Shine a Light

I recently went to see Scorpio Martin Scorsese’s documentary about The Rolling Stones, “Shine a Light”. Mostly concert footage from their two shows at the Beacon Theater in New York in 2006, the picture also weaves in some backstage stuff and vintage soundbites. Up on the Imax big screen it was a great faux concert experience led of course by Leo Mick Jagger. 

What struck me the most was how amazing it was that the entire background of the show was one huge gold filigree half-sun, very beautiful and regal, shining behind this Leo man. Leo is of course, ruled by the sun and all their lives Leos seek to find their place in the sun, and bask in the spotlight. Well Mick just had it erected behind him on stage! At one point, Mick leaves the stage so that Sagittarius Keith Richards can sing lead vocals for a song or two and a black curtain is dropped over the sun when he makes his exit. Seriously. 

And one of the only other people who can command an audience like Mick, another Leo of course, Bill Clinton makes a cameo with the audience cheering wildly. Scorpios on the other hand, like Scorsese, thrive behind the scenes and his small role on camera is perfectly astrologically apt as well, with him lurking in dark rooms, orchestrating, all black and white. NOT under the shining sun. 

Sagittarius Keith and Leo Mick are both energetic, creative Fire signs; they get along well together and love the rush of the audience. Charlie Watts and Ronnie Wood are both Geminis, who are known as being the most eternally youthful sign. As a band, their outgoing astrological energy, Air and Fire, makes them a natural pick to keep going for decades. While Water signs take everything personally and Earth signs are very stubborn, this combo would be likely to fight amongst themselves for sure, but ultimately blow up, get it over with and move on. 

Stars at the Costume Institute

As always the bonanza that is the annual Costume Institute Gala in New York did not disappoint the fashion watchers, and as always the the star styles were perfectly evident on the red carpet.  Held every year when the sun is in Taurus, last evenings party got a double dose of the luxury-loving sign, as yesterday was the new moon, with both the sun and the moon in Taurus. This is the perfect energy for such as extravagant party, as Taurus is all about the BEST. The best food, the best wine, the best setting, the best style and of course, the best guest list. 

ARIES

Some Aries women refuse to wear anything that is not comfortable. Other Aries women thrive on being ahead of the fashion curve. Obviously, Victoria Beckham is one of the latter.

TAURUS

Most Taurus women prefer simple, classic styles in rich, expensive materials. They also tend to choose designs that draw attention to the neck, the part of the body ruled by Taurus, like Janet Jackson’s sleek halter. 

GEMINI

It’s always double the fun with Geminis. The Gemini signature style is heavy on the accessories, but this year’s most famous twins, Ashley and Mary Kate Olsen, surprised everyone by going for a less is more theme, but with perfectly selected cut-outs and clutches. 

CANCER

The Cancer woman is the epitome of feminine wiles. She is soft and vulnerable and romantic, but also strong and capable and she loves to wear styles that draw attention to her best asset, her breasts, like goddess Gisele Bundchen. And she shimmers in the colors of her ruler, the moon. 

LEO

Leos like to be one of a kind and to stand out in a crowd. The more expensive, extravagant and unique the better. Iman’s crimson gown is also perfectly flattering for a Leo as they look their most radiant when lit up by any of the colors of the fiery sun.

VIRGO

Like their Earth sign sister, the Taurus, Virgo women tend to prefer classics with a bit of a hip twist. And they almost always choose sensual flattering neutral colors or black, like Blake Lively’s sophisticated take on an old favorite. They also love accessories like gloves. 

LIBRA

The Libra woman needs to wear something that is soft, romantic and feminine. She needs to feel like the charming and delicate goddess that she is and virginal white, like Naomi Watt’s Monroe-esqu look, suits her lofty ideals as well. 

SCORPIO

Scorpios are intense, powerful and sexual creatures but they wield their sexuality in subtle, not overt ways. Hence, they tend to choose styles that cover most of their skin but also let everyone know what perfection lies beneath. Anna Wintour’s gown is the epitome of Scorpio style and restraint. 

SAGITTARIUS

The Sagittarius woman loves to be the center of attention and she is willing to take great fashion risks to accomplish this. Her bold personality makes it easy for her to pull off colors that most people avoid such as bright purple and orange, like Katie Holmes dress. 

