Astrology - What It Is And Isn't

Before we dive into the technical aspects of astrology and exactly how the science works, we first need to set the record straight about exactly what astrology is and what it isn't, as their are many misconceptions about this science that need to be put to rest. Hopefully this article will be able to do just that.

Astrology, as a belief, is a science that essentially connects your outer world to your inner world to reveal the potentials that you have as a human being. This is not to say that the influences of astrology are absolute. Just because a person has an astrological chart that shows he will be a great leader of people doesn't mean that this will necessarily come to pass. This is where free will comes into play.

Astrological influences are like little strings that tug on each person. How much influence these strings have on you depends on your own strength of will, or in the case of many people, lack of strength of will. For example, Astrological influences may cause someone to develop an addictive personality that will be prone to problems such as addictions to drugs, alcohol, gambling or a number of other things. How likely that person is to actually become an addict depends a lot on their own free will and strength of will. This does not minimize the astrological influences, which could be very strong, but what it does is put them  into perspective in that they are not absolute. Free will is always the ultimate decider. You can fight the influences, good or bad, or you can give in to them.

Where astrology comes into play is like this. It is easy to predict, using astrology, that you are going to have major changes come into your life at home. Perhaps outside forces beyond your control will force certain changes. For example, forces may indicate that your home is in some kind of danger, possibly from storm or fire or maybe even from a break-in. Where free will comes in is how you handle this news. You can choose to ignore it and possibly have your house get hit by a falling tree, or you can take precautions to avoid it which may include moving. Ultimately what you decide to do in response to the foreseen problem is what will ultimately determine the final outcome.

Now in the case of using your free will to wait to see what happens, some people would say that you are really doing nothing, That may be true. In that case the normal response to what happens would be that it was fate. This may also be true. But in either case, whatever you were supposed to learn from these astrological forces, you have learned. If you acted and it turned out well, then you learned to rely on your instincts to do something. If you didn't act and disaster struck then you learned that maybe you need to be more decisive about things. In either case, fate of not, you learned your lesson from the astrological forces. This in itself could be called fate in that you were meant to learn the lesson in this manner.

Many astrologers believe that you really don't have a choice. Ultimately what you decide to do has already been decided for you by the astrological forces themselves. In other words, if an astrologer tells you that your job is in danger of being lost and you are proactive and get another job before this happens, your actions were predetermined by the astrological forces themselves even though it was your own free will.

Obviously, that theory will be debated for centuries to come. But the point is, whatever the astrological forces have in store for you, ultimately it is up to you to decide how to deal with them. Therefore, astrology is not fortune telling. It is simply a warning of things that might happen depending on how you react or don't react to the circumstances.

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Horoscopes

Astrology - Aspects

Aspects are where we start to get into the more complex part of astrology. Truthfully, however, if you take the time to really study and understand aspects and apply them to other things in your life, they actually make a lot of sense, at least logically. We're going to cover the five major aspects and try to explain them in a way where they will make sense to you and you'll be able to interpret them correctly when doing your astrological reading.

Aspects basically show how the various planets get along with each other, based on where they are at any one time. Most planets can form aspects to each other, except for Mercury, which is never more than 28 degrees from the sun and Venus, which is never more than 48 degrees from the sun. An aspect is the number of degrees one planet is from another. The smallest degree of difference for the major aspects is 60 degrees with one exception that will be covered.

Conjunctions are the strongest aspects. This is where the two planets involved are in total alignment with each other, or 0 degrees apart. Planets that are in conjunction to each other can either be easy or challenging depending upon the aspects of the other planets. Notice we do not use the terms good or bad as an aspect is neither good nor bad. They are simply challenges in our lives. Some may be challenges that are easy to deal with and some may be very difficult to deal with. In any case, the outcome itself for any aspect can be either good or bad depending on how we deal with it.

Sextiles are aspects where the planets are 60 degrees from each other. These aspects are considered quite favorable. Usually their signs share the same energies which compliment each other. They do require some effort on your part as they are not the easiest of aspects. Usually sextiles are development opportunities. So if you don't take the necessary action to take advantage of them you'll usually miss out on the opportunity.

