by Alison | Apr 2, 2021 | Blog
When we start to know more about Venus we see not only that Venus shines brightly in the sky, and often can be seen quite visibly even in daylight, but so much about the planet offers us keys to understanding more of what helps us shine. Venus rules both Taurus (April into May) and Libra (September into October) which offers clues as to her influence for both growth and harvest. Venus loves abundance and to encourage more. However there is so much more to know about Venus!
Mythology
In the mythology surrounding Venus, named for the Roman Goddess, it is said that she gave birth to Cupid who would fire his arrows and cause love between two human beings.
Her Greek equivalent is Aphrodite and both have stories of love, beauty and passion. This image is from the birth of Venus as symbolised by Botticelli and it is stunning in the depth of symbolism and colour. I mention colour as the colours of pink and green symbolise Venus energy.
And so, If we think about how Venus shines brightly in the sky, we also then apply it to our birth charts to see where, or how, we expect to shine in the world. She will show us what we love and how we approach art and music. And, if setting up a business chart I would also look to see how best to use the Venus energy to make sure your business shines too! Especially as Venus also symbolises the growth of money as well as the beauty, love, abundance, greenery, growth and harvest. Think how much that helps us all as we move through our lives! And then consider your business as at the heart of a union with … you.
Friday
Venus rules the Friday in our ‘days of the week’ and it is interesting to see her influence. That Friday feeling of catching up with friends, planning a great meal, enjoying the prospect of a weekend ahead – all of those (and more) put us into a space of feeling inspired or happy. Venus as Friday <<read more here>> and a day of self care.
And so, as you go about your day, whether Friday or another day, look at where your attention falls for the beauty in life. Nature is truly abundant and has much to teach us. And watch the stars for a sense of just how close their starlight is to us.
As always, with love from Alison x
PS – Give your life the cosmic edge by following the moon in practical ways! <<download here>>
x
by Alison | Mar 29, 2021 | Blog
How I work may not be as another astrologer would or, indeed, may not be how you would if you are an astrologer. However it is how I work and have done for many years and this article may, I hope, give you an understanding of how you can approach your own astrological journey and give you a thought that there may be more to astrology!
Whether you have had your chart prepared for you, or have an interest sparked by reading your horoscope, you will very quickly see that there are more books, and texts, about astrology than you and I could possibly read in our lifetimes.
This is me in consultation at a Mind, Body & Spirit Fair and I so look forward to when we can do this again!
My history
I was born in August and this gives me a Leo Sun. I never felt like a Leo Lion was supposed to though. No roaring for me and you would usually find me in a corner of the playground hoping break time would be over quickly and that I wouldn’t have to speak to anyone. And as for going out on stage … well I tried … but I was much happier in the wardrobe department or even prompting!
And then, a lot of years later, I learnt how to read the symbolism of tarot and decided to give astrology a chance. What a life changing decision. My chart was duly drawn up and read for me by a leading astrologer.
Light bulb moment!
So much suddenly made sense. My Leo Sun is in a particular position in the sky inspiring me to help others shine. And as to all of my other planets – it was as if someone had suddenly given me a manual to understand me!
And, ever since then, my respect for astrology has grown along with reading, writing and experiencing it!
The Craft of Astrology
I learnt how to set up an astrology chart before computer programs were the norm. Drawing up a chart is an amazing thing to do and, even though I use a computer for the basic birth chart calculations now, I find so many more insights when I sit and draw it by hand. So I will often copy a chart from my screen and draw the planets, stars, asteroids and planetary movements. It becomes a work of art, my craft, and truly fitting for the honour of interpreting a chart for someone.
The best advice I give to anyone who really wants to understand astrology (a life long process I can tell you!) is to watch it unfold. After initially learning I very quickly began reading charts 1-1, at camps and at festivals all over the country. I have given workshops and talks over the years and added in learning from talking to people. Curiosity is probably one of the best traits to have as an astrologer!
A computer will, very quickly, give you a chart and even offer generic interpretations but it is up to the astrologer to:
a) check a chart is correct
b) look at it as a whole and not just individual planets as a chart tells a whole story
c) offer interpretations – remember that nothing is fate as we all have choices all of the time!
d) apply planetary transits from the past to begin to make sense for the now and future trends.