CAPRICORN

Capricorn women like Mary J. Blige are true minimalists who favor sophisticated, urban style. They always look pulled together and professional and tend to wear neutral colors and black that ooze quiet strength and immaculate taste. 

AQUARIUS

It should be no surprise that Christina Ricci took the Superhero theme the most literally, as Aquarians love costumes! They like to look different and unique and are definitely willing to wear something outside of the box, as long as it suits their personal style, in this case, Christina’s love of sweetheart necklines. 

PISCES

The Pisces woman is a romantic, watery creature who picks styles based on how they make her feel. Sea colors, such as Eva Mendes’ gown, are perfect for her as they excite her imagination and make her feel sexy. The different layers of the dress also hint at her complex personality.

Aries Fashion Idol: Marc Jacobs

April 9, 1963 New York, NY  noon* (time unknown)

Marc Jacobs is perhaps the most influential designer of his generation. As the grunge era replaced the gauche power dressing and over-exposure of the 1980s, Marc Jacobs rose easily through the fashion ranks by celebrating a more modest, casual, ’slouchy chic’ that better describes the ethos of the young (and rich) creative class. This was a revelation in fashion and one that has stuck. It wasn’t deliberately dirty and androgynous like some of the 1990s attempts to overthrow exuberant eurotrash, but simply more wearable, more understated and definitely more cool. 

Aries like Marc are trend-setters. Being the first sign of the zodiac, amongst the ranks of Arians are many people who have been ‘firsts’ in their field and whose contributions have ushered in a new era. The Marc Jacobs era in fashion has been alive and well now for nearly two decades, at least since he won the coveted CFDA Womenswear Designer of the Year award in 1992. 

Aries are an active sign and they prize comfort and wearability in their designs. Unlike the Pisces designer who sees his work as a piece of art, the Aries imagines the active life of his garments. And a Marc Jacobs piece is perfect for it’s customers; it can transition from work at the art gallery to late dinners and lounging and with ease. Marc is of course also the creative director of Louis Vuitton. Since taking the helm there in 1997 he has quadroupled the esteemed design houses profits with his creative collaborations with artists such as Takashi Murakami. And his clothes for that line as also perfectly wearable for their jet set clientele. 

One of his chief weapons has always been his Juergen Teller advertising campaigns. Choosing the unexpected cultural icon at every turn, Aries Marc always keeps ahead of the curve. Recently, he has been making waves with Annie Liebowitz pictures of aging stars of every variety in hotel rooms posed candidly next to their Louis Vuitton luggage. But it was his 1990s campaigns with unconventional beauty Taurus Sofia Coppola that were perhaps the most revolutionary and memorable. Coppola was something of a muse to Jacobs then. 

Indeed the Taurus energy has, or had, been a strong part of the Marc Jacobs vibe. Taurus is an earth sign and they prize value, luxury, and quality in their life and in their clothes, but in a subtle, classic even conservative way. Very much like the Marc Jacobs style. Few logos could be more unabashadley expensive than the Louis Vuitton luggage symbol but it is always juxtaposed with the ‘I don’t care’ Aries attitude.  

Indeed Jacobs progressed sun has been in the sign of Taurus from the time he was about 11 years old until mid- 2005 [If you are not familiar with astrological progression please refer to my post entitled "Progressions"]. As an Aries, he is impulsive and active but with his progressed sun in Taurus for most of his adult life, he also felt compelled to produce material results (Taurus) and to slowly but surely work towards long term goals. He was interested in creating things and building a solid support system and lifestyle for himself.

In 2005 his progressed sun moved from Taurus into Gemini. This is around the time that a great transformation happened in his life personally and creatively. In many ways this was a transition back to the Aries parts of himself. Gemini energy is also impulsive, curious and restless like the Aries energy. Rather than working tirelessly and diligently behind the scenes (Taurus) he has busted out of his shell and became, on the surface, a whole new man. He has been able to overthrow his Taurean sense of duty and go back to his hedonistic and impulsive Arian ways. He recently told a reporter that ”Whatever makes me feel good, I want more of. If work is going well, I want to do more clothes. If the gym thing is working for me, I want to be bigger. If getting my hair cut makes me look younger, I want to play with the color. ”

Once a poster boy for the slouchy but sophisticated style he eposes donning large glasses and comfy sweaters, he is now sleek and buff, with a new passion for fitness and his much younger sometimes boyfriend. Many fashion insiders have been scratching their heads and have termed this his ‘mid-life crisis’, but it is just his astrological progression, a very natural moving from one phase of his life to another. And it has just begun. One of his best out-of-the-box ideas he has had since the ingress from Taurus to Gemini has been to have professional astrologers Starsky and Cox, authors of the astrological bestseller “Sextrology”, do readings from the windows of his flagship storefront in New York. Brilliant.  

