PREVIOUS THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY August 1 2011 to August 7 2011 Monday August 1 After I wrote about the death of Amy Winehouse. Many readers said that they, too, had been saddened by the loss of such a talent. Others felt it odd that I should mention Amy but not those poor souls who were killed in Utoya. And one reader said 'As I'd shared my sadness with her, could she share hers with me?' Her father, an Iranian writer, died earlier this year, after spending long painful years in jail just for criticising the government. I'd never heard of Siamak Pourzand. But thanks to his daughter, Banafsheh, he's in my thoughts now. I spent my weekend in Wiltshire, enjoying stunning performances at WOMAD, the World Of Music and Dance. My daughter is due to give birth any moment and I half expected to leave early so I could meet my new grandson. It seems, though, that he has rejected a New Moon horoscope in favour of one containing auspicious alignments due later this week. Astrologers can neither predict moments of birth or of death. We deal only with events between those two points. I shall chart the sky for the moment he draws his first breath and read much into that. Tuesday August 2 Ups and Downs Dear Jonathan, I too have found meditation to be a very useful tool for achieving peace of mind and calm. But I'm uncomfortable with the sentiment expressed in a letter from a reader called Helen. Her sense of 'not getting involved' is what steers me, time and again, from meditation. I believe this is the only life I will live, so why wouldn't I want to get involved, even if the price for this involvement is an emotional roller-coaster ride through the extremes of feeling that we all sometimes experience. I prefer that to being aloof and detached. Ben Wednesday August 3 Present Tense Hi Jonathan, Whilst out shopping, an item of clothing mysteriously hooked itself to my bag and came on a little journey with me. When I realised that I had inadvertently shoplifted, I found myself in a quandary. Should I return it or accept it as a gift from the universe, which I could sell for (or donate to) a charity. Or was this a test? Might something negative have happened if I had kept the garment? I did return it, but now I'm worried. Have I done the right thing? Or have I just insulted a generous universe? Deb Thursday August 4 Mercury Retrograde Mercury is called 'the messenger of the gods' because it zips round the zodiac so quickly. But every so often, the cosmic charioteer screeches to a halt and then it goes back on itself for a while, as if looking for something it has lost. This is why retrograde Mercury phases tend to be associated with delays, reviews, mysterious disappearances and welcome rediscoveries. These usually involve commerce, communication and/or transport. In my experience, a 'station' of Mercury, when it seemingly stands still just before changing direction is the most powerful time. Mercury is just leaving a station today. Friday August 5 Life on Mars I remember, as a child, reading about 'canals on Mars'. As I grew older, I heard scientists insist, emphatically, that these did not indicate water on the surface of this planet. "That," we were told, "was just a romantic idea. Anyone with an proper understanding of the temperature and conditions on Mars would know that was nonsense. At best," experts said, "we can see a suggestion that Mars had water long ago." New findings, recently announced, imply Mars has water right now... and it could support life. We may yet turn out to have neighbours nearer than we imagined. Saturday August 6 Your Week Ahead 'Mercury is retrograde and the Moon is growing full. So if Dracula flies out of his coffin next weekend, the phone may not work when you call for help. And if you order a silver bullet now, ready for the werewolf, it may not get delivered on time.' Some people see astrology as superstition, no more or less meaningful than a belief in myths or legends. But we do get a little more wild within as the Moon grows full. And when Mercury reverses, commerce and communication are often impeded. Be just a little wary, this week. Sunday August 7 Your Week Ahead - Love Focus 'Mercury is retrograde and the Moon is growing full. So if Dracula flies out of his coffin next weekend, the phone may not work when you call for help. And if you order a silver bullet now, ready for the werewolf, it may not get delivered on time.' Some people see astrology as superstition, no more or less meaningful than a belief in myths or legends. But we do get a little more wild within as the Moon grows full. And when Mercury reverses, commerce and communication are often impeded. Be just a little wary, this week. Back to Index   Click here for Jonathan Cainer's Daily Zodiac Forecasts