Happy Autumn Equinox!

You might want to see my post from last year:

Happy Birthday Libras!

And we have the Harvest full moon in Aries tomorrow...for more info on this, please click on this link

Let's talk about Ginger...

Familiar name : Ginger
Latin name : Zingiber officinale
Sanskrit name :Andraka (fresh); Sunthi (dry)

Known in Ayurveda as the universal remedy, ginger has been honored around the world and across time for its unique culinary and medicinal properties. From Confucius to Marco Polo to the Indian King Akbar, those who experienced the unique pungent flavor of ginger praised this powerful natural agent. Healers of Medieval times traced the origins of ginger to the Garden of Eden, while on the Indian subcontinent, references to this king of spices are found in the earliest myths. Known for its concentrated heating potency, ginger has been used across Asia and Africa to kindle the body’s internal fire. This is a strong, sweet spicy scent, and the essential oil is wonderfully soothing for aching joints and muscles, or an upset tummy. Ginger’s heat can be irritating, so be sure to dilute Ginger essential oil extremely well – “a little dab will do ya.” To ease an upset stomach, you can place one teenie-tiny drop of ginger oil, mixed into a tablespoon of honey in a large mug. Fill with hot water, stir, and drink. Instant Ginger Tea!

The Science of Ginger

Ginger is best known for its effects on the digestive system. When taken internally, it stimulates the release of salivary enzymes and enhances stomach emptying. As a result of these effects, ginger has been used successfully to treat nausea and vomiting in a number of conditions.

One of the most promising uses of ginger is in the treatment of morning sickness associated with pregnancy. Because of risks to the fetus, most drugs are diligently avoided during pregnancy. Ginger root seems to offer a safe and effective option. Studies form Denmark found that almost three out of four pregnant women experienced some relief from their nausea without any limiting side effects. The German Commission E has suggested that ginger be avoided in pregnancy due to theoretical concerns, although no cases of ginger toxicity have yet been reported. Considering its widespread usage without documented problems, ginger seems to be an acceptable anti-nausea substance when taken in normal doses. Use only natural fresh ginger root to gain maximal benefit with minimal risk.

Another potential use for ginger is in the treatment of nausea associated with cancer chemotherapy. In a recent animal study from India, ginger helped to stimulate the stomach to empty after a potent chemotherapy drug, cisplatin, was given. Although there are many new effective anti-nausea drugs available to treat the side effects of cancer therapies, they are generally very expensive and carry side effects. In this study, ginger was found to be as effective as the most commonly used drug.

Ginger also has potentially beneficial effects on circulation. Animal studies suggest that ginger may help lower cholesterol levels and reduce the stickiness of platelets. A benefit that has been noted for thousands of years is ginger’s ability to improve circulation. Both Chinese and Indian physicians prescribed ginger for people troubled by cold hands and feet.

Its pungent properties are also used to treat respiratory and circulatory problems. For people with cold hands and feet, drinking ginger tea or chewing on fresh or candied ginger can bring heat into the system. If you are feeling the onset of a cold, chew on fresh gingerroot to help clear your congested nasal passages.
If you are traveling on a boat or anticipate a turbulent plane ride, keep a piece of fresh ginger with you and nibble on it when your stomach feels queasy. If you are pregnant and experiencing morning sickness, chewing on a small piece of ginger may settle your delicate stomach.

Ginger can be an aphrodisiac and has been used by some to treat male impotence. (Please diffuse the essential oil in the air for that - I do NOT recommend a ”special” Ginger massage oil in any dilution for your man’s “problem” – trust me on this one!)

According to Gabriel Mojay, in his book, Aromatherapy for Healing the Spirit, (Holt, 1996); “Ginger oil’s ability to strengthen the yang-energy of the Kidneys makes it helpful for relieving lower backache, mainly when associated with muscular fatigue. According to Oriental medicine, it is Ginger’s tonifying effect on the Kidneys which accounts, in addition, for its action as a sexual tonic.”

And, “Traditionally associated with the astrological planet Mars – a symbol of force and virility – this dynamic, fiery essence activates will-power, stimulates initiative, and restores determination….Ginger oil is therefore indicated for those who may have clear plans and good intentions, but who lack the personal drive and optimism to manifest initiative and restores determination.”

