by | | Curated Content
December 18th 2024
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WellBeing Magazine
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Discover the beauty of lavender, from its captivating scent to growing tips, varieties, and unique uses in the garden and home.
I fell in love with lavender when I was about 20 years old and had come to live down south from Queensland. A scent of something wonderful and vaguely familiar met me and a friend during a bushwalk. I stopped, trying to find its source – a small bush with vibrant, dark-blue spires of flowers growing wild among a clump of rocks.
“That’s just lavender,” said my friend, amazed I didn’t know what it was. I’d read about lavender and been given sachets of dried lavender to perfume my cupboards, but had never met a lavender bush before. Back then, there were no easily available species of lavender to grow in the subtropics.
It was love at first sniff.
Soon after that, I met my first “hedged” English lavender on either side of a winding garden path, and great sprawling French lavender against house walls. I became a mildly fanatic lavender grower, planting every kind I could buy or take a cutting from.
It turns out that there may have been English lavender growing in subtropical and tropical Queensland, but I never noticed as it usually won’t flower unless it has a period of cold. English lavender also doesn’t like hot wet conditions. But gardeners in hot areas can try Allardii lavender (L. allardii). This is perhaps the heat- and drought-hardiest lavender, an incredibly vigorous, but rather coarse, grey-leafed lavender, summer flowering and very fast growing, with deeply indented grey leaves. Allardii lavender grows tall and straight until it gets woody and collapses all over the place. The leaves are fragrant as well as the blooms. Canary Island lavender adores heat and will flower well in humid areas. Keep all lavenders away from tall plants in humid areas, so that they have good air circulation and a full day of sun.
French lavender blooms from winter through to most of summer. It’s a sprawling, soft, green-grey bush with long softer leaves than English lavender and laxer stems and flower spikes.
English Lavender (L. angustifolia) is the hardiest of lavenders, with deep-purple flowers, intensely fragrant and the one used to distil lavender oil. There are many, many cultivars, all with stiff stems and usually growing to less than a metre. Different cultivars have their own distinct scent, especially as some producers have bred their own.
You can also find Italian or Spanish lavender (L. stoechas). It’s a bit like a delicate-looking English lavender and striking, very dark purple. Dutch lavender, Spikenard, Spike (L. latifolia or L. spica), is often used for the cheaper lavender oil, but it has a hint of camphor. It’s hardier than English lavender.
There is also Green Lavender (L. viridis, L. stoechas var viridis), as in “Lavender blue, dilly dilly, lavender green”. It’s less hardy than most lavenders, with green bracts and insignificant white flowers.
Growing lavender
Growing lavender needs limy, well-drained soil and full sun, but will grow in almost any garden as long as you choose the right variety. It tolerates drought but will grow better with frequent waterings. Even English lavender will die in very heavy frost, but most lavenders survive moderate frosts well. Frequent pruning stimulates new growth, which is more cold tolerant. Cut back lavender by at least a half in mid-summer, as old woody centres can rot, and to make your lavender really happy, give it a little lime and a scatter of slow-release plant food, both watered in well any time from spring to midsummer.
Cuttings
Lavender grows well from cuttings. Take about 60cm of snappable wood, preferably from a low branch, and poke it into a pot of well-drained soil in autumn or spring. Using a commercial hormone “cutting helper” will increase the chance of success, though I’ve never used it. Transplant your new lavender plants in about a year.
Using lavender
The scent of lavender is relaxing for humans. It helps keep silverfish and moths away from woollens, but only “helps”, as its perfume disguises the scent of wool. I love using lavender sachets to help give a relaxed sleep, lavender-scented polish so the house smells fresh, and a few drops of lavender on the dried flowers in the loo, too.
Eating lavender
English lavender is edible, but you probably won’t want to, as the “mouth feel” is like a small, tough sponge and despite the glorious scent, the actual flowers don’t taste of much. It’s best dried, then mixed with caster sugar to take up the flavour for a few weeks. Discard the lavender and use the sugar in mini muffins or other treats. If it turns gluggy, throw it out. Don’t eat other lavenders, as some can have a high camphor content, which tastes like mothballs and isn’t good for you in large amounts.
It’s better to enjoy your mealtime lavender in small vases along the table. Lavender blooms last for a week or even several weeks in a vase, and when they are “dead”, the flowers will still be fragrant for potpourri or lavender bags to perfume sheets, underwear or an insert for your pillow. May it help you dream of hillsides of wild lavender and all good things.
Article Featured in WellBeing Magazine 213
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The lure of lavender
by | | Curated Content
December 18th 2024
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WellBeing Magazine
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New year, new me… or so they say! Every year our social media feeds are filled with a long list of goals and habits people want to kick off for the new year. While I’m all for self-improvement and taking life by the horns, most New Year’s goals or resolutions are dead in the water by the end of January usually because life’s gotten busy again and the Capricorn-induced willpower (the sign the Sun is placed in at the beginning of the calendar year) has well and truly worn out. Often this is because we’ve either bitten off more than we can chew or we’ve chosen goals that aren’t actually aligned with the season of life we’re currently in. This is one of the greatest benefits of astrology. It can offer us insight into the ebbs and flows of our life so that we can adjust our expectations and plan to make the most of the cycle we’re currently in rather than swimming against the current.
