There is a wedding happening today all the way over in London…which may only be news to you if you have been spending the last few months living in isolation somewhere away from TV, social networking and every other kind of media on the Universe.

I distinctly remember sitting up to watch the last wedding- that of his parents in 1981. Lying on the floor in Faulconbridge in the Blue Mountains (where we were living at the time) I just wanted them to get past the palaver of the lead up and get to the dress…and the kiss. Back then I wanted to believe it was a love match…later I just felt sorry for both of them. 

Astrology teachers love celebrity weddings- especially royal or presidential ones- they provide a brilliant opportunity to study real life relationships from an astrological viewpoint. I recall studying the relationship chart for Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer and, at the other end of the spectrum, that of Bill and Hilary Clinton…

Some other astrologers who are better than this stuff than me have spent time and effort doing synastry/ relationship charts for Will and Kate. Here are some links, google it and you will find more.

Kelly Surtees does a lovely back to basics elemental discussion. See also my post Love etc for some hints on how to apply this technique to your own relationship.

Marina at Darkstar Astrology does a more in depth piece, looking at contacts to each natal chart from the wedding chart.

Speaking of the wedding chart, here it is. I have drafted it for the advertised time, but we all know about brides.

Some points:

• They are marrying on a Venus day- Friday…awww
• As long as they say their vows before 11.44am it will be in the hour of Jupiter and Jupiter is, after all, the planet of Kings
• The Moon is in Pisces and void of course. The void of course thing isn’t good, but the Moon in Pisces is all about fantasy and glamour and romance…Oh Yeah!
• Ideally the Moon should be increasing in light…in the case of this wedding it is the opposite, in its’ final phase.
• The Ascendant is Leo, the King. The chart ruler is the Sun, in Taurus trine Pluto. This is powerful.
• The 10^th house is jam packed of really good stuff- Jupiter, Mars- this is a BIG union- public, royal etc the clichés will flow
• Will it last? Who knows, this appears to be a love match and that is gorgeous. Her Capricorn Sun is ambitious and knows it is as easy to fall in love with a powerful man as a poor one. Capricorn is also one of those signs that is in it for the long haul. His Cancer Sun needs family and roots, hers needs physical and material security. Sounds pretty even to me!

In short, I am over the hype and am one of those really weird girls who never really wanted to do the great white wedding thing (way too much Uranus in this Pisces heart), but I do believe in love and hope with all my heart that this fairytale will extend into real life…besides which, I do want to see the dress…

If you want to look at electional charts for weddings, some of the best resources are:

Electional Astrology, by Vivian Robson… an oldie but a goodie… & taught me how to do Electional Astrology

Star Guide to Weddings, by my favourite Wedding Astrologer, April Elliott Kent.

Pic by me

Urgent reminder to the Universe. THE MOON IS IN PISCES, PEOPLE!

That means rainbows and daydreams and fields of daisies and bottles of wine and sad movies and longing glances and…I’m getting a little carried away. What it doesn’t mean is meeting after flipping meeting and trains and hassles and people in your head and… In fact, the only Pisces thing about today was that it was very wet- which meant that my hair got wet and even more frizzy than usual tearing to the station for a lunchtime trip to the city and that my feet got wet. And I do not like wet feet unless I am in a pool or a beach or somewhere where feet are meant to be wet.

Another Pisces tendency is to stick your fingers in your ears and sing “lalalalalalalalalalala” very loudly…yep, have wanted to do a bit of that today, but the emails just wouldn’t take the hint.

Tomorrows’ lunar mood is much the same. In fact, the Moon makes no more aspects before she goes into Aries on Saturday, so can be purely, emotionally Pisces for the next day and a bit. Sigh…..

Of a more energetic nature, Mars and Jupiter will be meeting up over the next few days. This energy is building now, but will be at fever pitch over the weekend under an Aries Moon. This sort of energy is really a Just Flipping Do It…Now feeling. It is also one of those times where to lie on the couch and make excuses will lead to frustration…and frustration, as we know, can lead to a build up of rage…which can lead to arguments and fights and more frustration. In short? If you feel the urge to scratch that itch…

Must run, Five Foot Nothing is off to the Justin Beiber concert tonight & I can’t have her late for the fringe show of the year.

© Martin Green | Dreamstime.com

As I write the Moon is within kissing distance of Neptune in the 1^st degree of Pisces and I for one feel a daydream coming on.

Under the influences of Neptune the lines between reality and fantasy are blurred. In Pisces this tendency is magnified. Throw in the emotion of the Pisces Moon and delusion, self delusion and sensitivity run rampant.