Our Universe
The stars, planets, our earth and the Universe are constantly moving around and changing their patterns. And so a unique pattern of the stars in the sky is available for every birth. It may be that you wish to know more about the birth of yourself, the start of a business, a purchase you are about to make or the launch of a book or course. All of those ‘births’ will have a chart available for the moment. And that natal chart will remain the same. It is the blue-print and map of all potentials and possibilities and we can choose whether to be in flow with those energies … or not!
Your/the birth chart remains the same. But the planetary energies and influences change giving more opportunities for growth and … well … those choices!
And, as if looking at planetary transits (the patterns made) isn’t a big enough deal, we can learn so much about ourselves by seeing what happened during a previous and similar pattern made and so be prepared for what is to come.
What I use
Behind the scenes and my ‘tools of trade’ are:
almost 30 years of reading charts, studying, giving talks and workshops, working professionally AND of course using astrology daily for myself!
my own daily practices of watching the stars unfold their amazing stories;
100 year + 50 year + individual yearly ephemeris;
pens and pencils for writing my notes down and re-creating the charts;
an excellent computer program called Time Passages from astrograph.com which has basic through to professional packages and has brilliant customer service.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this glimpse behind the scenes of how I work. I love talking astrology so please do look at my website for more blogs and how to work with me!
As always, with love, from Alison x
PS – download Your Cosmic Edge – a guide to working with the moon! <<download here>>
x
by Alison | Mar 20, 2021 | Blog, News
Are you feeling the 2021 Spring Equinox energy is very different as we enter the end of March and onwards through this year? There is a real shift and we can use this change of pace in great ways for ourselves and for those we are connected, or connecting, with.
An overall astrology for the year gives us a trend, or theme, of innovation and transformation. This Spring Equinox, which is a very, very strong and powerful pivot time within the Wheel of the Year, gives an extra push towards invention or re-invention. Look at your birth chart to see where change is being prompted! Click HERE if you don’t have yours but would love to have it prepared for you professionally.
Spring Equinox
Spring Equinox is an astrological festival because it’s when the Sun moves into the sign of Aries – the first sign of the zodiac.
Equinox = Equal light and dark / day and night
For 2021 this Spring Equinox is Saturday 20th.
I love the thought that when it’s Spring Equinox for us it is Autumn Equinox on the other side of the planet. And for me, that completely relates to the balance.
With the Spring Equinox the Sun is moving into Aries, the first sign of the zodiac and it’s a real big push of energy. Plus, because it’s a waxing moon, its a very definite time of growth! The planet is always turning and we are already moving through Spring and towards the heat of Summer. Loving this Spring Equinox energy!
What do you want to grow?
And, crucially, what do you want to do to keep your balance?
How will you be creative?
And, crucially, how will you relax and recharge your batteries?
Let me know your replies – I love to hear from you!
One final note about the Spring Equinox. Spring cleaning brushes away the cobwebs to allow the new energy to arrive. Nature fills a void and so, I dare you (!), create an empty space / open a new notebook / sit still and quiet to clear your mind …
Celebration time 🌟
My website has been refreshed. Take a look <<enter here>> and let me know what you think!
Want to know more about the energy of the planets? Find me on Clubhouse!
I host weekly shows on a Monday and Friday talking about the stars!
Find me at @planet_alison for my Cosmic Edge shows at noon (UK time).
LinkedIn – regular posts all about the daily planets. <<Link here>> (pardon the pun!)
thank you for reading and be gentle with yourself.
As always, with love from Alison x
by Alison | Mar 17, 2021 | Blog
There are many myths about astrology that have built up over the years …
Do you ever hear questions such as “will astrology tell my future for me …” or “how can something up in the sky possibly be of use to me”?
Years ago (and perhaps still now?) astrology would have been practised by Kings & Queens, by warriors, by philosophers & teachers and, of course, by farmers who needed to know the best time for planting crops or to harvest. They would have been more interested in ‘favourable’ times of the month or year rather than paying heed to myths about astrology.
Daily, weekly and monthly horoscopes based on Sun sign astrology is a very new activity as far as astrology history is concerned – 1930s for the first newspaper horoscope article and during the 1950s for sun/star sign based horoscopes.
And so I’d like to ‘bust’ some myths about astrology!