Before we get into the astrology of it all, I’d like to first explore a major pitfall with setting goals or intentions: focusing too much on the goal itself and not enough on the internal shift we want to have. Sometimes our new goal becomes yet another thing on our to-do list rather than a chance to tap into something we really want for ourselves. In the popular book Atomic Habits, James Clear makes the case for aligning goals with identity rather than behaviour. He argues that when focusing on identity-based habits (reinforced by one’s self image and values) it will lead to more sustainable change. An example being, instead of setting a goal to run every morning or run five kilometres, try telling yourself “I am a runner.” This reframe is powerful because it allows you to step into alignment with the person you want to be and focuses on what you are gaining/becoming rather than just simply accomplishing something. Like anything in life, and our practice of astrology, the importance isn’t just on the data, it’s also about the mindset we have.
The most empowering part of astrology is the ability to tune into your life’s cycles and to have awareness of what, when, why and how events in life are likely to happen. There are various different astrological timing methods and they all have their place, however, in traditional astrology (and in my humble opinion) nothing beats annual profections. Profections are a traditional astrology timing technique where each year of our life, a different House of our birth chart becomes activated. This is determined by age, so each time you have a birthday your profected House will change and the House topics of the new year of age will become activated in your life.
If your birthday is in the middle of the year, you may want to either wait to set any New Year intentions or set your intentions for 2025 using last year’s House topics, then closer to your birthday, reset and refocus based on your new profection year.
In traditional astrology, Houses were often referred to as “Places” because they represent the different areas of life that planets operate in. They are the environment, situation or settings in which events happen. When considering profections, this foundational understanding of the Houses doesn’t change. We extrapolate the meaning of each profection year from what that House represents. This technique is incredibly helpful when setting intentions for the year as you can direct your energy towards an area of life that you’re naturally going to be more focused on and therefore likely to have more success with changes or effort in that area of life.
Along with a House, and therefore a particular area of life being highlighted, you’ll also have a planet that will become your Time Lord for the year. This is determined by which traditional planet rules the sign on the profected house cusp*. For example, if you’re a Scorpio rising and in a 1st House profection year, Mars will be your time lord. Your planetary time lord will give an indication as to the pace or tone of the year. While this isn’t essential to know when setting intentions, it is helpful to understand the rhythm of which events will be unfolding. Mercury-, Mars- or Moon-ruled years may be a little bit more turbulent, fast paced or have more ebbs and flows. Whereas, years ruled by the Sun, Jupiter and Venus may be steadier, more consistent and calmer.
Saturn profection years are in a league of their own as they occur back-to-back and are usually experienced as a bit of a tough slog. Things might feel a bit heavier and harder in the first year but by the time you get to the second Saturn ruled year, you’re more likely to start appreciating what the extra dose of discipline and determination can do for you.
You will be much more sensitive to the movements of your profected planet throughout the year, and when working with intention statements and manifestation. This sensitivity is something to lean into. To build a stronger and clearer connection to your profected planet, it can be incredibly helpful to have an altar or space in your home dedicated to your time lord. You may even want to decorate the area or create a vision board with images of what you’re wanting to manifest during the profection year in this space. Spend time in this space regularly or have the vision board/wall in a place where you will see it each day.
Additionally, you may want to take note of any sign ingresses or major planetary aspects your profected planet is involved in and align some specific action or effort towards your goals and intentions with the planetary movement. This isn’t to say you wait until your time lord is being activated to take action. You can and should act towards your intention statements and goals whenever and wherever possible, but it can be helpful to throw some additional effort around these points of time.
One last thing that’s worth factoring in when considering profections is that they’re essentially a 12-year cycle. Every 12 years you’re going to have the same house activated, so it may be useful to reflect back to the last time you experienced the profection year that you’re in now as it’s likely that similar themes or threads will start to reappear. Just keep in mind that not only has our age changed, and therefore our agency over our lives is different, the planets themselves are in different positions than they were 12 years ago. A Saturn profection year is going to be experienced very differently if it’s transiting Capricorn than would it would feel if it was in Aries. Just as a 2nd House profection year when we’re 13 years of age is going to look differently than when we’re 25 or 37. In saying that, there will still be some hints and threads as to what your year will hold based on what happened last time, as well as the opportunity to tie up some loose ends and kick off a new 12-year cycle in this area of life.
The Houses as Profections
1st House Years
1st House years are all about you! It’s the beginning of a fresh 12-year cycle. It’s a chance to direct and steer yourself towards what it is that you really want. You know the saying, “sometimes you have to be selfish to be selfless,” that’s a good motto for this year. You can only give to others what you can give to yourself, therefore carving out time for yourself this year is a must. This is a year where you’ll likely have more energy and vitality available to you. Intentions or goals to do with your physical body, appearance and/or the way in which you present yourself to the world are a good target this year.
2nd House Years
There is an opportunity this year to really hone in on what resources you have available and explore whether you’re maximising the value of them. This house is often associated with money and, while it is a great year to get a handle on your finances, your resources are actually so much more than mere finances. The second house is also strongly tied to our self-esteem and confidence. Our capacity to grow and earn is limited if we have a poor sense of self. While it’s not a bad idea to take a look at the budget this year, I also recommend reviewing your mindset. What’s your self-talk like? Have you identified what your core values are? Do you filter decisions in your life through those values? Doing so is the easiest way to build belief in oneself.
