I am a Top Ten Finalist! Please vote for me daily through 12/31

I am a top ten finalist to be the Stila Girl of the Month. I am super excited and honored to be given this opportunity. Now the winner is up the voters through 12/31/10. I need all the votes I can get. It's a super easy one click vote daily. Please vote for me here . Be sure to select KATE. If you can, please repost this, tweet it, facebook it, and spread the word. Thanks!

Eclipses

Happy Holidays!

I have been on a brief hiatus since the middle of November. Mercury Retrograde came dipping its little frazzled electrical haywire energies into my life way before it's scheduled retrograde dates of Dec 10-30. My laptop crashed and I had to wait weeks for it to be fixed. Then it came back, and started crashing again. PEOPLE- back up your information on your computers especially weeks before MR! I have had quite a doozy of a month...as we also hosted a Full Lunar Eclipse in Gemini on Winter Solstice Dec 21. I don't know how everyone else did but I was hit from just about everything from out in left field. Thank goodness December is almost over! It has been a rough one!

Be on the lookout for the Solar Eclipse Jan 4! Solar eclipses (for me) are usually the beginnings of something new and turn out to not shake my world as much as Lunar Eclipses. But remember...they still show the truth, they still bring new information or events that are out of your control, and they shake things up!

Contests and Future Articles

Contests and Future Articles

Thanks to some amazing comments and to everyone who took the time to enter my contests….we have 2 winners and some very insightful article ideas. I had a blast reading all the requests you all put in and I love that you guys have been enjoying my articles that have already been printed on the blog. The winners have been contacted and I am in the process of attempting to respond to everyone’s requests for things they would like to see. Here are some of the topics I will be covering over the next couple of months on the website-

The History of Astrology

Born on the cusp- Which sign to read

Pet Astrology

Medical Astrology

Horoscopes in magazines/newspapers

Famous Astrologers

Dating guides for men and women based on sun signs

Compatibility of all signs

The Moon and each planets

Chiron- Why I don’t use it

A Celebrity week – covering different celebrities and their signs

We will also delve into a few question & answer forums and continue to research some good AND bad astrology sites on the web. I will also touch base with a few of you that have emailed me asking chart questions. At this time, I am not doing charts for the public. I have studied sun signs and have no problem giving you some general information on sun sign compatibility. To really take a better look at compatibility, charts need to be done which takes time. Perhaps in the future, I will offer chart reading services but for now, I am enjoying writing the articles.

Astrology Book Reviews

I decided to do some astrology book reviews here on my blog. Please note that these are just my opinions and feelings and should in no way inhibit you from getting the book and coming to your own conclusions. We are all at different learning levels and understand things in different manners. Consider this when reading any review that is astrology related or not. Depending on where you are in your pace of learning, something might be too advanced for you at the moment or be old news.

I am doing book reviews (not all astrology related) over at my other blog- Library-fi-cation. I have embarked on a journey of reading the books in my local library in order… starting from the lower end of the Dewey Decimal System spectrum. I am reading the books…whether I would have chosen them myself or not..and then reviewing them on my blog. If you haven’t done so already, please check it out, follow me, and subscribe to my newsletter. I will also be running some contests over at that blog in a few weeks. Not only I am doing the blog to educate myself but I hope to inspire people to read and want to submerse themselves in their own reading journeys. Maybe you will be fueled into your own reading journal or blog. To learn has been my main drive in life…whether it has been to learn a Thai recipe or how to work a computer program…and reading is the method I do this in.

K.I.S.S Guide to Astrology (Keep It Simple Series) by Julia and Derek Parker

For beginners, this is a great book that provided a lot of facts, tidbits, and easy to read explanations of the sun signs and houses. I especially enjoyed the history of astrology. However, if this is the first time you are doing your own chart, I would pass on that section unless you are going to use it as a guide in conjunction with another resource. Even I found the chart section to be confusing and the tables in the back are poorly marked. As with most books in the Keep It Simple Series…I love the layout of the information and the cute little reminders and chapter reviews. This is a wonderful book to read for beginners and I highly recommend it for that purpose. If you are going to pursue the chart in the end, I would try another book or online method to start with. Also I would recommend doing your chart for free on the many websites that are available online…then comparing that to the chart you do on your own. More often than not, there are many mistakes made in charting by hand but I can appreciate the effort of doing this…sort of like baking a cake from scratch as opposed to a box cake…but in the end, it can be very time consuming and there is a high margin of error. You can still make your own conclusions and use your own intuition with free online charts as well.