Interestingly, one of the things that helped usher in this monumental progression was transit Uranus, the planet of disruption and unexpected events, moving over his natal Venus in Pisces for the past few years. As the planet of art and beauty, Venus is very important in the charts of artists and designers. This has definitely been throwing him some curve balls in terms of redefining his artistic values, ideals and aesthetic, as well as mixing things up, big time, in his love life. His moon sign is either Libra or Scorpio, depending on what time of day he was born, but this would have been affecting him even more strongly if his moon sign is Libra, which is ruled by Venus. 

With the Taurus era of his life over, it is likely that the clothes he designs will also transition away from the look he has become famous for and towards a more whimsical, colorful and accessory-heavy style, being influenced now by the Gemini energy. Evidence of the shift was already strong in his Spring 2008 collection where a main theme was duality, with dresses split down the middle uniting two prints. Gemini, is of course, the sign of duality and the twins. One thing is certain though, with his progressed sun having just moved into the sign of the twins, where it will stay for 30 years, Jacobs is feeling more liberated than ever and the new Jacobs will continue to keep everyone guessing, with fresh scandals and more unexpected choices for a long time to come. 

Gwyneth’s Baby Blabber

It seems that every time lovely Libra Gwyneth Paltrow opens her mouth she shares some sage astrological wisdom. Not in so many words, but between the lines. She is often heard discussing trying to strike a “balance” between being a mother and an actress, as well as living on both sides of the pond in the UK and New York. Libra is the sign of balance and the scales. Recently, while making the press rounds for her new film, Gwyn has been chatting about her two children, Taurus Apple and little Aries Moses. 

“He just turned 2 last week. She’ll be 4 in May … it’s a very good age difference. Boys and girls are very fundamentally different, though, aren’t they? [Apple] is quiet and she’s imaginative and she’s very verbal, and she likes to sit with her things and build houses and hotels for her dolls. [Moses] will just come in and thrash the hell out of anything she’s doing. If he can inflict pain on her while he’s thrashing, then even better. He’s very sweet, but we call him ‘our sensitive thug.’ It’s a line from a Jay-Z song, but it fits him perfectly. [Apple's] kind of starting of give it back to him, in a very female, under-the-radar way.” 

Here Gwyneth perfectly describes the difference between Taureans and Arians, especially little girl Taureans and little boy Arians. Mars, the fiesty planet of action and aggression rules Fire sign Aries, and Aries boys like Moses. There is nothing calculated or mean about the Aries, they are just active, combative and competitive, hence the perfectly apt nickname ’sensitive thug’. Venus, the planet of love, beauty and art, rules Taurus. Almost the perfect counterpoint to the Aries, Taurus are receptive, slow to act and patient. You can bet Apple is patiently waiting to see just exactly the best method to use to exact revenge on her unsuspecting younger brother. Taureans also love to collect things and are quite fond of real estate, a reason perhaps she so enjoys building houses and hotels for her dolls. Gwyneth’s Libra sun is also ruled by Venus, but in Libra Venus represents more of the objective ideals of beauty (Libra is a cerebral Air sign) whereas for the Earth sign Taurus, the qualities of Venus are more grounded materialistically. 

Gwyn’s husband, Chris Martin, is a sensitive Water sign Pisces. Under one roof they have all four of the elements! He acts mostly by intuition and could be moody so while he definitely brings creativity and emotional nurturing into the home, the actual mundane duties of running the household are probably added to Gwyneths ever expanding list of things to balance.  