3rd House Years
3rd House years can sometimes feel like you’re spinning your wheels but not much is happening. Trust me, it is! Have you ever heard the saying that we don’t always rise to the level of our goals but instead we fall to the level of our systems? Well, whoever first said that was probably tuned into the 3rd House. While the focus is more on your day-to-day routines and rituals, it’s these small activities that ultimately build momentum to what our lives actually look like in a big picture context. Setting some intentions around developing a consistent routine or daily rituals that help support you, rather than just living life on autopilot, is a good idea this year. The 3rd House is also associated with siblings, close friends who feel like siblings, and with communication. Therefore, intentions around self-expression and/or connecting more with your siblings is also a great target.
4th House Years
4th House years at the surface level seem obvious, it’s about home and family. While we do often see big changes to where someone lives or calls home during 4th House years. They can also often be years where we are faced with themes and patterns from our past, in particular from our childhood. While it might not be the year that your career takes off, work done in this area of your life creates the foundation for which everything else is to come. Goals or intentions for 4th House years can be as simple as spending more time with your family or bringing forth changes to your home life. They can also be more directed towards healing wounds from the past and making peace with those things that have gotten stuck in the way of us having a strong foundation in our lives.
5th House Years
Got a creative project you keep putting on the backburner? How about a hobby or interest you just wish you could make more time for? Perhaps you’re just feeling the urge to get out and have a bit more fun with your life. 5th House years are the perfect time for this. You may also find this year being centred around children — be it yours or others. No matter what it is, the 5th House year is likely to feel good. 5th House years hold the potential for a whole lot of fun and games, and setting intentions to spend more time on the things that bring you joy is a good option.
6th House Years
I’ve got to be honest with you, 6th House years are rarely fun… but they can be productive. One of the biggest pitfalls you can fall into this year is working too hard and inviting sickness or illness. It’s a year where you may feel like you’re constantly in service to everything and everyone. My advice is, while to a certain extent you may need to work the hamster wheel a bit, don’t work yourself into the ground and ensure you are taking care of your body. While I’m sure you’re keen to set some intentions or goals centred around work, committing to focus on taking care of any long-standing ailments or niggles in the body shouldn’t be off the table.
7th House Years
7th House years can be quite interesting because they may not even be about you. It’s a year when your relationships take centre stage. Be it a romantic partner, a business partner, or even a housemate, chances are these relationships are going to be taking up much more of your time and focus this year. Sometimes it isn’t even about the closeness of the relationship, it can just be about someone you spend one-on-one time with such as a personal trainer, an accountant, a coach or a mentor. Regardless of the type of relationships that get highlighted, you can be sure that you’ll be spending more time on and with others this year. Setting intentions around improving your quality of relationships or even calling in new relationships is a good target this year.
8th House Years
8th House years in some shape or form are going to contain loss. We can’t sow and reap in the same season, and often growth is more about what we need to let go of than what we need to make more of. 8th House years show us where and what it is we need to release. It’s only from letting things go that space in our lives is created for something bigger and more meaningful — which is what we’ll find in our 9th House years. Leaning into this process and identifying the things you’re ready to let go of can be very medicinal during this year.
9th House Years
After the losses from the previous 8th House year, we may find ourselves asking “what’s the point of it all?” This philosophical question is quintessential of the 9th House profection year. Delving into spiritual, philosophical or academic pursuits to derive more meaning and purpose in your life is available to you this year. Sometimes the exploration isn’t just philosophical. It could literally be an urge or desire to explore other countries or cultures. If you’ve been wanting to do some overseas travel, learn a new language or engage with another culture, this is a good year for it. Intentions that involve anything that has you stretching yourself into a new way of thinking, re-exploring your beliefs or becoming exposed to new ideas is going to serve you well.
10th House Years
In this modern age, the 10th House is very much associated with our career and life direction. While this is certainly true, 10th House years do tend to bring a focus on life direction. They also highlight what you are publicly known for. This can come in forms other than just your career or work that you do. Perhaps you’re very active in your community and are recognised as a leader or you’ve got a hobby or play a sport that you’re known for. It can even represent how you’re known as a wife, husband, mother or father by others. No matter what it is, the roles you play out in the world come into focus this year. While you can certainly set some lofty intentions for your life direction and what you’re hoping to work towards in the next 12 years, I also encourage you to think about what kind of role you need to play to walk with confidence and conviction along that path.
11th House Years
This is another year where it might not be about you. Expect friends and social groups and networks to play more of a focal point in your life. You might have a busier social calendar than usual and not have as much energy for yourself. In saying that, in traditional astrology, the 11th House is considered to be the luckiest house. You might find the road rising up to meet you more this year. Setting some more grand intentions and stretching yourself a bit may actually pan out, especially if it involves support from those people in your life who are always in your corner.
12th House Years
12th House years aren’t easy, but that doesn’t mean they’re negative. While there’s a certain element of loneliness or isolation to a 12th House year, it also becomes much easier to identify what you truly have the energy for and what you no longer want to show up to out of obligation or habit. This is a great year to commit yourself to some kind of spiritual or healing work. The deep and hidden roots of our inner world are easier to dig around in this year. And, if you lean into the process, you’ll be tilling that soil for growth and change in the first house year.
