Bridgett Walther formerly AstroAbby

When it comes to pursuing happiness,

	I'm too busy & worried to be bothered

	I don't know where to start. Define 'happiness'

	I make a point to do something fun every day

	After working hard, I reward myself with something I enjoy

	I know life is short and live well every minute

	I need a new life - this one isn't working out at all

	I'm always happier when I balance physical, spiritual and mental tasks

	I'm unsure I have the capacity for happiness

GOT A BIRTHDAY COMING UP?

Just email me the full name and birthday of the birthday boy or girl and I'll add it to the daily BirthdayScope. This BirthdayScope also appears on www.elle.com, womansday.com and ellegirl.com.

“You are going through a period of transition” by Mark Hollingsworth

We’re nearly through the first third of 2008 and a brief scan of headlines will provide ample testimony to the fact that we have been recently going through some pretty scary changes. In the world, we have a litany of concerns from the environment and toxic chemicals, to the economy, to the botched execution of wars. It’s ironic that the public in the US is most concerned about the personal barbs hurled between presidential candidates and their personal foibles, and less concerned about what any of them might do to actually improve things.
Thank God for the anti-depressant drugs in our drinking water!
Periods of abundance and periods of famine were common to our ancestors. Even seasonal fluctuations in crops, or hunting would have been very familiar to humans for hundreds of thousands of years. In recent generations, we’ve tried to make ourselves immune to this kind of thing. When these naturally occurring fluctuations finally do come up again in ways that affect our daily lives, we’re seemingly shocked and hyper-distressed about it.
If you were a giant redwood tree and celebrating your 4000th birthday, (even though you don’t look a day over 3000) you would probably look around you and think, “Oh yeah, I’ve seen this kind of thing before...” and then you’d look around, heave a great sigh, and then go on doing what you’ve been doing without much ado. Your task is to convert sunlight to energy, and drop seeds, and so long as you can do that, everything is good. The cycles you’ve seen over 4000 years would have ranged in type and in scope, but you would recognize that these up and downs are an irrefutable part of the cycle of life and death and that new life and new energy depend on occasional periods of “downsizing” - as painful to go through as they can be, at the time.
Growth doesn’t happen without change. The advantage of age is that you can look back and consider the outcome of previous periods of challenge. Just like cycles of decline in nature, periods of challenge, or “transition” provide the fertilizer for accelerated growth.
If you complain that you aren’t satisfied with your life, you are issuing a challenge to God or “The Universe” to help you bring about change and growth. The blessing, and the curse of growth is that it generally demands that there has recently been a period of decline or destruction that can provide the nutrients for this growth. If you REALLY want change or growth, then you’re really demanding that fate take you, or those around you, through a REALLY dramatic period of decline and destruction of old ways in order to provide lots of fertilizer for your new life.
The floor of the Redwood’s forest is a thick mulch of its own ancestors. The maturity and growth you exhibit now is made from the nutrients of your previous life experiences. The fertilizer for your most significant growth has been a forest floor thick with the mulch of your harshest times. Mark Hollingsworth - www.markhollingsworth.com
The CD "Chasing the Sun" available at iTunes, CD Baby, Amazon... http://myspace.com/windshore

LUNATIONS and Astro Weather for MAY 2008

May's New Moon in Taurus arrives on the 5th. On the 19th, a Full Moon in very late Scorpio occurs. Mercury moves into Gemini on the 2nd and Saturn goes direct on the same day. Mars moves into Leo on the 9th. On the same day, Jupiter goes retrograde until early September. The Sun moves into Gemini on the 20th and Venus moves into Gemini on the 24th. On the 26th, both Mercury and Neptune go retrograde. Pluto remains retrograde. Lunations are based on the Eastern time zone.