Astro Myth #1
Q. “Can you tell my Future?”
A. You have many! All brilliantly tailored for you…
Astrology does not have just one clearly defined destination for any of us. What the stars do offer, however, are best possible choices for us as we move forwards.
At the moment of our birth into time and space the Universe offers a unique pattern of stars, planets & asteroids. That pattern will never be seen again … ever! It is yours – a birth chart and map of unfolding potentials especially for you.
Then look at what the stars are doing right now, and will do ahead, and map them onto your birth chart. And that gives you excellent choices and routes forward … all entirely suited to your birth blue-print!
You are unique and special and have choices!
Astro Myth #2
Q. “ But it’s a retrograde! Everything is going wrong …”
A. Our Universe constantly, and wondrously, moves forwards. All the planets and stars are moving, as are we of course (!), although all at different rates. This is how our stars continue to unfold into beautiful, and new patterns, both around us and including us.
Sometimes the stars appear to be moving backwards – in part due to our Earthly orbit and also due to their change in ‘pace’. This alters the energy available in a subtle way.
And there is our key to busting the myth of ‘retrogrades cause x y z’ …! 
Planetary energy offers us opportunities and potentials for us to choose how we use it. And sometimes we are asked to look back in order to move forwards.
Perhaps during a Mercury retrograde you become aware of a piece of machinery needing a service or of paperwork needing attention. Maybe during a Venus retrograde you decide to plan a new garden space. And then, because those planets are offering great ‘re-think’ energy, making appointments or sitting with a planner becomes a great way to use the energy to your advantage!
Retrograde = time to re-imagine or re-do …
Astro Myth #3
Q. “I had my chart read years ago so nothing has changed …”
A. At every moment of time and space the planets are changing their patterns and this gives us infinite potentials and opportunities. And we can use that information to see where the best possible choices are for us as unique beings and as we walk along our path here on Earth.
Your original chart interpretation gives you the start and then the choice of great destinations opens up! An astrologer will look at your birth map and then apply the current and future star patterns. And also Remember that your birth chart gives you an amazing key to understanding yourself and the world around you!
Astro Myth #4
Q. “I read my stars every day – what’s the point of having my chart drawn up?”
A. The daily stars, or weekly/monthly, in your magazine will focus on your star/Sun sign. This is the sign of the zodiac that the Sun was in at the time of your birth. And most of us will know that!
However we are so much more!
At the time of birth you arrived with all of the planets making a pattern around the place where you were born. The day, time and place gives you a unique moment of arrival on this planet Earth and, when we map out the stars around you, we see every sign of the zodiac, the twelve constellations, as well. This begins to tell the story of you. From how you see the world to how you are seen. From the type of work best suited to your relationship with travel. And much more. All of the wonderful potentials. Here is a link to an article about what an astrology chart reading is <<read more>>
Please do read your daily stars as they will have a flavour for you of the day/week.month ahead. However your unique horoscope will tell you so much more!
Astro Myth #5
Q. “Anyone can look at the stars … what’s so special?”
A. I would love everyone to go outside, look at the moon and see the wealth and enormity of our amazing Universe.
Then observe your own unique relationship with Moon energy through the phases from New to Full and then to New again. It demonstrates our sensitivity to the Moon.
And then the next logical steps are to work with the other planets as well – and for this you may need to consult an astrologer.
I’ve spent over 20 years studying, and working with, the astrology around us. From the technicalities of chart preparation (for the moment of birth) through to being on the ground and reading the charts for people from all walks of life. And it is wonderful to see just how helpful knowing more about ourselves, and how we ‘fit’ into this Universe of ours, is.
Before each client consultation I will have spent several hours in preparation by immersing myself in their unique birth chart and looking at the planetary trends that have happened, and will happen, in relation to that individual chart. And then, when we meet, we can see just where the best possible choices are. Book a call to chat to me here <<book a call here>>
But … for now … to begin … go outside tonight and look at the moon! 
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading about some of the myths about astrology!
As always, with love, from Alison
PS – <<book a call here>>
by Alison | Feb 12, 2021 | Blog
When we set out to know more about the Planet Mercury it is to delve deeply into how each of us communicates with each other and with the world in which we live. 
Thought becomes form and there is a Mercurial key!
So who, what, why, where and how does Mercury energy have such an effect?
Where is Mercury?