*It’s important to note this technique is derived from Hellenistic Astrology and it is best to use the whole sign house system and traditional planetary rulers when using this technique.
Article featured in WellBeing Astrology 2025
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Setting new year intentions with profections
by | | Curated Content
December 18th 2024
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WellBeing Magazine
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Serpent shadows the dethroned Dragon, the instigator of a 20-year fire cycle. One year in and one year off a peak fire point, Snakes’ tenure builds on Dragon’s scaffolding. Albeit recoiling from yang excesses, the house of mysteries seeks securities. Snake’s measure of success hinges on its appetite to restore equilibrium.
Decoding the elemental alchemy of yin wood and yin fire snake’s former partnerships sheds light on future trends. The pillar union last ponied up 60 years ago, in the mid-60s. The tenor of the times cast light on liberation from the shackles of social norms, as warfare waged and the Rolling Stones penned Can’t Get No Satisfaction (Watts, a triple snake). The former 1905 legacy delivered revolutions, famines, Freud’s theories on sexuality and Einstein’s miracle E=mc2. Dial back a 180-year cycle and the Irish Famine took hold. While six cycles ago (360 years) the Great Plague unwittingly aided Newton’s annus mirabilis and Hooke discovered cells. Sequences loop, themes remerge from brumation as the mystical archetype reads the room.
Little Dragons, the zodiacal moniker for Serpents, are wisdom keepers. Evidently, Snake sparks inquisitive masterminds delivering watershed scientific breakthroughs. The wood snake archetype also shows a penchant for altering the mind, including the unconscious: underscored by firsts for anaesthesia and psychedelic drug testing (LSD illegal in ’65). Wood correlates to acid. Changing the mindset changes reality. The web was born in 1989 (a digital record keeper).
At the bedrock of society is rights, and Snake is a sign of equating. Chalking up sequential wins, the tally count includes the Great Writ, rights for children, minority voting, the abolition of slavery, landmark housing bills, the UN’s ICERD, and access to “The Pill” — demonstrating Serpents attempts to balance the ledger. Also note, Australia’s Voice Referendum fell on a wood snake day pillar. Expect an uptick on disparity chatter as Snake’s course corrects toward Counterculture 2.0.
Undeniable signatures of war and protests show up on yin wood and yin fire’s watch. Australia’s participation in the Vietnam War and Aldermaston marches depict a backdrop. But no matter the Stem union, Serpent’s choke point is conflict — 2011 is a prime example. Historically, incumbents who declared war had natal snakes playing into the cycle — noting Sunak, Xi Jinping, Macron, Zelenskyy and Trump, follow similar suit.
Themes that began in a Dragon year spill over into Little Dragon’s territory. Snake picks up the espionage mantel adding covert secrets and lies to the mix. Yin wood brings sight and breaks up earthy structures; mystical tongues of fire merge with hidden metal to pry open and unleash speech. Pig natives Snowden and Assange encountered Snake’s constrictor moves (Espionage act 1917). Be it freemasons, spy rings or cracking ciphers (code name Magic 1941), each are follies of Snake. Unbeknown to most, the US’s lost nuke (never recovered) occurred on a snake day in 1965; admissions later revealed in a snake year! Holy smoke moments headline as the battle to reveal or conceal plays out — the master of disguise seeks truths.
Snake’s lunar tenure starts on 29 January, triggering a leap year, and a Double Spring spells betrothals. Snake’s glyph is embryonic. But Snakes undo martial knots. Adam and Eve’s serpent encounter triggered temptation (yin fire speaks to smouldering passion), best summed up by the Kennedy/ Monroe love triangle (a fire shape), three supreme chart examples with tigers activating affairs. Double Snakes suggest an air of affluence, while Tigers are the nemesis of Snakes. However, the Magnum Opus goes to the Casanova archetype, whose reputation spawned the namesake.
Fun fact, snakes have pairs of sex organs – double-dealing inherent. Buckle up, charismatic Serpents sprinkle wanderlust.
Industry benefits from a cosmic golden bonus with resources, skills and connections showing up, in turn bolstering bank balances, if Snake curbs a propensity to overspend. Fiscally, Metal industries continue to benefit, with Water (maritime, travel, communications) industries performing well. Tension and challenges for Earth industries, such as real estate (1965 UK introduced CGT). Although Fire buoys markets, the 1929 stock exchange crash exposes Snakes as lousy gamblers. Serpents sowed the seeds of a cashless society. Yin fire is also electricity, blackouts resurrect the nuclear energy chestnut.
Natural disasters nod to volcanos; lava is emblematic of Snake’s hidden elements – Hot (yang fire), Molten (yang metal), Rock (yang earth). Collieries also encounter Snake snafus.
In matters of meteorology and climate, wood fuels fire, equating to smouldering smoke, the byproduct of fire and a precursor to flames. Overall, the needle points to parched conditions as precipitation peters out. Harvests initially look lush but natural disasters inhibit harvesting; an insect plague or weather event brings low yields but grains show good gains. Snakes sow wild oats!