Happy Birthday, Taurus!  No matter what type of work you do, you occasionally crave risk and adventure. People often stereotype Taurus as plodding and predictable - but that certainly doesn’t describe you. You hunger for something cutting edge and avant-garde. You relish outwitting competitors and colleagues and beating them to the punch. You’re a voracious learner and explorer. You can also be a passionate romantic, sailing the seven seas in search of the ultimate soul mate. You would’ve fit in perfectly during the time of chivalry and courtly love, and often wish that life had more magic and valor. Your imagination is boundless. Your determination to get what you want on your terms is fearsome. My sympathies to the idiot that tries to come between you and your desires. Beneath your lusty, adventurous side is a philosophical layer. This part isn’t the least bit afraid of being alone - and may prefer it. You encounter some of your most profound lessons through travel, education, and religious or spiritual experience. Long solitary walks by the shore are meditations for you. Getting lost in music, a good book or a provocative conversation stirs your soul. You’re intrigued by the exotic and unique, and love crashing through so-called impregnable boundaries. You want to be known for your honesty and ethics and are angered by anyone impugning your credibility. You are a tough challenger and expect others to be fully prepared before debating you on any subject. You have little or no respect for dilettantes, but feel protective of people and causes that are righteous. You see yourself as a pathfinder with a strong moral core. Because you tend to view the world in terms of ‘right’ and ‘wrong’, you can be merciless on yourself when you think you’ve failed, and may be subject to moodiness or depression. You’re likely to be the star of the show or the center of attention, even if you don’t deliberately seek this type of recognition. You don’t believe in doing things halfway - it’s all or nothing as far as you’re concerned. You possess powerful advantages over your competitors: your talent, intelligence and determination to reach a goal, despite all odds. When your mind is made up, nothing can budge you. Your stubbornness can infuriate those that live or work closely with you, because you stop listening to their opinions and focus on your vision alone. Generally speaking, your vision is the most desirable one - but others may feel shortchanged or ignored. You’re masterful at what you do and are likely to become very successful. No matter how hard you’ve worked to reach a goal, a significant number of others may insist that you haven’t paid your dues or don’t deserve the praise you receive. A few envious critics may tailgate you during most of your life. No matter what your age or appearance, others find you very appealing and alluring. You probably have a large expressive face, even if your body is rail thin. There’s something iconic about you that cultivates a groundswell of admiration and slavish devotion - as well as an embittered critics’ cabal. You tend to accumulate weight around your face, neck, chest, upper arms and waist as you mature and can benefit from regular healthy exercise. It is never your intention to make others jealous, but your success and magnanimous personality may raise the hackles of less gifted people. Wherever you go, drama and fantasy are sure to follow. You sometimes seem almost otherworldly – a magical, fanciful being from another time. Music, dance, art, theater, and storytelling are well suited for your imaginative, creative soul. You have no interest in an ordinary, predictable world. You prefer something that is extraordinary – something that glitters with fairy dust and unlimited possibility. Even as a child, you were different. While other kids seemed content to be part of a group, you always stood out. Your interests and high degree of creativity made you sometimes feel like a stranger in a strange land. Your feelings are very sensitive – and if others appear to judge or reject you, you can be deeply wounded. Even if you choose to not engage in creative activities, artistic and eccentric friends and personalities will surround you. You crave acceptance but may never comfortably fit into others’ rank-and-file standards. You’re almost a mythical creature, like a unicorn – beautiful, talented, and rare. People that know you very well have heard your descriptions of events enough to know that you sometimes embroider the truth with glorious fantasy. Although entertaining and amusing, your exaggeration may eventually affect your overall credibility. Because you can be flamboyant and over-the-top, people don’t always recognize your almost desperate need to be loved and noticed. A number of you live very differently than the image you portray to the world. Mystery, magic, and illusion are likely to keep friends and admirers fascinated – and talking. Born this weekend are JOHN HOBBS, Bono, Trent Tate, Alan Bennett, Candice Bergen, Rachel Boston, James L. Brooks, John Corbett, Sonny Curtis, Frenchie Davis, Rosario Dawson, Albert Finney, Richie Furay, David Gahan, Richard Hudson, Glenda Jackson, Billy Joel, Steve Katz, Tom Petersson, Dan Regan, Mona Van Duyn, Mike Wallace, Dante Alighieri, James M. Barrie, John Brown, Howard Carter, Austin Clarke, Irvin Feld, Henry J. Kaiser, Dave Prather, Sr., Hank Snow, Barbara Woodhouse, Jim Abrahams, Barbara Taylor Bradford, Donovan, Dr. T. Berry Brazelton, Jay Ferguson, Meg Foster, Graham Gouldman, Dave Mason, Krist Novoselic, Gary Owens, Suzan-Lori Parks, Marie-France Pisier, Jimmy Ponder, Fred Astaire, John Wilkes Booth, Maybelle Carter, Ariel Durant, Vincent T. Hamlin, Karl E. Krafft, Sid Vicious, Pat Summerall, David O. Selznick, Michelle M. Lee, Salvador Dali, Martha Graham, Baron von Munchausen, Frances Fisher, Natasha Richardson, Valentino, Katie Wagner, Chang and Eng Bunker, Butch Trucks, Irving Berlin, Coby Bell, Eric Burdon, Robert Jarvik, Jonathan Jackson, J.J. Jeczalik, Martha Quinn, Faith Popcorn, Mort Sahl, Richard P. Feynman, Walter Haas, Marco Ferreri, Andre Gregory and Ottmar Mergenthaler.