This is not the time to try and say how you feel. It is the time to avoid conflict until such time as you are able to separate your feelings from those you have absorbed from others. If you are a watery type already you will be even more of an emotional sponge at the moment. Listen to music or journal, but now is not the time to just let your feelings hang out there in the wind. For more on the Pisces Moon check out my post Blame it on the Moon.

Also happening now is the square off between Pluto (in retrograde) and Venus. For more on Venus/Pluto type aspects check out Did The Earth Move For You? and Jealousy (Venus in Scorpio). The concept here is the same, but the square is a more troublesome aspect. This is where love can cross the line into a stalking obsession, where ambition can become power hungry and where insecurity can make you hold onto something even tighter- even though you know that things aren’t right, even though you may know it is broken, even though you know that you may be in danger of strangling the life out of it.

Change is inevitable, growth is necessary and even healthy relationships have shitty times that need to be accommodated, incorporated and adjusted to. To do anything else can result in a full breakdown.

The square is a friction, sort of like fingernails on blackboards. It can also be extremely energetic and, in the case of Venus/Pluto, will be emotionally intense. Just make sure that what you are feeling is really what you are feeling and not something coming from fear, insecurity, doubt or the projections of someone else. Make sure your intentions are true.

OMG, I sound like I should be on some kind of self help talk show. Either that or get in touch with the Pisces Moon, grab a box of tissues, a handful of sad movies and a heap of My Chemical Romance songs (or something equally as emo) and escape.

Speaking of fantasy, Five Foot Nothing and thousands of other teenage girls are in the middle of Beebster fever with concerts in Sydney over the next two nights. Heavy sighs indeed.

Keira Knightley in warrior pose from King Arthur

I have Venus in Aries & love it. It gives me some fire and drive that my otherwise water-logged chart wouldn’t have.  Even though I still can be way too Piscean about going after what I want, I do want what I want NOW!  I look for Aries or strong Mars in relationships & like a good battle… & a good bicep… but enough about me…

Venus doesn’t particularly like being in Aries. Venus is all about the things that make us feel good and Aries is just so… obvious, direct & warlike- not at all what Venus is supposed to be like. Venus is the ruler of Taurus and Libra, so is much more at home draped nonchalantly across a chaise longue sipping champagne, receiving a manicure (with her free hand, of course) and being fed chocolates by a rather gorgeously buffed footballer rather than charging off to battle. She has loved the last few weeks in Pisces, where she can be super sensitive, indulge in total romantic fantasy and be just a tad non- discriminating in the love stakes. But all good things come to an end and sometimes a girl just can’t rely on sympathy & lowered lashes to get her man.

Aries, on the other hand is ruled by Mars, the God of War. Venus in Aries has to dust off the romance and becomes pure huntress to grab what she wants.  In Pisces Venus is able to get what she wants in a Pisces way- often through manipulation of others, sometimes through playing the victim. In Pisces she can be the damsel in distress. In Pisces, Venus is ultra feminine. In Aries, if she wants something she just straps on her boots, her red bra (any self respecting woman with Venus in Aries should have at least 1 red accessory…) and her attitude and marches right on in to get it…for herself. In Aries she can look after herself.

Venus in Aries is very much “me first” and is a lot more selfish in what she wants and when she wants it- and that is absolutely OK. She also knows who she wants…for a time. If you have Venus in Aries you love quickly, impulsively, competitively & independently. If you have ever woken in the middle of the night with the sudden urge to sing a Partridge Family song, odds are you have Venus in Aries.

It is for this reason that Aries women, or women with Venus in Aries may have difficulty in defining what their version of femininity is. She is self sufficient. She is independent. She can fight her own battles and solve her own problems. She doesn’t need a partner to look after her, she just needs a partner for the game of life. She wants someone to play with, to argue with, to make love with- a passionless relationship is, for her, a deal breaker.

From a style viewpoint, she likes to travel for speed rather than bling and brand. She likes to be comfortable and ready for whatever gets thrown at her. Complicated accessories are not her scene.

The Aries Venus woman needs a Mars type man. Whilst she can look after herself perfectly well, she doesn’t want a man who needs looking after. She wants a hero. She wants someone she can battle with & have great make up sex with later, someone who knows what he wants, someone who doesn’t make it too easy for her. Even if her Sun is in Pisces, she needs a real man- a Superman to sweep her off her feet.

To hang onto your Aries woman, make sure you give her the freedom she needs, and whatever you do, don’t take her for granted or make life too easy for her. She needs a little competition, a little action and a lot of passion. For Ms Aries, action speaks louder than words. She doesn’t want you to whisper sweet things in her ear unless you intend on following through. She doesn’t want to hear “sorry” unless the make up sex is likely to follow as well.