Squares are aspects where the planets are 90 degrees from each other. These aspects are considered very challenging. The tension of these aspects can provide you dynamic action in your life. Without squares most of us would never do anything with our lives because we wouldn't be motivated by the forces which cause us to take action. Squares are probably the most important aspects for us to have meaningful and interesting lives.

A trine is considered the most favorable aspect. This is where the planets are 120 degrees apart. The signs of a trine usually share the same element and energy. These aspects are usually well developed skills and strengths that most people don't notice because they naturally do them so well. The truth is, too many trines can make you weak and lazy because everything in your life is so easy.

Finally, oppositions, which are planets that are 180 degrees apart, are considered challenging, especially in the areas of growth and achievement. Oppositions also show a need for balancing opposite needs and energies. Examples of this are people who have trouble balancing their career against their home life. This is not always easy to do. A person with many oppositions is usually stressed to the breaking point.

Now that we know what aspects are and what the planets and houses are, it's time to put it all together and do a simple reading, which is coming very soon.

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to HoroscopesAspects are where we start to get into the more complex part of astrology. Truthfully, however, if you take the time to really study and understand aspects and apply them to other things in your life, they actually make a lot of sense, at least logically. We're going to cover the five major aspects and try to explain them in a way where they will make sense to you and you'll be able to interpret them correctly when doing your astrological reading.

Aspects basically show how the various planets get along with each other, based on where they are at any one time. Most planets can form aspects to each other, except for Mercury, which is never more than 28 degrees from the sun and Venus, which is never more than 48 degrees from the sun. An aspect is the number of degrees one planet is from another. The smallest degree of difference for the major aspects is 60 degrees with one exception that will be covered.

Conjunctions are the strongest aspects. This is where the two planets involved are in total alignment with each other, or 0 degrees apart. Planets that are in conjunction to each other can either be easy or challenging depending upon the aspects of the other planets. Notice we do not use the terms good or bad as an aspect is neither good nor bad. They are simply challenges in our lives. Some may be challenges that are easy to deal with and some may be very difficult to deal with. In any case, the outcome itself for any aspect can be either good or bad depending on how we deal with it.

Sextiles are aspects where the planets are 60 degrees from each other. These aspects are considered quite favorable. Usually their signs share the same energies which compliment each other. They do require some effort on your part as they are not the easiest of aspects. Usually sextiles are development opportunities. So if you don't take the necessary action to take advantage of them you'll usually miss out on the opportunity.

Squares are aspects where the planets are 90 degrees from each other. These aspects are considered very challenging. The tension of these aspects can provide you dynamic action in your life. Without squares most of us would never do anything with our lives because we wouldn't be motivated by the forces which cause us to take action. Squares are probably the most important aspects for us to have meaningful and interesting lives.

A trine is considered the most favorable aspect. This is where the planets are 120 degrees apart. The signs of a trine usually share the same element and energy. These aspects are usually well developed skills and strengths that most people don't notice because they naturally do them so well. The truth is, too many trines can make you weak and lazy because everything in your life is so easy.

Finally, oppositions, which are planets that are 180 degrees apart, are considered challenging, especially in the areas of growth and achievement. Oppositions also show a need for balancing opposite needs and energies. Examples of this are people who have trouble balancing their career against their home life. This is not always easy to do. A person with many oppositions is usually stressed to the breaking point.

Now that we know what aspects are and what the planets and houses are, it's time to put it all together and do a simple reading, which is coming very soon.

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Horoscopes

Selecting The Right Bonsai Pots Is Very Important

As with all types of plant pots, Bonsai pots are available in a huge array of sizes, shapes and colours but making sure you select the correct pot for your Bonsai tree can make the difference between a good looking Bonsai and an incredible looking Bonsai. Be warned, though, the pot you pick can have either positive or detrimental effects to the growth of your beloved Bonsai tree.

What type of Bonsai pots should I be considering?

Firstly, if you have a juvenile Bonsai that is still growing quite rapidly you will need to consider several training pots before you decide on a final show pot to exhibit your Bonsai. However, when selecting a Bonsai pot you should never pick one that means you will need to drastically trim the roots. If you do want to reduce the size of your pot or the roots then you need to take it in gradual steps, moving down a pot size at a time before eventually reaching the size you want.

