Dear Fellow Star-Gazers,

A very warm welcome once again to the many friends who joined this list during my recent visit to the US. It has taken a few weeks to adjust after such a super trip. It never takes my Sagittarian Moon long to fall in love with a place but I truly fell for Florida in a big way and so hoped that the cosmos had plans to bring me there again. I am so delighted that there have already been requests for me to return - both to Florida and to the Boston area. However, the next big trip across the Atlantic will be for the event in Vermont in August (pdf flier attached).

This is the first Full Moon letter to be sent with Neptune in Pisces - its first transit of this sign since the mid-19^th Century and I can't help but wonder what this will mean for those of fascinated by correlation between the stars, planets and social and economic cycles. Some years ago the very fine astrologer, John Ware gave a brilliant lecture on the links between the Uranus-Neptune cycle and developments in astrology. Paul Blaschke - another eminent astrologer looked closely at the development of astrological thought and the Uranus-North Node cycle. This latest cycle began in Pisces - so these two fine astrologers were working with similar vibrations.

Of course Neptune's Pisces ingress will have impact in every area of life. Those familiar with the imagery won't have to look too far for illustrations of the effect.  I often think that Pisces is the ultimate 'blender': those born under this sign tend to wear their creativity (making it obvious to all), yet they are often fine scientists too (think Einstein - March 14^th). It seems probable then that the language of astrology might spread further during this cycle and that slowly there will be conscious blending of science with that which cannot be so easily explained.

What I've noticed so far is that I am being asked to work with entrepreneurs and design teams in a new way. The investors who discuss their market moves with me are also looking at their investments from a different perspective - looking as much now for spiritual as financial reward.

Over the last couple of weeks too I have been reviewing a wonderful new book by David Hamblin, 'The Spirit of Numbers'  in which he explores those aspects we usually cannot see with the naked eye (all the way through to 33rds of a circle). This book is a rare example of blending mathematical thought with inspired but well researched interpretation.

It seems to me that we are now at the edge of a new phase - a cutting edge - in astrological understanding. Of course I am concerned that with Uranus and Pluto at right-angles in the sky there will be an abnormal number of factions and splits within the astro-community - which would be so regrettable if it happened.  What is exciting is that there are SO many advances being made. I've spent many hours both with David Hamblin's book and going back over midpoint theory having been excited by the fine work of David Beazley and Gary Christen. It really does feel as though there is new fuel in the astrological think tank.

Turning my attention to the markets, presently Neptune is at almost its furthest distance from the Earth and in near exact septile (seventh of a circle) relationship to Pluto. There is high probability that this planetary arrangement will give rise to fluctuation - and manipulation - in the oil price. Both Neptune and Pluto are associated with this commodity - representing refined and crude oil. Perhaps as a result of alarming news from the Middle East around today's Full Moon (7^th) we could see significant price moves this week. Friday 10^th February could be highly significant. We should expect further dramatic moves on Monday 20^th and later on Friday 25^th. On each of these dates moves are likely to be above average.

The Neptune-Pluto septile phase also seems to speak of fraud. The aspect was exact several times in 2011. According to the auditors KPMG, the total amount of fraud in the UK during 2011 exceeded £3.5 billion. To quote: "The second half of the year (Neptune septile Pluto!) presented a series of ever more creative investment schemes, including a £30 million Ponzi scheme involving fine wine and a proliferation of spam e-mail 'phishing' and other types of online fraud rategting vulnerable individuals". Perhaps we should expect the first half of 2012 to yield similarly eye-watering fraud levels).

Looking ahead to Feb 21^st - we will all then experience our first-in-our-lifetime Piscean New Moon configured with Neptune in that same sign. New Moons are said to offer new beginnings. My own experience is that they take some time to gather momentum. It could even be argued that it takes some months before the theme of a lunation is understood. The next solar eclipse (May 20^th) will be near exact right angles to the February New Moon. To me that suggests that anything begun around Feb 21^st could fizzle out (burnt by the Sun) - though the legacy of the idea will last considerably longer. And yes, this could be a Frankenstein moment. Certainly it would be wise to address risk management issues with particular care if you are launching anything in the early days of the Sun's move through Pisces this year.

Where Equities are concerned, recent rises may be attributable to the Jupiter-Neptune midpoint over the very sensitive Aries point. Next week it's Uranus' turn to be on this midpoint. If Jupiter and Neptune are imagined as a great bubble, then it may be that Uranus is standing by to prick this. Certainly I now feel we are in very dangerous territory. The astro-signals suggest we are in for a very tricky time in May - June (though I believe we will see the start of sharp falls from the March Full Moon).

For now I am focused on a teaching event in Dublin on February 18^th (details on the website). I am also delighted to announce that we have the first bookings for the weekend event in Vermont this August (pdf attached)!

Wishing you all good health and happy trading until next month

Yours from the stars

Christeen

 christeenskinner@gmail.com