Ginger blends well with the citrus oils, and the woods or resins. If you love the spice oils - you must try this!

Long time - new post

Wow - I didn't realize how long it's been since I posted on my blog...wow! Time sure flies when you are busy with family...

Anyhoo - I think it is the energies of the new Virgo moon inspiring me to get back to posting....yep, detail-orientated Virgo moon getting me to start anew... :D

Full moon in Scorpio - Pink Moon

Full Pink Moon – April



This name came from the herb moss pink, or wild ground phlox, which is one of the earliest widespread flowers of the spring. Other names for this month’s celestial body include the Full Sprouting Grass Moon, the Egg Moon, and among coastal tribes the Full Fish Moon, because this was the time that the shad swam upstream to spawn.

Since this full moon is in Scorpio, the energies from this full moon will uncover things like denial, abuse of power and exposing secrets that lie in shadow.

Scorpio's psychic-emotional power is both feared and respected. It's a sign of healing, but in the Plutonian sense. The kind that means facing demons, walking through fear and taking a good hard look at what's going on. This realist sees the good, bad and the ugly, and never lives in la la land. That makes this full Moon a potential time to heal deep wounds in the soul, or move away from unhealthy fixations that bog down your energy. Scorpio's radar can hone in on the undercurrents of situations or relationship. It's a rich time for insights that guide you away from extremes, addictions, obsessions, etc, and toward more stability.

Happy Birthday Taurus!

And today is my solar return! Whoohoo! Looks like MY focus for this year will be in the 10th house; the house of career & public recognition. This solar return is still in the yod with Saturn in Virgo as the focal point...and sextile Neptune/Chiron conjunction in Aquarus....I will have exciting distractions that I will have to contend with while keeping my focus on what work I need to get done.

As always for me...sigh.

Back to Taurus...



Keywords: Stubborn, Stable, Cautious, Comfort-seeker, Deliberate, Slow

As the second sign of the zodiac, Taurus represents the second stage in the evolution of man and his place in the universe. The first thing man uses are his physical senses. What he can see, touch, and physically hold represents the reality of his position. It is why the celestial heritage of Taureans is to conserve physical resources and possessively cling to people whom they regard as their own. Their strongest desire is for personal security. Broken promises or the betrayal of others are threats to this security. Their reaction to such personal affronts is likely to be bitter, and those who inflict such abuses will not be given another chance. Disappointed Taureans can behave in a manner totally against their own best interests. They may completely retreat from the world, or, go in the opposite direction and become promiscuous. Whatever direction is taken, they may end up sacrificing the meaningful, enduring relationships they really need to feel emotionally secure.

Taureans are stubborn and impervious to changes not of their own making. However, they are able to accomplish things in life because of their tenacity in sticking to projects in which others may have long since lost patience or stamina. The astrological symbol for Taurus is the Bull and indeed, the stubborn bullheaded nature of the Taurean personality can be extremely formidable to those who have the unfortunate experience of coming up against it. On the positive side, their quiet strength and determination inspires others to trust them. Because they dislike being unable to rely on others, they are usually very dependable themselves. Taureans are loving and patient when trying to accomplish what they think is worthwhile and when dealing with people they care about. As a rule, they do not enjoy surprises or spontaneous changes. They are far more comfortable when given sufficient time to prepare for things and allowed to follow their planned agenda.

Taureans react to what they experience by assessing its possible worth. That is, before they take physical action, before they sort out their emotional involvement, and before they reason it out intellectually, they ascertain what tangible advantages are to be gained from the experience. What appears too abstract or vague fails to attract more than their passing interest. They need a definite purpose in what they do and in relationships they form. Because they don't want to be unnecessarily burdened, they willingly rid themselves of worn out items, but only if they cannot find any other way to make use of them.

Venus, planet of beauty and pleasure, rules Taurus, which means that by nature, people born with Sun in Taurus are tactile and sensuous, seekers of personal comfort and physical pleasure. By design however, they are pragmatic with an appreciative eye for both monetary value as well as aesthetic beauty. They are lovers of nature and natural things. Their harmony in life is tied to reality and the material world, but sometimes they get carried away with personal acquisitions. When they go too far afield they tend to either accumulate wealth and never use it, or recklessly squander it without improving the quality or enjoyment of their lives. As a result of their addiction to personal pleasure and comfort, Taureans can be very lazy as well as very vulnerable to the unpleasant consequences that invariably result from overindulging in rich food and other physical pleasures. Their natural cautiousness saves them from making mistakes, but it can also prevent them from taking advantage of valuable opportunities.