Make sure the pot you are considering has very good drainage and is entirely frost proof, this will help keep your Bonsai safe and healthy all year round whether it is kept indoors or outdoors. If you are selecting a glazed pot, be sure that only the outside of the pot is actually glazed, because the Bonsai will need the rough surface on the inside for the roots to grab onto and establish themselves.

What pot for what tree?

The type of pot you should buy is indicated by the kind of tree you are growing as well as the style you want. Conifers lend themselves brilliantly to naturally coloured, unglazed pots whereas deciduous trees look good in glazed or unglazed and in just about any colours. Experiment a little to find the right pot for you, and especially consider pastel colours for your deciduous trees or a bright coloured pot for a flowering tree.

Also, consider how much room the roots will need for your particular choice of tree. Cascading trees will require a deep pot with plenty of room for the roots to grow down but also so the branches can hang over the side without draping on the floor.

If you have a heavily glazed pot, remember that the colour of the glaze will age and ware off slightly over it’s lifetime and many people wipe the glaze with French polish in order to speed the process up giving your glazed pot a slightly more natural and aged feel.


About the Author: Bonsai HQ for lots of information about looking after your bonsai.

Utility Knife to Artful Weaponry, the Knife Leaves Its Mark in History

As ancient as mankind itself, the knife is the earliest form of weaponry for which there has been no substitute. Essential for survival, the knife was developed out of necessity and has evolved through the ages. From knives made of flint, to copper, to iron, humans have a unique relationship to this tool, creating it out of the strongest material available and adorning them with patterns and decoration. A knife is a personal possession that is valued for its craftsmanship and usefulness.

Perhaps the most recognized knife in the world, the Bowie Knife has an intriguing history. The story begins in 1831 when Jim Bowie brought a whittled wooden model of his ideal knife to blacksmith James Black. Several weeks later, Black had produced two knives. The second was a modified version of Bowie 's design. Bowie chose Black 's version as it had a double edge. Soon, Black was inundated with requests from customers who wanted a knife like Bowie 's . The knife 's unique shape and hallmark large blade became popular for its use as both a weapon and as a tool for fishing and hunting.

The knife also gained popularity as a result of a fight Bowie was involved in Texas with three men hired to hill him. Bowie killed his would-be assailants and the reputation of the Bowie knife was established. After Bowie 's death five years later at the Battle of the Alamo, both he and his knife became immensely famous.

Over the years, many knives have been referred to as Bowie knives. The term has become a generic one for any large sheath knife. Despite all the variations, it is said that for a knife to be considered a Bowie knife, it must be long enough to use as a sword, sharp enough to use as a razor, wide enough to use as a paddle, and heavy enough to use as a hatchet.

Forged in Japan during the Heian Period when Confucianism and other Chinese influences were at their height, the tanto knife lacked any artistic value and was created purely as a weapon. Later, it developed into an aesthetically pleasing weapon. Yoshimitsu was the greatest tanto maker in Japanese history and during his lifetime the tanto achieved a place of artful design.

A smaller version of the katana, the tanto differs from others as it was designed primarily as a stabbing instrument but possesses an edge that can slash as well. Unlike the katana, tanto are forged in hira-zukuri, meaning they have no ridge-line, unlike the shinogi-zukuri shape of the katana. The classic Japanese tanto shape has the point of the knife in line with the spine of the blade and a graceful belly curve. With a blade length of only 6 to 12 inches, the tanto cuts soft targets very well.

The tanto were most often carried by samurai, the military nobility of pre-industrial Japan. Although commoners rarely carried a tanto, women sometimes possessed a small tanto in their obi, or shash, for self defense.

A 12-inch fighting and utility knife, the Ka-Bar was first used by the U.S. Marines in World War II and has been carried into battle by Marines since. Originally designed as a hunting knife in the 1800s, the Ka-Bar reached popularity with soldiers who needed a knife suited to trench warfare. Its final shape was decided by the Marine Corps, who introduced a slightly longer blade, a smaller fuller, or beveled groove, on the flat side of the blade, and the stacked leather handle. From box cutter to can opener to hand-to-hand combat, the Ka-Bar is the preferred piece of equipment with the U.S. Marine Corps and has become a symbol of the Marines.

About the Author

Safecutters

Inc.,provides an online store of utility knife box cutters for opening shipping boxes and shipping packages, as well as safety knives to open moving boxes and packages. For more information about Klever Kutter and other Safecutters products contact us!