Venus Retrograde 2010

Venus Retrograde 2010

Venus is retrograde from Oct 8 through Nov 18 and despite what everyone is preaching about…Venus to me is a rehash period in love. Sure… Venus rules beauty and possessions but from my experience, Venus RETROGRADE is about taking a step back in love and giving second chances..IF there are any to be had. During this period we will see old loves, previous one night stands, friends we haven’t spoken to in a long time, and issues of our relationships surfacing in and around us. It’s as if our love and sex lives are on REWIND!!! The most important part of the retrograde period is how WE handle these events. What’s more important than the events themselves, is how we react to them, act upon them, and the way we internalize them. Perhaps an old love has come around and wants to rekindle. Part of this may be because of the memories that Venus retrograde uproots within us during this time period. If Venus is love-centered and has the ability to bring forth love into our lives under normal circumstances..think about what she does when she appears to be going backward. She is digging up old loves and those old emotions/attachments and actually helping you by letting you relive these and make final decisions. Depending on how these people made you feel the first time around, now might be the time to finally bury the old and bring in the new OR start something slowly after the retrograde period if the feeling is still strong then to do so. As you read other astrological information on Venus Retrograde you will see a lot of astrologers pushing you to not make any changes to your appearance or any large home purchases or renovations during this time. Yes, it is true that decisions made during Venus Retrograde may easily becomes ones that you will ultimately regret because Venus in her so-called backwards motion can really put on the rose-colored lenses. She also calls forth previous feelings so perhaps you used to want your bedroom to be pink and then gave that up..maybe thinking it might be too feminine. Well Venus might have you reconsidering that pink and inspiring you to paint the kitchen pink as well. Come Nov 18…you will be wondering what the heck you did. This same rule applies for relationships as well. When old what’s his face comes calling and you think well..maybe he means what he says this time or maybe he really did love me..even though you caught him cheating on you with your best friend…now is NOT the time to think you owe him a second chance. With Mercury going into Sagittarius, the best thing you can do is talk it out with him, let him know how you really feel and bury the hatchet once for all. Otherwise when November 18 rolls around and your little pink heart is out to sea, you will be kicking yourself in the ass for thinking he had changed. I give you permission to roll around in the hay with your old memories but before taking them to the next level and actually getting hay stuck in your hair…I would hold back the reins. Don’t forget to take the rose-colored lenses off and look not only at the good but the bad. For every action, there is a reaction. Think about everyone your decision will affect. So please go through the pics and the old love notes…revel in the fact that an old flame texted you out of the blue..but now is not the time for action. Take it for what it’s worth and keep your little pink heart on shore till later this year. Think sensibly about the choices you make and remember that anything that happens during Venus Retrograde is not likely to stick around for the long haul. I feel it’s a period of last chances, back burners moving forward and desperate attempts in people temporarily trying to make themselves feel better. Ultimately, if you do choose to start something during this time period…it will probably not amount to much so I would only do so if you are comfortable with a very short lived fling. Remember..things are not always as they appear.

If you are currently in a relationship, there may be a roller coaster of ups and downs as you may find yourself wondering what happened to the love and passion you both experienced at the start of the relationship. As soon as Mercury enters Sagittarius, it’s fair game to hash this out and really tell your partner how they feel. It’s hard for Sagittarius to lie and feel good about it so the truth will be put out there. Don’t make any harsh decisions on ending a relationship right now…as you may regret this as well. I advise lovers to lay low for the time being. Work with your own heart on coming to terms with the past and releasing it.