As a rule, Taureans are physically strong and solidly built. Even those who are not fat, may be physically more dense per pound of body weight. Many of them favor weight lifting or other body-building routines as a way to keep in shape. They enjoy participating in sports that require strength and endurance. They usually like to putter around the garden, and readily engage in other outdoor activities such as picnics, hikes, and trips to botanical gardens or a zoo. They love music and art and may have considerable talent in these areas. They often have a pleasant speaking or singing voice. Though Taureans tend to be rather subdued, they have a lively sense of humor, and enjoy socializing.

Taurus colors are brown, russet, and turquoise. Vulnerable parts of the body are the neck, throat, shoulders, and upper torso. Stiff necks, sore throats, and earaches are common Taurean complaints. The emerald, a variety of the mineral beryl and as costly as a diamond, is the Taurus birthstone. The emerald's rich green color is suitably Taurean since it is the color of money, green pastures, and serenity. The emerald has a six-sided geometric form. Six is the number assigned to Venus which in turn, is the planetary ruler of Taurus. Flowers for Taurus are the rose (red), daisy, lily, and daffodil.

Steadfast, sensual Taurus is supported through Rose essential oil. Rosa Centifola, Damascena and Gallica, ruled by Venus, are favored for scent, beauty, and especially their aphrodisiac qualities. Mythically, the rose is purported to have sprung from the blood of Adonis, while in Turkish lore it represents the blood of Venus herself-the Taurean ruler. Also, its trifold qualities soothe the vascular, digestive and nervous systems. Rose is very soothing to those suffering from heart-ache as well. Rose eases over-indulgence in food and spirits. This gentle oil benefits the skin and was favored highly by the Queen of the Nile, Cleopatra. Rose essential oil and rosewater are both healing to dehydrated and inflamed skin.

Ah...Jasmine...King of the Flowers!

One of the most intoxicating smells I know of is Jasmine...I love to stop and sniff the night air when it's rich, warm & sweet scent envelopes me. No wonder...Jasmine's scent is a valuable remedy in cases of severe depression and soothes the nerves, producing a feeling of confidence, optimism and euphoria, while revitalizing and restoring energy. Who can resist that?

Jasmine is an evergreen, climbing shrub that can grow up to 10 meters (33 feet) high and has dark green leaves and small white or yellow star-shaped flowers, which are picked at night, when the aroma is most intense. There are over 300 species of jasmine.



An experienced picker can pick 10,000-15,000 blossoms per night, which is important, because you will need 1,000 lbs of flowers to yield approximately one pound of liquid concrete, which yields 0.2% aromatic molecules. Jasmine oil starts it journey as a 'concrete', which is made by solvent extraction, after which an 'absolute' is obtained from the concrete, by separation with alcohol. The essential oil is then produced off the absolute by steam distillation.

Originally from China and Northern India, it was brought to Spain by the Moors, who also gave it the name Jasmine: derived from the Persian word 'yasmin'. Jasmine tea is a Chinese favorite (but Jasminum sambac - Arabian jasmine - is normally used for this). Incidentally, Jasminum sambac IS my favorite of all the jasmines as it has a richer, and more exotic scent..it truely deserves it's name: the "King of Flowers". I usually apply a 3% dilution of Jasminum sambac on my pulse points...and try not not spend all day sniffing my wrists! ;-)

What makes up this intoxicating scent? Well, there are well over 100 constituents found in jasmine oil, but the main chemical components are benzyl acetate, linalool, benzyl alcohol, indole, benzyl benzoate, cis-jasmone, geraniol, methyl anthranilate and trace amounts of p. cresol, farnesol, cis-3-hexenyl benzoate, eugenol, nerol, ceosol, benzoic acid, benzaldehyde, y-terpineol, nerolidol, isohytol, phytol etc.

The comforting sweetness of Jasmine makes it a valuable remedy in cases of severe depression. Because of its deeply soothing and calming nature, jasmine oil helps with sexual problems such as frigidity and impotence; it is renowned for being an aphrodisiac & sexual tonic.