The poison courier’s handiwork can be seen in the UK’s herbicide warfare of 1953, and Agent Orange used by the US in 1965 over SE Asia, both unleashed devastating legacies. Debates on biodiversity, pest control (insects, fire ants), pesticides and ecological disasters reach a flash point. Themes first seen in 2023 (Rabbit was Yin Wood) are reactivated by Ireland/Japan’s famines, coupled with US Land Lease program, reigniting War vs Weather as contributors to the food crisis legacy. By year-end arid drought looms and South, SE/ NW Australia feels the burn. Cost of living bites, but pork plummets. Arguably our most valuable safety deposit box, the Doomsday Seed bank, may crack open its vault for withdrawals. And, if Australia’s Earth Black Box is ever operational, it monitors. Standby mode initiated.
Personal boons & banes (see asterisked * years)
From macro lens to self-focus. A beneficial boon slides in for folks born in years ending in 2 or 3, with a cosmic mentor smoothing the kinks all year long. Heavenly windfalls are possible for folks with Yin Earth stems (years ending in 9) in their chart. Monkey is the annual talisman to mitigating risky outcomes; carry the amulet to quell negative qi.
RAT
(1948, 1960, 1972*, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020)
The year brings merits and demerits. Use the boon of an unsullied reputation to find common ground — or fall victim to the constrictor. Travel features, be it for work or pleasure hangs in the balance, maybe even immigration. Rats roam spiritual roads: beware of darker paths, calamities and unexpected surprises unleashed. 1960 male rodents, your wit may see you wed. Couples take note, love rats breed infidelity, especially if midnight born. Eyes on the prize and you’ll benefit positively, when caution is applied. Keep spending in check. Should sickness strike, recuperation is speedy. N1 352.5°–7.5°
OX
(1949*, 1961, 1973*, 1985, 1997, 2009*, 2021)
Snake and Ox are compatible kin; shore up the power alliance in September when Rooster joins the party. An extended Goat-leapmonth brings pressure tests. Ox are injury prone, so channel caution near sharp objects — 1961 Oxes mind your limbs. Less fragile this year, but illness idles, triggering anxiety attacks that leave red eyes. Spiritual or philosophical pondering aid recovery. Rekindle a long forgotten artistic pursuit. Snake brings a smattering of wealth opportunities, perhaps mega material expansion in August or September. Err on the side of caution if major acquisitions leave you overly exposed; coffers suffer afterward. NE1 22.5°–37.5°
TIGER
(1950, 1962*, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022*)
Easy Tiger! Snake brings a state of jinx and flux as the scales feel weighted against you. March and April lessen combative disharmony. Words have an aggressive edge. Hit mute and curb temper tantrums or you’ll set tongues wagging: quarrels and morals may spill into platonic or physical relationships. September brings friction. Worrywarts open drapes or emotional uneasiness reveals a dark side. Thrill-seeking Tigers exercise caution or you’ll visit Emergency. Seek blessings via a fortune and beneficiary star and you’ll suppress severity of punitive scenarios — channel Serpent’s magical alchemy. 1950 Tigers expect partner problems. NE3 52.5°–67.5°
RABBIT
(939*, 1951, 1963*, 1975, 1987, 1999*, 2011)
Rabbits will ruminate. A busy bunny year sees you stretched and cash flow fluctuate. On one hand you’ll thrive under a wealth opportunity via generous comrades, the other hand requires effort to hold onto your gains. Be it budget tussles with partners or fiscal fiascos, you’ll likely feel fleeced, so avoid lending lolly. Subdue scarring situations by bolstering mental, physical and financial security. Take health checks seriously, your wellness barometer points to pesky illnesses. Check in on aged and ailing family, the ferryman may need paying. 1939 and 1999 Rabbits land on their feet. Revive your spirits with Moon rituals. E2 82.5°–97.5°
DRAGON
(940, 1952*, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012*)
Your landmark year ends, re-entry may hurt. Thankfully, your “mini me” respects your need to shine. Getting the jump on the year seems sluggish and peppered with delays. Change brings uneasiness and some instability as your investments are prone to chequered outcomes. Last year’s thrills leave you zapped of vitality. Sabotaged health needs priority or deal with spells of sickness. Forlorn and wallowing in self-pity only invites aloneness, check in on vulnerable family members, they need you — lean in. Channel Snake’s wisdom, scholarly Dragons will benefit with luck in examinations or promotions. Sweethearts may wed and storks may arrive. SE1 112.5°–127.5°
SNAKE
(1941, 1953*, 1965, 1977, 1989*, 2001, 2013*)
You’ve outgrown your skin and it’s time for a factory reset. Hold tight, be patient and bear the course. Blessed with a cosmic Sherpa, issues rescind if you remain cool. Business takes a back seat, hence a year of modest gains. Your escape artist routine wears thin. Prone to philandering, resist temptations or you’ll be sin binned. It’s time to address insecurities, otherwise stifling, sinking moods prevail. Blessed with beauty, refrain from vanity tweaks, it carries risk. Single serpents climb ladders to inner sanctums, keep eyes peeled for minted spouses. Back stabbing foes lurk. SE3 142.5°–157.5°
GOAT
(1943*, 1955, 1967, 1979*, 1991, 2003*, 2015)
Last year’s stress tests gradually recede as you share a double dose of favour with Serpentines. In the main, your power is restored, but setbacks need reframing as spiritual lessons. Learn to lead not follow; you’ll advance in the popularity stakes, unlocking deadbolts. Career hiccups may land you in legal limbo or a victim of scapegoating, leaving you feeling abandoned, confined or hidden away. Emotionally charged events may see you mourn and scorn as you right injustices. Secure a regular income stream, wealth wobbles potentially strain daily budgets and bank deposits. Goats you’re accident-prone. SW1 202.5°–217.5°
