Sunday, December 19, 2010

For Your Holidays: How to Pray for Someone Who Has Hurt You -- A Lot

. . .And You're Not Ready to Forgive or Forget

When a man I loved left me, I couldn't hate him -- when you truly love someone you wish him the best. But I felt terribly shocked and wounded. His occasional calls gave me false hopes and only prolonged my grief. Desperate for a way to cope with the burden of my pain, I remembered Luke 6:28: "bless those that curse you; pray for those that mistreat you."

Praying for him helped me heal. By "pray for him," I don't mean asking God to turn back the clock and make everything all right, although I did that. I mean, praying sincerely for God to bless and keep this man, and light his way. Praying for him took my focus off of myself and balanced things out. I needed it, and he needed it.

Then I looked for advice on how to pray even while the very thought of this person still cut me and I was not yet ready to forgive or forget. It was left to me to humbly offer these suggestions for anyone else who has been injured by another.

While praying for the one who hurt you, avoid picturing him. Put away the photos. Don't relive memories good or bad. These inspire grief, not prayer. Picture not his face or self but the God in him, the divine spark given to us all. I saw this as a chunk of gold or a wink of light. This opened a spiritual channel that cut through the tonnage of my grief and helped me see that this man still had goodness in him and needed my prayers.

Don't pray for this person to change, or for their conversion. These things are in God's hands and/or in the hands of the individual. Prayer is powerful but it does not make the phone ring.

Pray for your own understanding. Praying for my loved one broke up my constant pleading and bargaining with God and let God get a word in edgewise. He informed me: "He is in the dark, and must find his own way out. You cannot help him." This was painful to hear, but now I knew better what to pray for.

Be busy while you pray. Lying awake at night or kneeling alone in a chapel will only summon up memories, anger, and sobs that may be natural but keep your wound from healing. The human body is made to move. Sweep the sidewalk, take a walk with a camera, practice free-throws with the children. Just get active, and then pray, when you think of it, "God, please bless him (or her)," or "Help me understand," or other short simple prayers.

Keeping these prayers short and simple is a good idea. "God, please protect her," "God, please help him quit drinking," "Dear God, let him find peace."

Get "above" it. Imagine you are viewing the earth from above, as if it were a dollhouse with the roof cut away. There you are, and, miles away, there he (or she) is, perhaps watching TV, working, sleeping, dating someone else. From this distance you both look a lot like the rest of humanity. This perspective opens just a moment of mental space and compassion so you can stand to ask for blessings on the person whose behavior tempts you to hate.

Pray with just one other person. Grief and resentment are natural but keep you spiritually isolated. Ask one person to pray with you. (Prayer circles do not seem to work for this; you get sympathy, but later when you are alone, the pain returns in in full force.) It doesn't matter if you pray with a family member or a stranger for blessings on the lost one; it just helps.

Don't "expect a miracle." Seen on plaques and potholders, "Expect a Miracle" implies that God is like an ATM machine and we don't have to straighten ourselves out spiritually, or resolve our own problems. Your expectations -- especially when you are grieving or resentful -- may not line up with God's will or what is best for you or another. To expect something is to be passive, a taker. Pray for a miracle, but don't "expect" it.

Sylvia Sky writes about occult and spiritual matters. Copyright 2010 by Sylvia Sky.

Monday, December 13, 2010

Gabriella the Psychic's Copycat, "Ms. Singh"

Psychic Gabriella, now well known as a bogus astrologer and psychic, and "Ms. Singh" at the website bestpsychicinternational.com are very much alike. There's no picture of "Ms.Singh," but she shares Gabriella's biography -- including this: "To this day, Ms. Singh is the only initiated westerner who knows the secrets of Indian celestial magic." Gabriella too is the "only initiated westerner" with that credential -- so something is wrong! Like Gabriella, "Ms. Singh" was also taught by the nonexistent "Shri Maliki," and studied astrology with a "33rd Degree Grand Master," which is an honorary (meaningless) Freemason title that has nothing to do with astrology.

It was a sharp reader who noticed the likeness and clued me in. I've seen no ads for Ms. Singh, so went to her site. Unlike Gabriella's site it is spare and mousy. No rates for Ms.Singh's services were given -- it says, "Call me and we will find an affordable rate for you: 1-866-930-95555" [sic], so I called.

The woman who answered said she was Ms. Singh. She had an East Indian accent. This doesn't mean she isn't a westerner, but I wondered. She asked how I had heard of her and I said, "the Internet." She asked my birthdate and then what my question was, and I said, "First I want to ask about your rates." She charges $75 for a full life reading and $110 for a reading involving a couple. I then asked about her education. She said, "What do you mean?" and I said, where had she trained as a psychic? And suddenly she had "another client in front of her" and asked if she could call me back.

According to Wikipedia, one million people living in Western countries have the surname "Singh," so without a first name "Ms. Singh" -- if she's a real person and that's her real name -- cannot be traced and investigated. But looking into both their website URL registrations I think that "Ms. Singh," who is based in Canada, is probably a company recently set up to compete with the huge European-based company that sells itself as "Gabriella," and "Ms. Singh" borrowed "Gabriella's" biography, hoping that copycat credentials would create the same kind of success.