Dirty Dirty Tricks of the Zodiac

DIRTY DIRTY TRICKS OF THE ZODIAC

ARIES- wah wah wah wah! Why can’t it be about me! I want it now! I don’t’ want to wait! Aries is impatient, a horrible procrastinator, and they are very scatterbrained. If they don’t get what they want, they don’t mind hunting it down to their own detriment. They have many ideas but very few evolve into anything. Most of the time they still work off of family or money given by parents. It’s hard for them to cut the umbilical cord so there is usually some tie to parents whether its money or a living situation. If they are well off, they will live extravagant lives. They will seek attention and when it’s not received, they will sulk and seek it elsewhere. They also aren’t opposed to fucking you (literally or figuratively) and rolling out the door.

Taurus- Controlling!!! I am willing to bet there are more control freaks and people in anger management with Taurus as a sun sign or as a heavy placement in a chart than any others (what an interesting study that would be). I call these my ticking bomb friends. They are usually found having explosions in public, staying late at the office 24/7 to avoid going home, or busy playing victim. Sadly, they express a lot of their anger on those closest to them including parents, children, and partners. They can’t seem to find the fine line of appropriate and not appropriate. A lot of Taurus people will consciously or subconsciously have a chip on their shoulder. And just wait till you get two Bulls in a room together….a lot of foot stomping and bullshit. Relationship wise they can be heavily committed but will always have the roaming eye. God forbid if you do the same though! Consider it WWIII. A lot of Taurus people also are very accident prone…think Murphy’s Law. Anything that can go wrong will. These are the people that will insist that you let them fix something and then find out that it was worse after they fixed it than before. Not detail orientated. Very bull in a china shop-ish!

GEMINI- It’s extremely rare to hear a conversation about a Gemini without hearing “backstabber”, “liar”, “cheater” or “asshole/bitch” somewhere in the same sentence. Inevitably, there will always be someone the Gemini has royally fucked over on their childish pursuit for perfection and self-indulgence. Yes, even you Gemini female fatales have screwed someone over once or twice but the difference between the male Gem and female Gem is that the female will talk herself out of any situation and will have you intellectually confused as to what the hell you were talking anyway. They are masters of deceitful conversation and cover-up humor. They will use this to deflect and turn around any slight they have done to another person. Most of the time, they won’t know what they want and will keep you hanging on while they decide in their own time. If they have decided it’s over….you will never hear from the Gemini unless their world appears to be collapsing around them. They will write you off as fast as they wrote you in…ahem or undressed you.

CANCER- Whine, bitch, moan, sulk in pjs and eat ice cream for days, don’t answer calls, avoid people at all costs, whine, bitch, cry, sulk. Repeat. The zodiac’s biggest victims next to Taurus…god forbid if you combine the two. Cancer is famous for last minute ditches, back outs, and changes in mind and stance. No-show…prolly a cancer who couldn’t bear to bring themselves to see other people right now. Perhaps if all Cancers were on anti-depressants, they could actually have good relationships with other people. They will dwell for years on the hurts and past loves…forcing them to stay in the past. They will seek out people for material possessions and what they can offer them as far as family and security goes. I think a lot of Cancers are really victims..mostly of their own-doing because of the lack of their ability to stick up for themselves. They would much rather hide than face the world when times get hard. I also see that more people that are Cancers have issues with drugs, obesity, and food than any other sign. Masking something?

LEO- Not as controlling in a manner as a Taurus is but definitely next in line…Leo will do it with dirty looks, behind the scenes work, and plain out-right rudeness to your face ESPECIALLY if it threatens their position in a job, their thought out plan for seducing someone, or anything related to their money or possessions. Leo men are some down-right two timing one-night-stand freaks..they shudder in fear of commitment. Looking for a friend with benefits…Leo is your man. Leo women will take out anyone who makes them feel inferior with a dirty look, avoidance tactic, and a pissed off attitude. Leo women can commit more so than their counterparts but they had better rule the roost or you will wish you had never gotten involved to begin with. Leo’s also have an uncanny knack for dramatic flair and acting like they are holier-than-thou. They are also very straight to the point even if it hurts your feelings. I think they are more outspoken and truthful than Sags can be.