Women who can tame Aries men

Aries men are perhaps the most randy of the whole bunch. They love sex, they are less inclined to love relationships (unless their moon or ascendant is a water sign). They have a strong libido and, by comparrison, a very short attention span. This can make them the ultimate catch or the ultimate villian, depending I suppose on the intentions of their female companion as well as the grace they show while moving from one sex partner to another. Now to be fair, there are those rare Aries men who truly enjoy the company of women, and are happy to jump into a relationship with those rare women who can catch, and sustain, their attention. These men are both type A macho men and know how to surprise and woo a woman romantically. Needless to say, it takes a special kind woman to land this rare species of man.

Notorious Aries players: Russell Crowe, Warren Beatty, Marlon Brando, Dodi al Fayed, Kevin Federline, Eddie Murphy, Vince Vaughn, Heath Ledger, Robert Downey Jr., Eric Clapton, Hugh Hefner, James Caan, James Woods, David Blaine, Zach Braff, Vincent Gallo 

Women who have been able to hold on to an Aries man for more than a decade: I think Gemini Annette Bening might be the only one!! But every Gemini woman is really like two women, after all, they are the sign of the twins. So to be fair, Warren Beatty, has really just had twice the fun. 

Honorable mentions: Capricorn Nicole Brown Murphy (Eddie Murphy), Taurus Danielle Spencer (Russell Crowe), Leo Shar Jackson (Kevin Federline), Virgo Michelle Williams (Heath Ledger), Aries Sarah Jessica Parker (Robert Downey Jr.), Leo Kimberley Hefner (Hugh Hefner)

Now if you are a woman considering having a relationship with an Aries man, just be sure to let him chase you (this makes him feel manly) and if for whatever reason you decide you would like to see him again the day after, just do your best to ignore and avoid him and he will be yours!!

Picky Charlie

“I’m a nitpicker, I’m a Virgo.”

- Charlie Sheen

Virgos tend to be self-reflective and self-critical. But don’t beat yourself up Charlie, having a touch of perfectionism isn’t necessarily a bad thing!

KATE HUDSON

BIRTHDAY GIRL

April 19, 1979    Los Angeles, CA  10:51 am

Beautiful Aries Kate Hudson turns 29 today. Kate is the the epitome of an Aries gal; she is fiesty, competitive, candid, sporty and fun. The most important thing to Aries women is have the freedom to be themselves and follow their instincts on to their next great adventure. There is also a raw emotional vulnerability with the Aries woman, she really puts herself on the line for things and people she believes in and jumps in headfirst. And as a result she can experience great highs and lows when situations become more difficult than she first considered. But one of the Aries womans greatest strengths is her ability to bounce back quickly and stronger than ever. 

Kate’s bold Aries sun is balanced out by a more grounded,  conservative Capricorn moon. This is the part of her that remains realistic and pragmatic about her life and the choices she is making. It also adds the earthy, hippy sensuality to her aura. And it helps her to follow through on things she has committed to doing once the initial Aries buzz has worn off. WIth her Mercury, planet of communication, also in Aries, she is not afraid to speak her mind.

Venus the planet of love is in Pisces, indication she years for relationships that are whimsical, romantic, artistic, dreamy and emotional. She loves the feeling of being in love. Interestingly, Kate has intense Scorpio on the cusp of her house of true love and her current beau Owen Wilson is a Scorpio, as is her frequent co-star Matthew McConaughey. She is also attracted to Sagittarians, like her ex-husband Chris Robinson, who complement her Aries sun (they are both fire signs) and Capricorns, like her ex-flings Dax Shepard and Orlando Bloom, because they appeal to her Capricorn moon. Uranus, the planet of unexpected events, is also in her house of true love, indicating that she may fall in love quickly and even experience love at first site. And with the emotional, nurturing sign of Cancer on her ascendant, she likes to take care of the people in her life and motherhood is especially important to her. Indeed she has a four year old son, Ryder, who is a Capricorn.

Her personal style very much reflects her Aries/Capricorn/Cancer personality. Aries are impulsive and they are trendsetters, they never follow the crowd but just pick unique things that appeal to them. They also value comfortable clothes that they can be active in and since Aries rules the head, they love to wear hats and headbands. The Capricorn energy adds a tougher, edgier element to her style where she mixes in more masculine pieces, such as vests and blazers and leather. And simultaneously, the Cancer influence softens her entire look and gives the romantic, sexy and feminine flourishes. Both Cancer and Aries are a bit unpredictable in terms of fashion but for very different reasons. Cancers are ruled by their moods, and how they dress in the morning is totally dependent on how they are feeling that day. Aries are just impulsive and might reach for the first few things they see and mix them together in a totally unexpected way. This accounts for the great diversity in the styles she wears day to day, and also makes her unique and sexy style totally effortless and inimitable.  

