A "Final" Note on Pluto--The Monthly Influences

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Special Hanukkah Gifts

Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas and whatever else...

OK, let's pick up this thread on Pluto again, the ominous, big time Karma Planet, good vs. evil. Pluto is the outermost of the planets commonly included in astrological calculations. Since it's so far from the Sun, and has such an irregular orbit, it can spend up to 30 years in a single Zodiac Sign. Remember, we'll be living with Pluto in Sagittarius until 2008, so take a deep breath before the New Year.



Before we start shaking in out boots, though, let's remember a couple of things:

I) Pluto stays in a sign so long that it's influence is generational. The generation born since Pluto entered Sagittarius in 1995 and until Pluto leaves the sign sometimes in 2008 may well be a generation characterized by its insistence on the highest of ideals. Many of us Baby Boomers were born when Pluto was in Leo, the ego sign. Remember the "Me Generation"?



2) Every month, Moon goes completely around the Zodiac. So, no matter which sign Pluto happens to be in, Moon aspects, make angles with, our ominous planet. However Moon travels so quickly on her orbit around the Zodiac, spending about 2-1/2 days in each sign, that influences are short-term, but remember they are cyclical and can nonetheless pack a wallop. Let's take a look.



Conjunction:

Every month, Moon will be in the same sign as Pluto, and for about 32 hours will be close enough to conjunct, combine energies with, The Planet of Power. This aspect encourages intense romantic feelings, idealistic, and sometimes possessive and demanding. Pluto's conjunction with Moon is a stressful aspect; every notice? I'll have to check and see where Moon will be on Valentine's Day.



Sextile:


Moon generally sextiles (about 60 degrees from) Pluto twice a month, each time for only about 10 hours. A Sextile between any two planets is considered an aspect of opportunity, a very desirable aspect. The sextile between Moon and Pluto can facilitate deep emotional understanding; yet emotions are controlled. This can be a great time to deal with teenagers.



Square


As we all know, the Stars are no bed of roses. Twice a month Moon squares (is about 90 degrees from) Pluto for about 28 hours each time. Square causes friction and hurdles; but can also give us the chance to grow and become more productive--OK, we have to be optimistic. A Square between Pluto and Moon garners the ability to look at the big picture, unique and/or important issues. Patience is short for petty or trivial details. Moon-Pluto squares could well be a good time for quietly considering serious long-range plans since sentimentality is low.



Trine

Ah, the trine, ease and comfort. Moon trines with (is about 120 degrees from) Pluto twice a month about 28 hours each time. This aspect strengthens emotions, helping us unclutter business as well domestic affairs. There's also plenty of well regulated, and controlled energy. Great time to really put the pedal to the metal!



Opposition

Sorry, but good things never last forever. Once a month (Thank G-d only once.) Moon opposes Pluto. Oppositions are just that, obstacles to overcome. Remember, Pluto's about power and Moon's about emotions. Get the picture? For about 28 hours every month this aspect garners a strong display of affections and sensitivity to any sign of rejection, jealousy, and impulsiveness. Best to keep a low profile when Moon opposes Pluto.



Since Moon rules Cancer and Pluto rules Scorpio, those born under these signs may feel particularily affected by these aspects. But don't feel along, the Stars have many stories to tell.



One final note. Since Moon does not start in the same sign at the beginning of each month, I can't give dates for her aspects. One has to look at each month. However, looking ahead at January, first month of the New Year, we'll be getting off to a good start. Moon will sextile Pluto on the 3rd. Just think, after all the hustle and bustle of the holidays, the stars are giving us a renewed strength to relate to family and friends. Before you get too comfortable though, within 46 hours or so we'll be facing a square. Whoever said we're living in a world of permanent change must have been an astrologist!



All the very best,
~Paula Gaon

Holidays & Home page

Check out BFT's New Home Page

Great Gift Ideas:

2006 Calendars< >< > Winter Zodiac Shirts

Mythical&Magical Creatures < >< >Wayout Weird Stuff

Prints: Modern Inspirational

Tribute to John Lennon< >< >Astrology With Common Sense

Special Hanukkah Gifts



Greetings and a great week!

As I'm always saying, time does indeed march on. Before we know it, we'll be breaking out the champagne and ringing in the New Year.

Just a couple of tidbits this time around:

This year, Hanukkah and Christmas fall together. Even more interesting, Pluto and Moon will be at a very opportune aspect (angle) on 25 December. From Sunday morning through early Monday morning, 25-26 December Moon, in Libra, will be at a very comfortable angle with Pluto, in Sagittarius. The Sextile aspect, 60 degrees, like the Trine, 120 degrees, can occur twice monthly. The Sextile brings out the absolute best of any two stars involved giving us quite an easement. The Sextile between Moon and Pluto should facilitate innate ability to understand and respond to others. This is a particularily nice aspect for the Holidays, when things can get a bit stressed.

BFT has a brand new Home Page--at long last. So besides this Blog and the BFT Shop, you'll be able to see at a glance--more or less, what's happening. Be sure to check out the New Slide Show, Virtual Tour. And enjoy!

Onward and Upward,
~Paula Gaon

The Woes of Us Harry Potter Fans

Hello again,

I'm sure that some of you out there in cyberspace are Harry Potter fans, like myself. As an artist, thinker, and general eccentric, I've found this so-called children's series to be one of the most imaginative, enjoyable and inspiring series in a long time. Thanks to this series, I've been able to conjure up a lot of creativity that I'd thought was gone. See, the mind does indeed need stimulation that refreshes and renews. Unfortunately, publishers and movie makers are afraid that we little folks will skim off their profits in a big way by infringing on their copyrights. So we have to be quite careful not to say or produce any image that they and their big guns have rights to, causing them to lose millions--G-d Forbid! In any case, no one can copyright imagination and inspiration. So, here are a couple of new images to enjoy, thanks to HP himself.

