Earth is very sensual, so natural fabrics which feel just delicious against the skin can add a decadent feel to your wardrobe: think silk, cashmere and angora or wool blends in lovely earthy colours to make you feel grounded.

Water: Pisces, Scorpio, Cancer
The most important thing to consider for water signs when they are dressing is how they feel. Clothes must reflect the mood and provide emotional security. If you're not feeling like making a statement, the worst thing you can do is dress in an outfit that's going to draw attention to you, it will just serve to make you feel more insecure. Fluid fabrics and muted colours will probably suit you best, but don't forget those hot perky pinks or stunning ice blues on days when you're feeling more confident.

If you'd like to learn more about Image Consultancy or Fashion Feng Shui, contact Sue Donnelly at sue@accentuate.me.uk or www.accentuate.me.uk

Anita Roddick: Aries/Libra warrior woman will be sorely missed
It was with great sadness that I heard of the death earlier this week of Anita Roddick, founder of The Body Shop and campaigner extraordinaire for environmental causes. Her death from Hepatitis C at the untimely age of 64 was caused by a blood transfusion she was given whilst having one of her daughters in 1971. She was renowned for her business acumen and drive to build a successful commercial career, which she combined with a strong sense of justice and the need to balance consumerism against the detrimental environmental impact it can have. These are all traits shown clearly in her birth chart. Firstly, the sense of justice and balance which comes through so strongly in her policies of fair trade and her anti-animal testing stance are largely attributable to an impressive 5 planet cluster in the sign of Libra, ruled by Venus, goddess of harmony, balance and beauty. She is said to have been inspired in her business ethics by the beauty rituals of the women she met whilst travelling. Next we have the steely single-mindedness of her moon in Aries which came through so strongly in her determination to fight for causes in which she passionately believed. These two parts of her chart combine in a powerful pattern with Jupiter in Cancer, bringing forward the earth mother energy with a passion for caring about the future of the planet, setting an example to us all about how we can combine beauty and business whilst not compromising the need to work with environmental issues. She is a sad loss to us all and a shining example of how we can get on in life whilst showing compassion for our fellow man and the planet we inhabit.

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