MONKEY
(1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992*, 2004, 2016)
Your elite membership expires; relationships with Little Dragons yo-yo. There’s a meeting of minds that brings influential connections, but Snake exhausts its lucky charm. You’ll grapple with feelings of the deck stacked against you as legal entanglements drag out and stress tests arise on multiple fronts. Recognise your female support crew waiting in the wings. Deals germinate and opportunities open up when you least expect it, such as a surprise promotion or a new position. Hard work rewards. Steer clear of risky deeds, be it adventures, business or health roulette. Medical overhauls for all the tribe. Zip it and be a steady eddy, it’s the best Snake medicine. SW3 232.5°–247.5°
ROOSTER
(1945, 1957, 1969*, 1981, 1993*, 2005, 2017)
You’ve passed the pub test and you’re still a favourite, just don’t get too cocky. The court of petty public opinion continues to judge you. Better quell your fight or flight response as headless chickens cause calamities. Fines, summons and taxes bite, lighter wallets are perhaps a result of litigation blowouts. Debts dent income streams, but it’s in your remit to course correct. Rewards await when ambitious Roosters channel inner authority and leadership — harmony happens when you befriend an Ox. Stick close to home, voyages are trying. Seductive suitors are here for a good time not a long time. W2 262.5°–277.5°
DOG
(1946, 1958, 1970, 1982*, 1994, 2006, 2018)
Last year’s hostilities wane. Smooth sailing ahead if you adapt, mitigating adversities. No stranger to hard work, this load is weighty but your game face sees you dodge Snakes and climb career ladders. Business networks open up. The new horizon takes you out of your comfort zone as a change in terrain or territory brings positive possibilities and prestige. Relief relating to assets arrives, but keep frivolous spending in check or risk ominous clouds rolling in. You share a polarity of hidden elements (yin to yang) that make you feel magnetic; you’ll lure loyal mates. Coupled canines may wed. NW1 292.5°–307.5°
PIG
(1947, 1959*, 1971, 1983*, 1995, 2007, 2019*)
If coin is your metric for success, know fortuitous opportunities pop up. Choices beckon from afar, risk takers who travel the extra mile benefit (avoid SE). Career changes are probable. You may bank big bucks, when weaned off extravagances, otherwise only fools gold remains. Emotionally, hogs feel hexed — the target of piecemeal stress tests. You’ll dampen metaphorical fires and deal with the smothering aftermath, beware of reignition. Family welfare and wellness checks are neglected at your peril. Meditation is medicine. A year to channel caution, heed advice and seek help. Blessings may be disguised; less risky roads reduce hazards, but belt up. 1971 and 1959 Pigs fan yin years, lay low and avoid Snake’s bite. NW3 322.5°–337.5°
FENG SHUI 2025
Fuxi and Nüwa, primordial beings with serpent bodies, take on added timely significance. The father of Emperors Fuxi discovered the Ho-t’u arrangement of trigrams, a key tenet of feng shui and the underlying nature of all things. While Nuwa, the supreme mother, shows up as the annual moderator, when depicted as conjoined serpents they form a double helix, representing the secrets of life, cells, DNA, and years later its double helix shape, all of which occurred on Snake’s watch.
Feng shui’s application is multilayered and multifaceted. From countries to the micro arrangement of accessories, even people via personal trigrams are all influenced by the feng shui solar new year’s shifting of qi on 3 February 2025. Annual Flying Stars (AFS), Lo Shu and Period 9 layers merge, setting the tone and themes ahead. Personalised layers are coloured by construction or country founding dates.
Last year began a long-range elemental transition emphasising fiery South. The AFS focus shifts opening a sensitive axis between SE3 (Snake) and NW3 (Pig) alignment. Other feng shui factors expose the entire SE sector, hit by silent assassins triggering calamity. Be it geographical prefixes or postcodes, all are caught in the cross hairs — globally and historically, South East Asia is a case in point. Another is the south east state of Virginia, home to The Pentagon, which began constructed 60 years to the day when hit by 9/11 attacks.
Snake and Pig are zodiacal travelling stars. Travel, no matter the modus operandi, can turn treacherous. Franklin’s Lost Expedition via the Arctic Northwest passage is one example. Channel caution during the transit. Beyond commuter hazards, the mobility star also implies big shifts or changes in career, a sea change, immigration or odysseys. February, May, September, and especially December, trigger chain reactions.
The “what about me factor?” is often most potent when front doors, entrances and key rooms are triggered via charged alignments or sector configurations. Occupants of period dwellings built between 1884 and 1903 may feel annual topics resonate. Snake/Pig built structures potentially mask secrets and are oft camouflaged by canopies obscuring views. The AFS #2 centre cell corresponds to SW and Matriarchs (Nuwa); nourishing and prolific are her positive attributes, division arguably the negative.
As a cosmic barometer of wellness #2 cycles through an adverse phase, the gauge points to mandatory health checks. Nobody is immune, so heed the warning. Symbolic Caduceus and Asclepius’ Rod (the WHO logo), as interchangeable health icons galvanise the need to get a jump on health. The US Medicare launch, Coronavirus discovery in 1965, and Ebola historically corroborate the need to focus on health. Mandated health risks also appeared on cigarette packs. Monkey sits in SW3 — he’s in on the ruse. Pick your poison, avoid an annus horribilis; your health (2) is your wealth (SE Snake).
