Friday September 6th 2002 - edited by Bernard Fitzwalter This week in Astro News: ~ Planetary opposition ~ ~ AstroDiary ~ The last big planetary opposition of the year is shaping up now, and will be exact next Wednesday. Unlike the brutal stand-off between Saturn and Pluto that gave us such hard times at the start of the year, this one is between two big planetary softies – Jupiter and Neptune. So, apart from them both being planets associated with water and therefore most likely to bring us a week of bucketing rain, what can we expect? Well, they are both planets of hope and ideas, and they show us what is possible at times when our view is too pessimistic. I find it highly significant that while this pair have been lining up, the world's leaders have been at the global conference in South Africa talking about ways of narrowing the gap between the rich and poor nations. I am sure that they mean well, thanks to Jupiter's generosity and Neptune's vision, but these two planets are not renowned for their practical qualities, and they tend to create the glossy brochure version of events rather than the gritty reality. I fear that after all the fine words have been said the immediate results may be far less than promised. Maybe we are expecting too much, too soon. Jupiter and Neptune have a 13-year cycle, and they are now half-way through the one that they started back in January 1997. When it finishes, in 2009, both planets will be in idealistic and fair-minded Aquarius, and it might be that the arguments that are aired now will produce something worthwhile then. Peace and progress are both slow-growing plants; we must keep planting, keep watering, and keep hoping. Since the exact contact between Jupiter and Neptune is on September 11, several people have asked whether this is significant, given what happened a year ago. The answer is probably not, since the planetary patterns aren't really similar - but if Providence has aligned Jupiter and Neptune on the anniversary to provide inspiration and to help us start looking forwards again, then that will be enough. AstroDiary Advance booking for major astrological events: Tonight (September 6): Woking Astrology Group. Toni Allen on the basics of midpoint trees, Maybury Centre, Board School Road, Woking. 8pm. £4 (£6 non-members). 01252 653086; email: b.mcauliffe@ntlworld.com Booking now: September 26 – 29: British Association for Vedic Astrology Fifth International Conference, London. 01794–524178; Email: bava@btinternet.com; web: www.bava.org Please double-check with the organisation before attending any events listed here - we cannot accept any responsibility for events changed/cancelled. 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. Research into Astrology and Infertility by Pat Harris, MSc., D.F.Astrol.S. I would like to thank everyone who has responded to my earlier notices on Jonathan's website and who volunteered to take part in the research that I am conducting as part of my PhD in astrology and health psychology at Southampton University, UK. I now have quite a number of people taking part which will help me in conducting my study into factors that may or may not correlate with fertility treatment outcome. I should have a progress report out soon. However, I am still looking for women who are currently pregnant - not necessarily as a result of fertility treatment - and who would like to contact me about details of my research to see if they would like to take part. My email address is: pharris@interalpha.co.uk 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 here for Astronews Archives