Dear Fellow Star Gazers,

It appears the Sun has woken up! Over the last couple of days sunspot 1158 has grown substantially. It is now larger than Jupiter and crackling with extremely strong flares. With this comes a CME (coronal mass ejection) headed out across the solar system. Radio waves have been heard through short-wave receivers on Earth. Apparently the waves emitted may be enough to knock out communication systems. 

Early next week too we have the extraordinary conjunction of Mercury, Mars and Neptune at the very end of Aquarius (an Air sign) conjoining this Friday's Full Moon. It's not hard to see the image of Mercury (the winged messenger) hurrying (Mars) and forgetting or losing (Neptune) the message along the way.

Aquarius is arguably the most 'political' of all the signs. This amazing conjunction may say something of the democratic message that's trying so hard to be heard across large areas of the world.

From a negative perspective we should, perhaps, be concerned that the transportation of goods (oil and other materials) through the Middle East will be affected by political decisions taken this weekend. With Uranus passing through the very last degrees of Pisces and so, 'void of course', it may be that these new and young voices are drowned out - at least for a few days. Expect Internet difficulties as authorities try to regain control.

It's hard to imagine that these young voices will stay suppressed however. On Friday March 11^th the Uranus Aries ingress takes place. Uranus will then be on course to form a square with Pluto. Just a few weeks later Neptune moves to Pisces mirroring the planetary pictures of 1948, the 'Year of Revolutions'. Upheaval is certainly more likely than not.

Meanwhile the lunar node now moves through Sagittarius and will soon cross the Galactic Centre. When Pluto passed this point a few years ago the banking system came close to collapse. The node isn't Pluto, but surely there will be some reminders of just how close we came to global financial meltdown: we may hear these notes again around the Full Moon of March 18^th. Indeed, they may be the forerunner of significant fall in equity prices at the end of March.

Investors might like to ring Friday March 4^th in their diaries - this may be the moment to get out if other technical indicators confirm.

History shows that the presence of too many planets in Cardinal areas of the zodiac (Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn) coincides with markets losing momentum. In 2011, the Cardinal build-up begins on March 11^th and increases when the Sun reaches Equinox on March 20^th. True, there may be exciting moves in media and technical sectors on March 10^th. These though may not be enough to counteract the chilly financial winds which may blow post the Equinox.

Commodities continue to have my attention. In the coming week I am looking for marked moves in gold, silver and in crude oil. Investors might like to consider carefully those companies dependent on precious metals for delivery of goods and services. These costs will surely rise in the coming months.

Returning though to our beautiful, life-giving Sun (and please, if you haven't yet read it, do locate a copy of Gregory Sam's brilliant work 'Sun of gOd'): the present solar awakening bodes well for a surge of creativity which should benefit us all. Do take time out to allow the creative spark within YOU to receive an extra boost. Mark Uranus' Aries ingress (March 11^th) in your diary too and use the present period to space-clear in preparation for taking some of your ideas to the drawing board.

Finally, and in response to considerable cosmic arm-twisting I am going ahead with a seminar for traders and investors on Friday March 18^th in London. This will be an all-day event and will focus on the financial outlook between the two Equinoxes. I will use this opportunity to show the results of my research into the Euro index and to the property market here in the UK. Full details of this event will soon be available on www.financialuniverse.co.uk. I will send a short email about this early next week when the venue is confirmed.

On Sunday February 27^th from 15.00 - 16.00 GMT I am offering a financial astrology class for astrology students. The cost for this will be £30. This first class will focus on sun and lunar cycles and their impact on the markets. To enrol for this class please email me directly at christeenskinner@gmail.com.

Wishing you a happy, healthy and exciting few weeks

Yours from the stars,

Christeen