The heart is associated with yin fire, inflammation another manifestation. Overall, female trigrams dominate. The Kun #2 trigram splits, nodding to broken hearts, decoupling, divorces or windowing. Snakes’ infidelities are another catalyst. Gynaecological issues surface (Rubella pinged in 1941/1965). Ming Gua #2 folks relate.
One of Fuxi’s Ho-t’u discoveries (1-6) is invisibly featured in NW, Snake’s nemesis Pig resides here. The digit’s combo relates to males and blends themes of aggression, military, legal and separations (sometimes death) — globally, a warring signature. Adding water via the Ho-t’u alludes to emotions and wealth, offering an alternative personalised manifestation of charged financial disputes over souring separations or inheritances.
Vulnerable Flying Star locations in 2025 include centre effecting everyone, plus, NE spotlights Tigers. Snake and Tiger have a penalising, fiery and fractious relationship. The digits also imply emotional turmoil and health related topics, young men who occupy this sector feel this most. Avoid sensitive sectors to quell influence, the agent of change #5 is touchy and a tad manic.
Stirring from brumation, the embers of an archetypal legacy are reignited. As we wriggle and writhe our way through a life-size game of snakes and ladders, tests of karma and kama await — an original tenet of the board game. Following Dragon’s act and warming up for Horse is never easy. But the prophetic sage utilises hidden metal to forge a bridge toward equilibrium, the element that spurs action, alters mindsets and extracts unvarnished truths. Snake awakens seeds from dormancy. Ready to reveal, reconcile, rekindle, recalibrate and repeat. The keeper of keys unlocks a gift — a sixth sense is woken.
Article Featured in WellBeing Astrology 2025
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Year of the Snake
by | | Curated Content
December 18th 2024
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Nature provides us with an array of powerful allies for supporting our inner and outer health. When it comes to skincare, one of the most potent is vitamin E due to its remarkable antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and collagen-promoting properties. Vitamin E can be obtained through food, applied topically and taken as an oral supplement for its skin and health benefits.
What is vitamin E?
Vitamin E is a group of eight fat-soluble compounds that include four tocopherols and four tocotrienols. Among these, alpha-tocopherol is the most biologically active form and is commonly found in dietary supplements and skincare products. As an antioxidant, vitamin E protects cell membranes from oxidative damage by neutralising free radicals, which are unstable molecules that can harm cells and contribute to aging and various diseases.
Sources of vitamin E
Vitamin E is abundant in various foods, making it relatively easy to incorporate into a balanced diet. Rich dietary sources include:
Nuts and seeds: Almonds, sunflower seeds and hazelnuts are excellent sources.
Vegetable oils: Wheat germ oil and sunflower oil are particularly high in vitamin E. It is best to eat these in their raw form, applied to salads rather than heating them, which changes their chemical structure.
Green leafy vegetables: Spinach, kale and Swiss chard provide a good dose of this vitamin.
Fruits: Avocados and mangoes are delicious sources.
In addition to dietary sources, vitamin E is available in supplement form and is a common ingredient in topical skincare products.
The benefits of vitamin E
The benefits of vitamin E extend beyond its antioxidant properties. Here are some key advantages:
Skin health and healing: Vitamin E is renowned for its skin-healing properties. It supports cell regeneration, which is crucial for healing scars, burns and other skin injuries. Its anti-inflammatory properties also help to soothe irritated skin.
Anti-ageing: By neutralising free radicals, vitamin E helps to prevent the oxidative stress that leads to premature aging. Regular use can reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, giving the skin a more youthful appearance.
Moisturising: Vitamin E is an excellent moisturiser. It strengthens the skin’s natural barrier, helping to retain moisture and keep the skin hydrated.
Sun protection and repair: While not a substitute for sunscreen, vitamin E can provide some protection against UV damage. It also aids in repairing skin damaged by UV exposure, making it a valuable addition to after-sun care products.
Therapeutic uses of vitamin E for the skin
Topical application: Vitamin E oil can be applied directly to the skin. This is particularly beneficial for treating dry patches, scars and minor burns. Simply puncture a vitamin E capsule and apply the oil to the affected area.
Combating hyperpigmentation: Regular use of vitamin E can help lighten dark spots and even out skin tone. It inhibits the enzyme tyrosinase, which plays a role in the production of melanin.
Treating stretch marks: Pregnant women and those who have experienced rapid weight changes often turn to vitamin E oil to prevent and reduce the appearance of stretch marks. Its ability to boost collagen production and improve skin elasticity makes it an effective remedy.
Supporting wound healing: Studies have shown that vitamin E can accelerate the healing of wounds by promoting the formation of new skin cells and reducing inflammation.
Eczema and psoriasis: For those with chronic skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis, vitamin E can provide much-needed relief. Its anti-inflammatory and moisturising properties help to soothe itching, redness and flakiness.
Vitamin E in your skincare routine
Incorporating vitamin E into your skincare routine is simple. Look for serums or oils that list 100 per cent vitamin E as a key ingredient. Or if choosing a combined formulation, opt for natural formulations free from chemicals.
