Friday March 22nd 2002 - edited by Patty Greenall This week in Astro News: ~ Comets in history ~ ~ New planet update ~ ~ Astrologer's Diary ~ ~ New Service from the Astrological Association of Great Britain ~ Comets in history by Deborah Houlding As we wait excitedly to see the recently-discovered comet Ikeya-Zhang, Deborah Houlding looks at the astrological significance of comets… Throughout history comets have been taken as omens for political change. The Romans believed they accompanied the birth and death of rulers, and carried their souls in flight. Julius Caesar's death was immortalised in a comet appearance, leading Shakespeare to write: "The Heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes". Astrologically comets are about seizing opportunity. In 1066 Halley's Comet was scene during the Battle of Hastings and appears on the Bayeux Tapestry commemmorating William The Conqueror's victory. In the United States, the appearance of Thatcher's Comet at the time of the American Civil War was widely regarded as an omen of great change. The Hale-Bopp comet of 1997, one of the brightest ever seen, is linked to the death of Princess Diana that year, and on a world-wide scale the collapse of Asian economy and the rule of Hong Kong reverting to China. Closer to home it also marked the demise of the Conservative Party as 18 years of Tory rule ended. It remains to be seen what Ikeya-Zhang may bring. It will be visible low on the horizon later this year. Astrologically I expect it to be linked with big change in China and Japan, where it was first noticed. It also points to an overthrow of power in the Middle East. Deborah Houlding specialises in the history of astrological technique. An international author and teacher, her work can be found at https://www.skyscript.co.uk New planet update The name Ixion has now been submitted for the planet known so far as 2001 KX76. It may be several months before the International Astronomical Union certify the name. The IAU demands "a mythological name associated with the underworld." Ixion was a Thessalian king in Greek mythology. He had a passionate desire for Hera, Zeus' wife, and as a result of his disrespect, he was sentenced by Zeus to turn forever on a fiery wheel in the underworld. Astrologer's Diary Sunday March 24: Luminaries and Quadrants - by Alexander von Schlieffen. Centre for Psychological Astrology, Regents College, Inner Circle, Regents Park, London NW1. 10am-5pm, £40. Monday March 25: Astrological Lodge of London, 50 Gloucester Place, London, W1; 6pm Free beginner's class; 7pm The Aries-Libra Polarity by Elena Dramchini £5 (£3 members). Wednesday March 27: ESP vs Astrology, and Topical Charts by Geoffrey Cornelius. Company Of Astrologers, 4 Marty's Yard, 17 Hampstead High Street, London. 7.30-9.30pm, £5 Are you holding an astrological event - especially one outside London!! - that you would like others to know about? Write to jon@cainer.com with subject heading: Astro Events with website links. Please note - we cannot promise to include ALL submissions but will do our best. New Service is Top for the Charts The Astrological Association of Great Britain is proud to announce that you can now speak LIVE to an expert astrologer. For an instant in-depth telephone consultation about your full horoscope call 0845 120 1416 or +44 207 436 9101 (a confidential 30-minute reading costs £29.50, payable by credit card. Or cheque/postal order from UK.) Lines are open 9am-9pm GMT, Monday to Friday. A few weeks ago, the Astrological Association of Great Britain launched this new, live fixed-fee, telephone chart reading service. It has since proved big hit with callers from all over the world. AA President Roy Gillett told Astro News: "I am delighted with the warm response that we have had. Once, if you wanted a reading of your full birth chart, you would have to struggle to find a genuine, reputable astrologer. Then, you would have had to make an appointment and travel miles. Now, at last, there's a quick and easy way to get your questions answered by a real expert - from the comfort of your own home." Mirror reader Julie Roberts from Rochester was equally enthusiastic. "I rang last Tuesday and spoke to an astrologer called Maria. Within moments, she was telling me details about my childhood that she could not possibly have known... then she said some fascinating things about my future. If you missed any of Friday's Astronews articles, click on the Archive Thought for the Day link in the left hand frame.