The man with Venus in Aries is most likely going to be attracted to a woman with Arian qualities- someone who is a little impulsive, perhaps headstrong and absolutely independently minded. She will be someone who can look after herself. She will be his hero…and probably have at least 1 set of red lingerie.

 And, here is the song- not the Bonnie Tyler version, but sung by Jennifer Saunders (of AbFab) from the Shrek soundtrack.

Where have all the good men gone
And where are all the gods?
Where’s the street-wise Hercules
To fight the rising odds?
Isn’t there a white knight upon a fiery steed?
Late at night I toss and turn and dream
of what I need

[Chorus]

I need a hero
I’m holding out for a hero ’til the end of the night
He’s gotta be strong
And he’s gotta be fast
And he’s gotta be fresh from the fight
I need a hero
I’m holding out for a hero ’til the morning light
He’s gotta be sure
And it’s gotta be soon
And he’s gotta be larger than life

Lyrics from Holding Out For a Hero originally by Bonnie Tyler.

Milford Sound from the Milford Mariner. Pic by me.

Or what I did on my holiday…

First an apology.

I have been very lax in my postings over the last 10 days. I have been tripping through the South Island of New Zealand through places where wi-fi is at best expensive and at worst non-existent. We have even been in places where there is no mobile phone access (Milford Sound) or no ATMs (Lake Tekapo). Coincidentally, these have also been places where the stars fill the night sky and the scenery is dramatically awesome.

We have been in towns where the two collide- breath taking scenery and city mod cons (Queenstown) and towns which are purely stop over points to get us through to the next leg. We have had some yummy meals, some disappointing meals and some great wines. We have taken it slow, we have rushed, we have seen lots of sheep…which brings me to the next apology: this is not an astro related posting today. There will be time for these when the washing is done and the suitcases are away.

Nearly seven years ago my husband, daughter and I spent two weeks driving around the South Island of New Zealand. During that trip we covered many miles and went through a very expensive load of film canisters. Since that holiday I have crossed the Tasman at least once a year- mostly to go to Wellington for the WOW (World of Wearable Arts) Show, but also to do the occasionally mini North Island road trip. Up until last week I hadn’t been back to the South Island, so this was like a re-discovery.

What we saw and did…

Queenstown

Most people visit Queenstown for 2 reasons:

• To ski or snow board or
• To jump off things.

Actually, these are pretty much the same things! Queenstown is an adventure town (jet boats, bungy jumping, para gliding, luge, hangliding…), has plenty of shops (check out the art as well…), great food (I had a memorable oyster experience with Bluff oysters), wineries on the doorstep (Gibbston Valley Pinot Noir is pretty wonderful), lots of tramping tracks, and everything from backpacker to 5 star accommodation (make sure you stay on the lake- we stayed at the Novotel Lakeside). All that, plus the ever changing Lake Wakatipu and the remarkable Remarkables.

Pic by me.

This trip we were there in Autumn and the colour was incredible. The countryside and local towns such as Arrowtown (an old gold mining town well worth a visit) were full of the golds and oranges of Autumn. To view it all from above in a helicopter was more than cool. To top it all off, a dump of snow on our last night changed everything yet again.

Queenstown. Pic by me.

Milford Sound

Then it was off to Milford Sound. Unless you have the budget to fly (or the inclination to do the full day bus trip from Queenstown), this side trip will take two- three days out of your schedule. It is worth doing. Last time I was here we did a morning cruise, this time we did an overnight cruise which allows you to see a whole new side to the fjords.

And see them you must. The views from the shore are stupendous, but to actually get the whole drama and scale of the place, it must be seen from the water. Peaks that dwarf the largest of passenger liners and falls that are taller than Niagara. The fjord itself is so deep that scientists believe the water that first rushed in when the fjord was formed is still there.

Stanley Falls, Milford Sound. Pic by me.

At night the stars light the sky in a way they can’t do in the cities. We watched the Full Moon inch over Mitre Peak and light the sea. We watched seals, attracted by the fish which were in turn attracted by the lights of the boat, dive and swim around the boat at night. We saw Milford under (rare) blue skies and, the following day, under (the more common)moody grey. When it rains, I am told the peaks stream down with water.

Classic Milford Sound...pic by me.

Allow 4-5 hours to get there from Queenstown. Take the time to stop for photos- especially on the last leg between Te Anau and Milford Sound.

Te Anau Downs. Pic by me.