For a DIY approach, consider creating a nourishing facial oil by combining vitamin E oil with carrier oils like jojoba, almond or coconut oil. This blend can be used nightly to rejuvenate and repair your skin health as you sleep.
Vitamin E is a powerhouse in the world of natural beauty and skincare. Its antioxidant properties, coupled with its ability to heal, moisturise and protect the skin, make it an invaluable component of a holistic skincare regimen. By embracing vitamin E, you are not only nourishing your skin but also tapping into the wisdom of nature for a radiant, healthy complexion.
Article Featured in WellBeing Magazine 213
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The beauty benefits of vitamin E
by | | Curated Content
December 18th 2024
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WellBeing Magazine
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As we all get back to health basics, so too does our body function in fitness. Meet a combination of functional fitness training including some basic plyometric exercises that builds strength, power and speed through fast, explosive mobility movements. While it may sound intimidating, this beginner caveman workout can help you secure the body basics as you get acquainted with this heart-pumping training style. Plyometric training is primarily used by strength and conditioning to enhance human neuromuscular function and improve mobility. Our ageing or injured body often develops a fear of these types of movements as we less elegantly train compared to our younger self. However, these are the collection of movements we must maintain to ensure muscle adaption, biomechanics and strength as we come into our later years.
Plyometric exercises are a set of coordinated and skilful-based movements that are functional to our everyday life but also ones that are rarely completed. The key to this workout is to start small by incorporating basic plyometric exercises into your usual sweat session so that your muscles and joints can adjust slowly and without putting you at risk of injury. And if you feel any pain while you try, then I caution you to stop, rest and adjust the alignment of the body and try again.
Though they’re quick, caveman/plyometric exercises require maximum force in short bursts — think powerful jump squats, run burst and side steps or slow bear crawls — and there are plenty of reasons to give it a try. Besides increasing your power, these rapid-fire workouts build endurance by strengthening your muscles and connective tissues. The real bonus about this workout style is it has been proven to help you move better in everyday life.
Plyometric training takes advantage of a rapid cyclical muscle action known as the “stretch-shortening cycle”, whereby the muscle undergoes an eccentric contraction, followed by a transitional period prior to the concentric contraction. This means the muscles warm faster and it produces a productive workout in the shortest amount of time. The explosive movements stretch and shorten muscle fibres, which condition your body for agility, meaning moving every muscle in each direction. And, like all other forms of exercise, plyo is a great stress reliever, body warmer and helps boost the mood — after all, you can’t help but break a smile or laugh at yourself crawling like an animal with the kids or grandkids. It is commonly agreed that plyometric training develops the neural and musculotendinous systems, boosting strength in muscle fibres, creating better blood flow to the muscles and ligaments. These exercises not only enhance the body but also the mind.
Caveman or cavewoman combination
- 6 x 50m shuttle runs with a ground touch at each end. Add 2 x burpees at each end for those who are “well-tuned” (take the first 2 easy and focus on function).
- 10 x side squat steps (crab walks) or jumps.
- 20 x speed toes tap steps (along a line in a lateral direction). Ensure the foot is planted on each side of the line travelling along the line.
- 10 x paces of walking lunges (with hands on hip or in a running style). Ensure the knee touches the ground.
- 10 x push-ups with single straight-arm extension on each alternate set.
- 10 x curtsy lunges with hands on hips – see exercise notes.
- 10 x bear crawls (knee to elbow) travelling or stationary – see exercise notes.
- 10 x abdominals flutter kick.
- Repeat the full set 3-4 times.
Notes: No equipment required, just uses your determination, as it will help you achieve.
Don’t forget to warm down with stretches at home.
You may like to build this set of plyometric activities into your usual workout. Other common exercises include star jumps, jump lunges, standing long jumps. Just remember to warm up so your muscles are ready to support you through the challenging moves to come.
Exercise notes
How to do a burpee with the correct form
- Start in a squat position with your knees bent, back straight and your feet about shoulder-width apart.
- Lower your hands to the floor in front of you so they’re just inside your feet.
- With your weight on your hands, kick your feet back so you’re on your hands and toes and in a push-up position.
- Keeping your body straight from head to heels, do one push up. Remember not to let your back sag or to stick your butt in the air.
- Do a frog kick by jumping your feet back to their starting position.
- Stand and reach your arms over your head.
- Jump quickly into the air so you land back where you started.
- As soon as you land with knees bent, get into a squat position.
How to shuttle run
- Begin continuous running back and forth between two-line markers at a certain pace. Ensure the line is touched with the hand or fingertips and an alternate turn is used at each end.
How to curtsy lunge
- Stand with your feet hip-distance apart and let your arms fall at your sides.
- Draw a semicircle with your right foot, moving it clockwise until it crosses behind your left foot.
- Lunge down as deeply as possible, hovering your knee a couple of inches off the floor.
- Slowly return to the standing curtsy position.
How to bear crawl with bent knees
- Start on all fours and lift your knees so they’re at a 90-degree angle and hovering an inch off the ground.
- Move one hand and the opposite foot forward an equal distance while staying low to the ground.
- Switch sides, moving the opposite hand and foot. Repeat the movement while alternating sides
Article Featured in WellBeing Magzine 213
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Caveman and cavewoman combinations