COMING UP: This next year is going to be a very important one for Kate. She is mostly going to be focused on her career and loving it. She will be enjoying days on the set and getting things done, but life might be a little shakier on the home front. This summer she will be going through the painful process of deciding if things that are causing her stress are really worth the commitment (ahem.. Owen Wilson) but once she decides to shake off things that aren’t working for her she will find relief. And by next spring, a truly happy, joyful chapter of her life that highlights communication, travel, learning, and exploring different interests will be in full effect.

Fergie’s Fire

“I have Mexican in my ancestry, my Dad’s grandmother was born in Guanajuato. I’m very proud of it; that’s probably where I get my fire!”  - Fergie

Actually Fergie you get your fire from your hot Aries sun! Sagittarius, Leo and Aries are the three fire signs of the zodiac and they are all very energetic, competitive, creative and proud. And as the first fire sign, Arians like Fergie are impulsive, spunky and unafraid to go after what they want. Including hot guys like her Scorpio fiance Josh Duhamel. And that makes her very hot indeed!

The astrological drama of “The Hills”

I’m not afraid to admit it, I’m totally addicted to all of the astrological drama on MTV’s “The Hills”!!

As an Aquarius, the show’s star, Lauren Conrad, is determined, independent and objective. Aquarians know what they like and what they don’t, they get into a routine with their lives and look to surround themselves with friends who enjoy the same things. Friendship and loyalty are extremely important to Aquarian women (consider how close Aquarian Jennifer Aniston keeps her best friend, Gemini Courtney Cox-Arquette). Thus her betrayal by former best friend, Virgo Heidi Montag, was a double blow but inevitable. Virgos (especially insecure Virgos), like Heidi, can be the ultimate people pleasers. First Heidi was all about pleasing Lauren, then when she fell in love with Leo Spencer Pratt, she began to dedicate her entire life to pleasing him. Leo Spencer and Aquarius Lauren are opposite signs! Leos thrive on attention and Spencer clearly did not like sharing Heidi’s affections with Lauren. 

Audrina Patridge, who has taken over the best friend role on “The Hills” is a stubborn, sensual Taurus. She has much more in common with Lauren as they are both slow to warm up to new people and become very attached once they find someone they like. This is obvious in their torturously drawn-out relationships with ex-boyfriends such as Justin “Bobby” Brescia and Jason Walther. However, being as stubborn as they are, when they butt heads things aren’t pretty. 

Whitney Port is the anti-Heidi. She is a Pisces, the opposite sign of Virgo Heidi. She is peaceful and caring, and likes to stay out of the drama. And new castmember, Lo Bosworth, who is a childhood best friend of Lauren, is her only truly compatible companion. As a Libra, Lo shares Air sign qualities with Lauren. They are both communicative, friendly and sociable. They also have the same sense of humor and can trust one another.    

Many of Lauren’s most important relationships have been with Capricorns, like her high school arch-nemesis Kristen Cavallari, her ex-boyfriend Jason Walther, and her ex-boss at “Teen Vogue” Lisa Love. Aquarians and Capricorns are not a good match, as Capricorns are more conservative and serious and can manipulate the earnest Aquarian. These Capricorns have certainly wrecked havoc on L.C.’s life!! Lets hope Lauren has learned to stay away. 

The other two men in Lauren’s life are Leo Brody Jenner and Aquarius Stephen Colletti, whose signs are also opposites! While Aquarius Stephen is more into his friends, Leo Brody likes to be the center of attention. Lauren shares her Aquarius sign with Stephen which means she feels comfortable and familiar with him, but that he sees their relationship as more of a friendship. Lauren is very attracted to Leo Brody, but he is too vain to be an attentive partner to her. And with former best friends Brody and Spencer both being Leos, they stuck together long enough to get themselves into the spotlight the Leos love to bask in, but there was just too much ego to sustain the friendship through all the drama.