All About Heritage Coins

The term heritage means past history and ancestry. Heritage coins are historically significant coins that tell us something about our history. These coins range from the first civilizations to the more recent contemporary history.

Heritage coins are the windows though which a person can get a glimpse of the past. They feature the kings and queens of bygone eras, their achievements and important events in their lives. Sometimes heritage coins may feature great statesmen who excelled in their field.

The circulation of coins finds its origination in ancient Lydia. The coins produced then were more of a token than currency. Before the invention of coin currency, barter systems or usage of precious metals and conch shells was used as a trade medium.

The coins Drachmae and Obol were the first Greek coins that were circulated all over Greece. They were influenced by the Lydian coins. The Drachmae was a silver coin and featured a turtle on its reverse side. This symbolized the island of Aegina. The Obols were one sixth the value of the Drachmae. The Corinthians also took to minting coins and produced coins with the winged horse Pegasus. Pegasus was special to the people of Corinth as he was attributed to the origin of the spring of Peirene.

Soon, large cities began producing their own coins made of silver or gold with the portrait of their god, goddess or hero and a symbol of their city.

Alexander the Great is believed to have started the tradition of minting coins all throughout his empire. He was the one who initiated the tradition of publishing a portrait of the ruler on every coin.

Romans were the first to propagate coin minting at large scale. The coins featured exquisitely engraved portraits of Roman kings, sometimes their families also. Some rulers had their portrait engraved right next to various gods and goddesses in order to influence the public with their image. Sometimes, to legitimize an heir, his portrait was published along with the King 's on a coin. As can be seen, these coins had influence over the people of Rome, and over a period of time the coin was used for political propaganda purposes also. Major events such as the death of Julius Caesar are also depicted on Roman coins.

At the same time, coins are a means of currency beginning in India as well. The Mahajanapadas established the first coins in India. Each Kingdom had its own style of coin with its own symbol. The humped bull symbolized Saurashtra, while the swastika represented the Dakshin Panchala. The Gandharas, Kuntalas, Kurus, Panchalas, Shakhyas, Shurasena, Surashtra each had their own coins.

During the Maurya period silver coins called the Karshapana with geometrical patterns, circles, human figures, wheels, animals, bows and arrows, trees and hills, etc were created. The most common symbols were the Sun and a six armed symbol. The reason behind the extensive range in symbolism is still a mystery.

In the Pandya Kingdom the coins were copper squares, struck with a die. The inscription on silver and gold coins is in Sanskrit, while some had Tamil legends on them.

Satavahana, Kuninda and Sunga Periods all had pre Hellenistic influences with animals and religious symbols and Sanskrit or local scripts engraved. This style of coinage is still seen in Indian coins today, with the Indian emblem and Sanskrit terms present on the coin.

Countries created recently also try to find their history in their coins; though these coins are not ancient they also have heritage value. The coins of America like the Half Dollar - 1838, Quarter Dollar - 1792, etc, are valued for this very reason.

It is obvious that Heritage coins are important remnants of our history, showing us the historical setting and art of eras gone by.

Victor Epand is an expert consultant for pottery, antiques, and figurines. When shopping for pottery, antiques and figurines, we recommend only the best online stores for pottery, Heritage coins, and figurines.

Online Dating - Have Fun, Be Smart, Be Safe Or Be Sorry

The Internet is still pretty safe overall, even for seniors, according to research of various Internet safety sites like www.WiredSafety.org who estimated a 90 – 97 percent “terrific” Internet. People are chatting with one another, making cyber-dates. However, there are some general rules of Internet etiquette or “netiquette” and some precautions to take for possible dangers lurking there. Here are some pointers compiled from several websites experienced in cyber-dating techniques.

SAFETY TIPS

1. Do Not Give Out Personal Information - Whether it’s via email, online chat rooms, message boards, in your personal ad, etc., do not disclose your personal information like your complete name, address, telephone number, work place, etc. Use a third party email address instead of one with your domain or work domain, that is easily traceable. For example, instead of using joe@seniortimes.com , set up an email account like joe@yahoo.com or joe@hotmail.com (search “free email accounts” for places like this). Preferred dating sites offer email forwarding so that members do not see private information.

