The Astrological Journal Sept/Oct 2015 | Page 8

Astro news world persists for approximately one-third of the population. The tendency for so many people across cultures to check their daily horoscopes reflects a compelling motivation to rely on heuristic processing as they cope with life’s daily stresses”. Tell that to Mystic Meg. Faculty launches book on the astro journey The Faculty of Astrological Studies celebrated the launch of its new book, Journey Through Astrology, at The Atlantis Bookshop on 17 June, in the company of Faculty authors, students and friends. The book is an account of the journey we take when we study and practice astrology. It is unique in the field because it addresses the inner experience of this journey, interweaving the authors’ personal reflections as they explore the experiences commonly encountered – the joy of finding astrology, of being captivated and bewitched by it, and of developing one’s own relationship to it. It also reflects Venus in the Faculty’s chart, lying retrograde in Cancer in the 8th house. Her gentle, mysterious and deep beauty is turned inward, beckoning the student to a world beyond the outer rigours of study and examination towards a deeper relationship with astrology itself. The book explores the initial awakening to astrology and to the symbolic mode of perception, followed by the process of learning to interpret astrological symbolism, of grappling with forecasting, and of finding one’s unique voice as an astrologer. It considers the ethics of astrological knowledge and practice, and of how the astrological experience may be shared with another through the medium of a consultation, as well as astrology as a spiritual journey and the realities of its place in the modern world. The joys and sacrifices of a life in astrology are recalled in the final two chapters of the book. The book is dedicated to students of astrology and all those on the journey. Contributors: Cat Cox, Carole Taylor, Kim Farley, Polly Wallace, Deborah Morgan, Lindsay Radermacher, Diane Conway, Laura Andrikopoulos, Darby Costello and Melanie Reinhart. Journey Through Astrology: Charting the Astrological Voyage of Discovery (edited by Laura Andrikopoulos, Cat Cox and Carole Taylor) is available from The Atlantis Bookshop, the Astrology Shop, Midheaven Books, Amazon and Waterstones, as well as www.astrology.org.uk. 8 Sep/Oct 2015 The Astrological Journal Astro news Love based on Sun-Venus opposition? A new analysis of Gauquelin data of 20,000 married heterosexual couples offers an astrological clue to the chemistry of attraction between the sexes: a high frequency of the male Sun in opposition to female Venus (and not the other way round) aspect. Of the illustrative graph [below], science historian and lunar gardening expert Nick Kollerstrom explains: “The data is given one degree at a time. The main peak lasts for several degrees after the opposition. The four degrees after the SU-VE synastry opposition average 29% excess. Note that this only works in accord with traditional symbolism”. As Café Astrology puts it: “The opposition is less problematic [than the square or quincunx] in a love connection, as there comes with it a bit of a ‘chase’ and an unspoken promise of something pleasing”. The Gauquelin married couple data is at: http://cura.free.fr/ gauq/17archg.html#MCD. Nick Kollerstrom will write more on his synastry research in Journal’s Nov-Dec 2015 issue. commit murder, in connection with a clash between his group and another sect. He…is said to have long enjoyed the support of local politicians.” In particular, a feud between two wealthy property clans in the village of Pinakadimi in South India has led to much bloodshed over money and political influence. At least one murder trial is ongoing arising from the feud – and this could last “decades”. To read the full story, look for ‘Inside India’s Zodiac Murders’ at newsweek.com. Christian Borup passes aw