The Planet Mercury is the closest to the Sun and is also the smallest planet. Mercury gets extremely hot during the day and very cold at night due to the lack of atmosphere – he cannot hold onto his heat … or his messages! Cold, cold, cold, and hot, hot, hot! Very mercurial.
Mercury is the fastest moving planet and takes around 88 days to orbit the Sun. However, from an astrological point of view, we usually find Mercury in the same sign of the zodiac as the Sun. I say ‘usually’ as Mercury timings can be a little, shall we say, erratic due to a retrograde motion three or four times in a calendar year. – more about that change in energy later! Mostly we can know that Mercury is very close to the Sun and so in the same ‘star sign’.
Who is Mercury?
There are so many clues to the nature and layers of Mercury symbolism/resonance in astrology already in the information mentioned. Even more unfold when we look at the Glyph. 
Starting at the bottom the cross is symbolic of the connection between body and mind.
Next the unbroken circle represents Spirit and life force.
And finally the half circle resting at the top is in receptive mode and open to the Universe.
Mercury as the Messenger
When we see an image of Mercury he is sometimes depicted as having wings on his feet. This symbolises the fleeting nature of his journey around the Universe and he is known as the Quick-silver fast moving messenger 
who, in mythology, collected and delivered messages between the earth dwellers and the gods.
This is a useful quick-witted energy for trade and negotiations, aspiring to goals or exploring new ideas. Mercury communicates by broadcasting and is in his element when learning something new. There are no emotions in the Mercury ‘speech’, ‘thought’, ‘ideas’ as it is all about the intellect and imagery.
In the Tarot Mercury is symbolised by the Magician archetype and so we can draw upon the energy of mind-power.
Astrological Insights
Mercury rules Wednesday and, by looking at the old name of Woden day we also unwrap layers of mythology. Woden was King of the Anglo-Saxon gods / Odin the chief in Norse mythology.
Both Gemini & Virgo are ruled by Mercury and we see very different personalities displayed by Mercurial energy through those signs. In Gemini he will offer the quick wit and fast intellect whilst in Virgo he offers attention to detail and deep thinking.
We all have the planet Mercury somewhere in our birth chart and by considering the sign of the zodiac in which he was at our birth (usually our Sun/Star sign) together with the placement in the chart (the house) we are able to ascertain the nature of Mercury for us as an individual. 
Do you know where Mercury was at the moment of your birth?
How we use Mercury is determined by that placing and, by really delving deeply into understanding this, we establish our own unique ways of communicating and of learning. And how we negotiate in business … and our money mindset … and just about every other Mercurial trait you could think of! Of course we also use the Mercury energy by seeing where the planet is astrologically at a particular time and the patterns made with other stars/planets.
Our universe continually giving us energies to choose from to use for our purpose on a daily (or moment by moment) basis!
Know more about Mercury going retrograde!
Mercury Retrograde usually only happens three times in a year. And it’s for less than three weeks each time, but the amount of press that messenger planet gets is far out of proportion to the amount of time, he is spending in retrograde! It is useful to know more about Mercury retrograde as it is a very, very significant planetary energy, and one that we can really enjoy using.
Let’s dispel a myth straight away! A Mercury retrograde will not cause your computer to crash or washing machine to break down. However you may become more aware of problems that need addressing during this period of time! It’s all about tweaking, refining, considering, editing, looking at dotting the i’s and crossing the T’s.
Nothing in our universe goes backwards as our universe moves forwards, all of the time. The planets ,the stars, asteroids are all constantly
moving at different paces creating unique patterns in the sky and in the universe around us. However every now and again it appears as if Mercury is going backwards from our perspective here on planet Earth. The energy will have changed. It’s a subtle shift in energy but oh my word, it truly is so very useful.
Absolutely useful.
Where do you need to take a step back and revisit or RE DO or edit or reconsider or give it that final polish before you release your message or material to the world. Or what will you receive during this time? Or learn?
Remember everything about the universe is about offering choices and potentials for us to make, or be, the best version of ourselves.
We have free choice and free will. You choose the what, where, how …!
<<Read more>> here about the nature of time and retrograde planets.
And don’t forget we are of the stars.
We live here on planet Earth.
As always, with love, from Alison xx
<<click here to book a call with me to talk!>>