Aquarius (Lauren), Taurus (Audrina) and Leo (Spencer, Brody) are all fixed signs, meaning these people have very strong personalities and are more or less set in their ways. Having so many fixed-sign stars is a good base for a multiple-season reality show like “The Hills” because it provides a certain level of predictability with the behavior of the “characters” that writers strive to maintain on scripted shows. However, “The Hills” also has just the right about of unpredictability and drama thrown in with all of the opposite signs (Aquarius/Leo, Pisces/Virgo) who tend to have love/hate relationships with one another. 

YEAR AHEAD: ARIES

Aries, your usual modus operandi is “get things done. NOW.” You are not one to sit around and watch paint dry and you never hesitate to let your ideas, wants and desires be known. Whatever you set your mind to, you put it out there and get on with it.

In that sense the upcoming year will be an interesting one for you, as you learn that sometimes you can catch more bees with honey, so to speak. As you move towards your goals this year, something within you is urging you to hold back a little, to play your cards a little closer to the vest than you usually do, and if you follow this instinct, you are not only sure to wrap whatever it is you want around your little finger, but also to learn some valuable lessons about how to exercise power and control over your personal life.

The one problem is, you may not be sure exactly what it is you want. With the new moon this year falling in your 4th house, a transformation of your home life is underway. Perhaps you have moved to a new city, to a new home, have been looking for a new place to live, or have had a change of occupants in your home. Things have been moving and the dust has not quite settled yet. And though you feel you are on the verge of getting around that corner, you are not quite there. There are still some romantic, maybe unrealistic, fantasies roaming around in your mind and for now you will stay in that limbo mode, weighing your options and observing the actions of others.

You will be able to relax and be patient in the face of the uncertainty of this situation for several important reasons. First of all, with Jupiter in your 2nd house of money, any financial problems you may have been experiencing will be eased this year. You could be tapped to do something unexpected for a handsome paycheck, or you could receive a settlement, or even a gift from someone in your family, out of the clear blue sky. There are opportunities to make money around so keep your eyes open.

Secondly, you are feeling the need for a change of pace and transformation within your life and lifestyle, and rather than rushing through things the way you sometimes tend to, you are finally deciding to slow down and take notice of these signs. Perhaps you have been itching for a makeover or a new style, now is the time to follow through. Perhaps some conditions you have been living with in your home or elsewhere are no longer tolerable to you, and you must make changes and move on. This situation could be related to your home situation, or it could be taking place simultaneously at a much deeper, internal level of your being.

Whatever it is, these are not the haphazard yearnings for change that sometimes grip you, but rather a deep-seated desire for a new chapter in your life, and you will be greatly aided in the task of facing any of these situation. If you focus now on your career, you will have the help of powerful people who want to support you and indeed important work projects could be coming your way this year. And while the waiting game is not really your style, what could cause a crisis of faith for you (if for no other reason than sheer frustration!) could also lead to a spiritual awakening. Especially as you see things slowly but surely falling into place maybe even better than you could have orchestrated. Both your sense of stability and your sense of spiritual power and freedom can be strengthened by shedding old baggage, and following your intuition, the same one that is telling you to hold back a little this year and see how the cards fall.

Your love life is another area where you may feel like uncertainty looms. Things are either going along just as they always have (which could be boring you) or there could be some tensions over underlying motivations and past actions which have yet to be resolved. The message for you this year is to keep your attention on sorting out what works for you from what doesn’t work for you, in your life and in your home, and these insights will easily help you determine where your paramour fits in the scheme of things. Once the spring cleaning has been done you will be more than ready for a fabulous new chapter with them, or a new flame.

Luckiest months:

June 2008: If progress has been suffocatingly slow, the gust of wind you have been waiting for will come in June. You will be feeling creative and all of your plans can manifest easily this month. But with Mercury retrograde, just be sure to re-confirm all of the important details before handing control over to another.

July 2008: Some of the situations you have been dealing with could come to a boil this month, and as long as you are ready, things might finally be turning a corner. Don’t be afraid to stand up for what you really want from this situation and things will work out in your favor.

December 2008: You will be feeling positive and hopeful and lots of good career news or advancements could come your way. Projects you started much earlier could finally be back on track and moving full steam ahead.