Remember in Goblet of Fire (Book 4), Harry's encounter with the Hungarian Horntail? I couldn't get that image out of my head for ages; finally decided to take a go at my own version: "The Black Transyvanian Spiked Dragon" Maybe you'll find a nice home for him. If you don't want the heat of a dragon on the walls, check out some other nice Mythical & Magical Creatures.

Book 6, The Half Blood Prince, next to the last in the series, came out last June. Harry's really grown up, for better or worse. And with great sadness, we had to say farewell to Dumbledore. Many of us expected as much, but none the less saddened. Naturally, I absolutely had to create something in his memory--DD Forever! --apparel and a couple of Mugs.

Hope you enjoyed this little tour. We'll talk more about Astrology soon. See you around.

Onward and Upward,
~Paula

Got Your 2006 Calendar Yet?

12 December 2005

Hello everyone,

How's it going? I hope the holiday rush isn't making you absolutely nuts. Take a deep breath, slow and steady wins the race.

Folks really do appreciate calendars as gifts, and I just put up a big new selection of Wall Print Calendars--great for those on a budget or for those who are "socially obligated" to give a number of little gifts.

Yes, I know my humor can be a little irreverent sometimes, but never intentionally insulting. I'm the first to admit that "Persons of all races, colors, creeds and national origins equally get on my nerves"--grin and bear it.

Onward and Upward,
See you before the Holidays are over with some Astrological Updates for the New Year.
~Paula Gaon

Minding The Store, And Everything Else

4 December 2005

Greetings, Everyone,


Here we are into the Holiday Season. This time of the year, we start to think about wrapping things up, aside from gifts, making that final push to finish whatever we'd like to have done by the New Year. Unfortunately, all these good intentions are right in the frenzy of the Holiday Season, when everybody and his uncle are running around getting that gift for so-and so; ("Oh boy, we've intended to call them all year, where does the time go?") and if we invite them over, we'll have to invite them. Or let's see if we can get those new drapes up or the hardwood floor polished by year's end. This may not be your situation exactly, but I think we all get the picture. That last minute push, those last good intentions, and of course those feelings of frustration and fear that we'll never get it all done.



Many years ago, the late Stanley Marcus, founder of Neiman Marcus, Texas' upscale, avant-garde fashion store, wrote a bestseller, Minding The Store. This autobiographical book was quite the thing to read in those days among the fashion conscious ladies. Of course, I perused a copy, loved it at the time, but can't remember a single quote today. However, something of the gist of this book has probably stuck in the subconscious. After all, I went to art school right in the shadow of Neiman Marcus, and like all art students, had the itch to have my own creations seen front and center.



Unfortunately, like so many of us artists discover, this is most often not the reality of the world. The need to make a living pushes us under the hands of jobs and bosses, a fate that I've always ranked up there with Chinese Water Torture. But the itch to "mind the store" so to speak has never really left--OK, I admit to being a bit egotistical and a control freak. But with all that nothing is as rewarding as forcing yourself into the discipline and routine of continuing to create and push your creations under everybody's nose. And in our era of High Tech, creating, minding, and stocking your own store can be right at your fingertips--if you don't mind spending hours in front of a computer and becoming a bit of the Geek--there's always a price to pay for one's passions.



Speaking of passion, one thing that does stick in the layers of this old brain from Mr. Marcus' book is the very need to have a passion. Motivation has to come from within, and the challenge is the game to be won, or at least a decent showing. No boss is standing there threatening your livelihood, but the constant struggle with your own imagination and desire to create with the perception and reality of what others will want to buy is a tyranny that can chase one day and night. No boss is standing over you yelling "Idiot!" but one's likely to yell it in the mirror when that wonderful idea that took a couple of hours to implement didn't get a single hit. On the other hand, it's a lot of fun playing with the strategy and statistics in your own head--figuring out the whims of cyberspace and surfers than having an irate customers or bosses calling you an idiot--not much rest for the eyes or the little gray cells. (Shades of Hercule Poirot?, Agatha Christie fans?)



So with all that said, kindly allow me to virtually push some of the latest BFT creations under your nose. Simply follow the links below; all links open in a new window. That way, when you close the window, you'll return to this Blog.



1) Gifts for the Season of Giving
A new section in BFT especially for the holidays. Among the sections in this gifts section is the 2006 Calendar Section. I've always noticed that people often buy or give as gifts special types of calendars. So here are a few designs that we hope you'll enjoy.



2) Way Out Weird Stuff
OK, I've admitted before that I'm an aging Boomer, and the taste for the weird stuff still comes out. Surely I'm not the only one! Why not put some of those absurdities that pop into the imagination on a few Tee's and Mugs?


3) BFT's latest Tees & Mugs
These sections of BFT are where it all hangs out. "Inspirations" from everywhere, old and new. Check it out.


4) A Tribute to John Lennon
I just can't seem to let this one go. 8 December will mark the 25th Anniversary of John Lennon's assassination--that's a whole generation now, and must admit I'm still stymied by the fact that he's gone. Were the 60's and 70's really that unique or was I just at that "Impressionable Age"? Maybe a bit of both; some who were still small children or not even born yet at the time of The Beatles, Flower Power, Anti-War Era feel a special connection to John. Maybe it's something in the Stars--more on that later. Whatever, do take some time, browse, take in a little nostalgia, and enjoy.


Finally, if you'd enjoy a few pic-prints/posters, be sure to check out Just Prints

Must run along now, but we'll be in touch.

We at BFT wish all a happy, healthy, peaceful Holiday Season,

Whichever holiday(s) you celebrate!

Onward and Upward,

~Paula Gaon