2. Do Not Lie - Be up front about your age and appearance. Better to not be caught in lies later on or lead someone on falsely.

3. Be Tactful and Leary - Do not believe everything you read in posts, in emails or in general, online. You could be chatting with a child or someone faking their sexual orientation. The odds are that you will probably encounter someone a tad “undesirable” from time to time, so try to use appropriate replies, using tact, or ignore the encounter, if it suits the situation.

4. Use Caution in Sharing Images - Whenever you think about sharing a digital photo online, keep in mind that it may be possible for thousands to see it on the Internet, not just one person. Plus your photo can be copied, altered with different software out there today and posted elsewhere. If you do use your image, send one that shows you with a warm smile, not a frown.

5. Ask if Unsure - Go slow like the tortoise in the race with the hare and ask questions if you are unsure how to proceed in your contact and communications. Contact the site owner or webmaster (check for contact info when you register), ask trusted friends for helpful resources, check with local authorities. Remember that old adage, “Better safe than sorry!”

6. Be careful if you decide to meet for the first date. Remember there is safety in numbers, so meet in a public place with other friends around.

7. Keep copies of communications in a file so that you can show friends or the law in case your meeting or continued contact takes a bad turn. And do report any problems and cooperate with authorities. They can get information from your computer and communications to aid in tracking down culprits in some cases. Don’t try to take matters into your own hands and stalk the culprit yourself. Be safe.

8. Let men instigate online and offline relationships. Men still like to pursue. Online studies show that this has proven safer, too, especially with Internet dating. Men should make the first email move. And women should NOT reply to men’s ads; let the men pursue. (Sorry guys!)

9. So that you don’t appear anxious or desperate or both, generally wait for a day or 24-hour period before replying. And forget about replying on weekend and holidays, at least at first, and being available via instant messaging. This is especially important for women (double standards are still around and even exist in the Internet dating scene) – you want to “appear” socially active, confident – blah, blah, blah, even if you are just home washing your hair.

10. Don’t date someone who is already married to someone else – even if that person says he or she is getting a divorce. Let the divorce happen first. Otherwise things could get ugly. And you may even have to face the spouse / ex-spouse and children down the road. So think of others, too, when even considering someone who is not single.

11. If after several emails or letters you decide to talk on the phone, keep the first call short, around 10 minutes. Plan to have to “rush” off. Your goal is to hear the person’s voice and talk a short while only, not seeming over anxious.

12. Some gents do complain that the ladies do not reply to their emails. So ladies, reply! At least say, “No, thank you.”

13. Check their background. Most any company can run a name through a criminal database. But wouldn’t you have more confidence in the background check if it was done by a Licensed Private Investigator? PI’s are trained to check for the obvious, but to also look for the concealed evidence that often reveals the true nature of an individual. Misspelled names, altered dates of birth, incorrect social security numbers, maiden and/or alias names are just a few of the areas that PI’s regularly check, but most background check companies never even consider.

For less than the price of hamburgers and a movie, you can have piece of mind. Choose from a basic criminal check to a complete comprehensive background report. Don’t take chances.

NETIQUETTE

Here are some general guidelines for your online communications.

• Use respectful tones and wording. Swear words and hurtful remarks are not good for anyone. If someone presses you, for example, to share confidential information that you shouldn’t, just say, “No” and tell the site monitors / webmaster of the forum, chat room or online dating site, if necessary.

• Look for dating and other resource websites that list street addresses instead of post office boxes or nothing at all. Ask friends for referrals.

• Try to avoid stretching the truth about your accomplishments, job title, etc. Then if a relationship develops, things will run much smoother.

• Try to avoid many 1-word replies and 1-sentence communications.

Take some time to develop your thoughts and share in your paragraphs. In short, be a friend.

• Using all capital letters mean “SHOUTING” and is difficult to read at any length.

Take care, be smart, be safe and have fun with your cyber-dating!

Let American Investigation Brokers LLC,

Online Dating

help you have a safe online dating experience.


About the Author: Mickey E. D. Mixon Private Investigator Mickey@AIB-Inc.com American Investigation Brokers LLC http://www.AIB-Inc.com TX License #A13506 Member - National Association of Security Agencies, Inc. (NASA)