Mount Cook (Aoraki) and Lake Tekapo

Another place where a clear blue sky is a rarity and a sight to be treasured. Mount Cook, at 3764m, is New Zealand’s highest mountain. Permanently covered with snow and ice, from the sky (we did another helicopter ride) you can clearly see the glaciers tumbling down the sides.

In the clouds. Pic by me.

Mount Cook Village, at the base of the mountain, caters for the tourists and provides a base for the many tramping tracks in the area- none of which we did…

Mount Cook Village right at the base of the mountain. Taken from the helicopter. Pic by me.

We stayed at Lake Tekapo, just a little way up the road. Both Lake Tekapo and Lake Pukaki (at the base of Mount Cook) are an amazingly weird milky turquoise colour- apparently it is something to do with the silt in the glacial meltwater, or some other scientific reason.

Pic by me.

The money shot here is the Church of the Good Shepherd (check out my post Weddings, Photos and Anything for more pics). Sunset adds a warm glow to the white rocks by the lake and the church itself, while sunrise gives a pretty cool look to the skies.

Sunrise at Lake Tekapo. Pic by me.

Oh, make sure you enjoy the road between Cromwell and Omarama (north of Queenstown on the Gold Country route). The road through Lindis Pass is pretty incredible. Check out my post Oh Just Stop It! for more pics.

Lindis Pass. Pic by me.

At Lake Tekapo we stayed at Peppers Bluewater Resort.

Pic by me.

Hanmer Springs, Kaikoura, Marlborough and Beyond

We took the long way with a bypass around Christchurch. This took us through some gorgeous pastoral country of the Canterbury Plains- very different to the stunning mountain scenery we had previously experienced- but no less lovely. The highlight of my day was lunch at Jo Seagars’ Cook School and Cafe in Oxford. I came away with another 2 cookbooks for my shelf…

Sheepies! Pic by me.

Hanmer Springs is a spa town and well worth the investment of more than a single night. If we had another couple of nights, they would have been spent here. The shops are edgy and stylish, the spas are busy and the pools in winter are incredible. We saw it in all its golden autumnal glory. We stayed in a villa at Heritage Hanmer Springs.

The duck pond at Hanmer. View from our breakfast table. Pic by me.

Good Friday took us through to Kaikoura- another of my favourite towns. The beach here, with its’ black sand beach, is stunning. The main activities here are wildlife based- the whale, dolphin, seal and albatross tours are very popular. Again, it was a case of insufficient time.

Kaikoura. Pic by me.

Marlborough was closed for Good Friday, so the wineries were out of bounds and due to no accommodation in either Blenheim or Picton and a book stuff up (on my part) of amazing proportions, we spent the night at the Resort at Portage in the Marlborough Sounds. Accessible by water taxi (from Picton) or a 58kms run on a disgustingly spiralled road, it is a place worth more than an overnighter and a comfy spot after walking any of the tramping tracks on the Queen Charlotte track. Apparently at New Year it is a rite of passage of sorts to make the pilgrimage across the mountain… Hmmm….

Vines at Allan Scott Winery, Blenheim. They do a great pinot gris- pity we couldn't buy any! Pic by me.

Some Final Tips

If you are considering a tour of New Zealand, here are a few tips:

• 100kms is not the same there as it is in Australia. Dual carriageways are almost non- existent and you are sharing the roads with camper vans, farm machinery, farm animals and a lot of bends. Work your distances out at an average speed of 60kms/hr and avoid disappointment.
• The slower speeds mean a lot more time to look…at everything there is to look at.
• Some towns are purely going to be stops- either to let you attack a difficult leg fresh the next morning or to allow you to spend more time at somewhere truly awesome the next day.
• Few towns are by-passed. This is not a bad thing, just allow extra time.
• Country NZ is not open 24/7. Make sure you have petrol, groceries and money.
• The map is not lying. In many cases, there really is only one way in and out of places like Milford Sound and Mount Cook. Be prepared to backtrack…a lot…on the upside, this means you get to see things twice!
• If you have limited time and want to see a lot, you will feel rushed. There is no question about it. Either concentrate on one area and intend to come back, or go for it and come back to explore where you really loved in more detail…or take extra annual leave- if you have both the budget and the days.
• Take extra memory cards- trust me, you will need them.

Me being blown away on the InterIslander Ferry between Picton & Wellington.

The fine print:  any links are just because I liked the place. Any recommendations are just because I liked the place… your opinion may be different to mine. And yes, I have borrowed my title from Queensland Tourism…sort of…but it just fits so beautifully.