Jasmine oil also facilitates delivery in childbirth: it hastens the birth by strengthening the contractions and at the same time relieves pain. It is effective in post-natal depression and promotes the flow of breast milk. It is also often used in skin care, especially in the treatment of dry or aggravated skin.

Happy Birthday Aries!

Well, it IS still Aries...heh! :D



As the first sign of the zodiac, Aries represents the first stage in the evolution of man and his place in the universe. The raw energy of life itself, which is the first step in being part of the universe, is evident in the character and make-up of Aries people. Babies think of themselves as the center of everyone else's universe. As they grow older, they learn that they are not the center but part of a family group. It is the karmic responsibility of the Aries-born to accept the idea that they are not the center of the universe but part of the larger social order of all men. Aries personalities who do not develop this kind of maturity are demanding and infantile in their behavior. They want what they want, when they want it. The vital life force that is their celestial heritage can either be used to inspire others as well as themselves, or it can be turned inward to reflect only their own selfish needs, and as a result, they fail to evolve as individuals.

Aries people are doers. They set out to accomplish things and are determined to succeed one way or another. The astrological symbol for Aries is the Ram and, considering the sheer force of energy and enthusiasm by which they accomplish their goals, it is not off the mark to suggest that they "ram" their way to success. They must, however, learn the difference between being confidently aggressive--a responsible "take-charge person" on whom others rely to get things moving-- and being rudely aggressive-- a "know-it-all" who is insensitive to the feelings as well as the wisdom of others.

Aries individuals react in a physical way to everything they experience in life. That is, before they assess the practicality or worth of what they are doing, before they sort out their true emotions, and, before they take time to reason things out intellectually, their tendency is to shoot first and ask questions later. Their passionate nature is inspiring and flattering to others, but unless impatience and rash behavior are curbed, their unbridled enthusiasm backfires when they lose interest just as quickly as they gained it. Theirs is the astrological sign of the soldier but in their haste, they forget the practicality of being adequately armed before rushing headlong into physical or verbal combat. They quickly forget frustration and anger. Since theirs is essentially a generous nature, their selfishness is usually a result of carelessness rather than intentional unkindness.

Active, fiery Mars rules Aries and indeed, Aries people are high-spirited, energetic individuals ready to try anything at least once. Courageous, optimistic, and friendly, they are lively participants in the everyday bustle of life, maintaining a frantic pace others find difficult to match. Constant physical activity works off excess energy, and its vitalizing influence is important to their intellectual and creative endeavors. It is usually the energetic Aries who is willing to start projects others would be afraid to tackle. However, it is also Aries who often fails to finish things when too many details demand attention or they simply lose interest. In spite of the physical energy associated with Aries, they are not above using the inability of others to keep up with them as an excuse for their own idleness. If they expect others to provide them with constant stimulation and are unwilling to find their own diversions, they become lazy. Cut off from physical activity, they become depressed, unproductive, and overweight.

They are eager athletes and generous players. They enjoy the challenge of a tough contest, but they can be so stimulated that they become too aggressive. Aries rules guns and weapons, so it isn't surprising that many Aries individuals enjoy hunting. Combative by nature, they also enjoy boxing, wrestling, and most team sports. They are apt to be mechanically inclined and adept at arts and crafts, typing, working with machinery, playing musical instruments, or performing magic tricks. They have a tendency to allow their enthusiasm to exceed their actual ability. Before taking something apart, they don't stop to wonder if they can put it back together.

Aries colors are red and white. Vulnerable parts of the body are the head and face. As a sign of this celestial association, many Aries individuals are born with a birth mark on their head or face. Headaches, black eyes, nose bleeds, and insect bites are common Aries complaints. The birthstone for Aries is the diamond. The tremendous heat and pressure that nature exerts in turning carbon into hard, brilliant diamonds represent the strength and physical force in the Aries-born. Flowers for Aries include the poppy (red), geraniums, honeysuckle, and hollyhocks.

Fiery, initiating Aries is supported through Rosemary essential oil. Rosmarinus Officinalis is a perennial ruled by the Sun. A wonderful nerve/circulation stimulant, it's known to improve confidence and perception, and to enhance memory-hence, the Shakespearean quote "and rosemary for remembrance." Easily cultivated in a sunny climate, it may be used for a splendid hair rinse and facial toner - for Aries rules the head and scalp.