VIRGO- Rude and vain….that only covers the tip of the iceberg. Virgo’s are by no means virgins. What they are though are perfectionists and some of the quirkiest people of the zodiac. They don’t necessarily fit into any mold or social group. They are the zodiac’s outcasts but in defense of the zodiac’s meanness..Virgo’s do put themselves there. They will shut people out for years, give up on having relationships even when the right person comes along, and they will continue to shun and pick apart every person that comes into their life. The bachelor of the zodiac is definitely self-imposed. Virgo is fascinated by what they can’t have and will have many love affairs by imagination and infatuation only. They can be in long relationships but if the so-called love of their life betrays them…..it may take them years to allow themselves to love again. Virgo’s biggest fear is of themselves…thus making anyone who does love them..suffer to no end by someone who cannot make themselves happy.

LIBRA- I want to play! I am bored! I need something to do! Libra’s are always on the go and on the pursuit for playtime in a life they consider boring unless they have money and something to get involved in. Every love affair is the biggest to-do in their life and friends will want to hurl every time they hear Libra romanticize about it..which is every 5 minutes. Libra will also attach themselves to you and leave at a moment’s notice without any regret or lengthy goodbye. They can be jealous and possessive of their friends. They can be big babies when things don’t go their way.

SCORPIO- Talk about a fuck over! Scorpio will beat you down, spit in your face, and then even worse…give you the cold shoulder like you never meant anything to them. They will sweet talk you like you are the only man/woman in the world and then move right along to the next person and pretend you don’t exist. Under a Scorpio’s spell, you will be moved to sexual heights but heartbroken when you realize they only used you to get off. They don’t have a problem using people to get what they want, need, or desire whether it be a good lay, money, or a promotion. They can be quite a backstabber! I also believe there are more Scorpio stalkers than any other sign…well maybe Virgo comes pretty darn close…but a Scorpio who doesn’t get what they want will hunt it down and scare it off. Their intensity kills and can easily kill the mood every time they want to hear how great they are.

SAGITTARIUS- Abandonment! Sags have no problem telling you anything even if it hurts your feelings and they also don’t have a problem running away even if means leaving a family or lover behind. I am willing to bet there are a lot of Sagittarius runaway children in the world. They will seek out adventure and will not be quick to leave anyone in the dust who doesn’t find the fun in it like they do. They march to the beat of their own drum even if the drum annoys the shit out of everyone around them. They are also prone to addictions or obsessions. They can be hard workers even if the work they do doesn’t serve them well. They are fine staying in their little niche at a job even if advancement opportunities offer them better pay or more hours. They are forgetful, careless, accident prone, and again..they fall to Murphy’s Law even more than a Taurus or Aries does. Those people that incessantly run out of gas, lock their keys in the car or forget to dry their clothes…Sagittarius! Money burns holes in their pockets like an Aries. They often have child like wonderment and the women will dress like a teenager as they get older and still love fairies. The men will constantly seek adventure and will love the outdoors even to go so far as living in unhealthy conditions and camping in the winter cold despite frostbite. Many Sagittarius people will be comfortable living in apartments and bouncing from partner to partner with little care for responsibilities.

CAPRICORN- User alert! Capricorn will use you even more than a Scorpio. They too will give a cold shoulder and cut you dry when they are done with you. If you can no longer serve them a purpose, they will move on to the next person. They are prey to a pretty face and deep pockets fully of money and family status. People are looked at in terms of what they can do for a Capricorn. Although their work ethic is strong, they will usually be bad with money. Most of this money comes from other people…a parent, a partner, a sibling, or they will hole themselves up in their houses and eat nothing but crackers while cussing at the world..refusing outside help. The grass is always greener on the other side to a Cappy. Their relationships often fail because they become lazy and do not put any effort into them. Very selfish. The women of the Cappy world can go long periods without any relationships because people are quick to catch onto their game. Capricorns are also very slobby. They can live in their messes for quite some time.

AQUARIUS- Not very warm and fuzzy. Aquarius is a hands off kinda person. They don’t form close relationships and are very self-centered when it comes to their own wants and needs. Aquarians can be very addicted to money, shopping, and clothing. They crave attention and will go to whatever means they can find to get it. If Aquarius has followed their path of uniqueness..some of them can be religious fanatics or allow themselves to be completely immersed in a culture, worship an icon, or follow one pursuit of religion to another. It’s hard to pin them down as they bounce from one thing to next without much care for anything else. Aquarius men can be very unfaithful as they are natural born flirts and very flighty. Aquarius women can be more faithful but are in something if they think it brings them status or is what is hot in their world for a moment. Think of it has having something to flaunt on their arm.

PISCES- Pisces men can be mama’s boys to the point that it ruins their relationships with other women. Cancer men will do this too but not to the same degree. Pisces are laid back lovers and find that once they are in a committed relationship sex is not that important to them. This can also affect their love relationships. Pisces whine and retreat from the world almost as much as Cancer does..sometimes even more so. Pisces women can be so obsessed with pity that even their friends don’t stay too long because their supply of tissues run out. Pisces are not overly sexual people and they hide from the world. Their emotional needs can be draining to others. Life is one giant pity party for them. There are actually a lot of Pisces atheists out there as Pisces is too busy complaining and whining..they find that there must not be a God if they have given them this harsh life. Pisces is another sign that falls prey to drugs, alcohol and other addictions. They can often go long periods of time without relationships or stay in bad ones. Their emotions can be highly suffocating to others.

$50 Gift Card Giveaway for all your astrological indulgences

I have a $50 Amazon gift card to give away so that you can indulge in all of your astrological
desires (or do whatever the hell you want with). Amazon is a great source for new and used astrology books amongst thousands of other things. Best of all, it makes a great Christmas gift.

PRIZE: One winner will receive a $50 Amazon gift card.

To enter, comment below with any ideas for astrology articles that you would like to read. This must be done before gaining additional entries.

To gain one additional entry each:

1. Follow me
2. Subscribe by email to my blog
3. Follow me on Twitter
4. Like me on Facebook
5. Comment on any of my astrology articles.
6. Enter my Astrology Book Giveaway
7. Blog about this giveaway and come back and post that you did
8. Tweet about this giveway and come back and post that you did

One entry per person please. Contest ends October 31 at 11:59pm. Winner will be chosen by random.org and will have 48 hrs to respond to my email. Be sure to include your email with your entry so I have a way of contacting you.

Coming Soon!

Coming soon ~ An in-depth look at Venus Retrograde 2010. For those of you who have been wondering why all these former flames or one-night stands are resurfacing..or perhaps you yourself have been walking down memory lane with previous relationships....blame it on Venus in retrograde! I also have another contest I will be posting soon for a gift card. There will be more articles being posted as well including Healing the Soul through the Zodiac, Learning to Follow the Moon and her waning ways, and Does he like me or not?- a look at the signs of flirtation in the zodiac geared towards women. Please follow me and subscribe to my updates so that you can receive new postings in your email inbox as they are listed. You can also follow me on twitter. I am working on getting a new facebook fan page up as well so stay tuned.

Astrology Book Giveaway - Ends Nov 6

I have an awesome astrology book giveaway for readers who have been checking out my zodiac ramblings. The book is Do It Yourself Astrology: A User Friendly Guide to Your Personality by Lyn Birkbeck. It's a wonderful book for new or experienced astrologers. It's simple to use and you can bet that I have my own copy in my library.

The rules to enter are easy. You must comment with your astrological sign and let me know anything about astrology...any thoughts, experiences, fave books, websites, etc.

For additional entries (1 entry each, use separate comment for each entry):

- Comment on any one of my blog entries
- Follow my blog
- Subscribe to my blog by email - right lower corner of blog
- Follow my new blog Library-fi-cation
- Follow me on Twitter

Good luck!