Games, games! Don't contact either of them.

Sylvia Sky, experienced astrologer, reviews online horoscope sites for quality and accuracy. See more of her reviews here. Copyright 2010 by Sylvia Sky.

Friday, December 3, 2010

Which Psychics Aren't Real?

I have been asked how I can tell which online psychics are fake.

I write horoscope reviews. If an online ad offers a free horoscope, I request one. I'm an astrologer, so if the 'scope makes no sense, I try again, giving a different name, email, and birthday. If I get the same reading, I got my "free horoscope" -- it's just fake, that's all.

Maybe along with or instead of a fake horoscope, they promise or send a card reading, or long emails selling "clairvoyant" or "psychic" services, or a "second reading." By now I sense that I'm being misled. So far I've found misleading ads by:

  1. Norah
  2. Jenna
  3. Gabriella
  4. Tara

These are misleading ones. When I investigated their individual claims of being "a fourth-generation clairvoyant" or "winning a Psychic of the Year Award," finding no proofs of these claims I checked for Internet complaints. (So should you.) If there are many bitter complaints, all the evidence, starting with the fake horoscope, points to fakery overall.

"Tara" told me I'd won the lottery -- that's amazing, considering I didn't even play!

The names and faces of these "psychics" are fronts for businesses that rake in millions by misleading people. They do not give customized, individualized psychic readings. Their products are "canned." This is tragic for desperate people who want online psychics to tell them winning lottery numbers or explain a child's death.

About Real Psychics

Real psychics are extremely rare and do not need to advertise. They build a regular local or regional clientele through word of mouth.Maybe they could advertise through Yahoo and invite the entire Internet to come get a reading from them, but that would be a terrible overload for one person, don't you think?

Real psychics do not need to "do" astrology or Tarot readings, and so are unlikely to offer those. Astrology and Tarot are two totally different arts and require extensive education and training. By contrast, real psychics have a gift. They do not need to be trained or mentored. They probably have unlisted phone numbers. They may very well be miserable with their gift and wish they did not have it.

It works the other way, too: Real, trustworthy astrologers do not claim to be psychics. Astrologers and psychics have nothing in common. Misleading ads for "free horoscopes" bet that most people don't know this.

Still think you need a psychic reading?

First, Google the name of the psychic or company and see what other clients have said. Do NOT pay money or call a number if you find complaints. Fake psychics are big business. Needy, suffering people are their bread and butter.

My opinion about psychic readings done "remotely" by phone or email is that electronic energy fields and the pressure on both the reader and the caller greatly interfere with the clarity of a psychic transaction.

Local psychics have websites so people can find them or book a reading, so you can try that, but I have been to two local psychics and was disappointed. One struggled along, getting everything wrong, and then declared me "hard to read." So it was my fault!

The other did a move that is classic fake! Very often, a fake psychic will tell you that someone important in your life has the initial "R." Every one of us has that, whether it's Robert our boss or Rover our dog, or a neighbor or lawyer with that initial.

A friend I'll call Sarah went to a psychic, although it was 70 miles outside of the city and its price was very high. The psychic was a plain-faced, working-class woman who lived with her parents in a small house and met clients in the living room. When Sarah came in, the psychic said she saw an orange aura and said, "You're anticipating something," and asked, "Who's George?" Sarah had just had a first date with a man named George. That was probably much like the experience you will have if you find a real psychic.

But if you don't find one, in my opinion your best bet for quick customized information and guidance is a local Tarot card reader with a good reputation, one you meet in person. Ask around at salons, coffeehouses, spas, and hotels. A real Tarot reader is a combination counselor and diviner, and an ethical one will be glad to give you references. The price will be reasonable.

Sylvia Sky, experienced astrologer, monitors 70-plus online horoscope sites for quality and accuracy. Copyright 2010 by Sylvia Sky. See other horoscope reviews.

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Horoscope Review: Hooked on Jonathan Cainer

Unlike other astrologers, Jonathan Cainer is most worth reading on the weekends. A nice long general forecast for your coming week appears on Saturday, and on Sunday, a weekly "Love Focus" forecast. Have you never heard of him?
Jonathan Cainer writes daily, weekly, monthly, and annual Sun-sign horoscopes for London's Daily Mail newspaper and it appears in print almost everywhere but in the U.S. Although a few critics whine that Cainer never got a diploma in astrology, he has earned his international popularity by evolving and improving his website and approach. Clearly a totally commercial enterprise, www.cainer.com is still, after fifteen years, one of the most complete and consistent astrology sites. Daily and weekly 'scopes are free; monthly 'scopes are available free on the first Saturday of the month.
Fans almost unanimously declare Cainer's written forecasts "spot on," probably because of this clever gimmick: They first tap the reader's imagination with metaphors or chatty openers such as, "Let's say you've gone into a pub and ordered a drink --." The reader's mind opens -- priceless -- and then the forecast's above-average length raises the chances that you can apply what he says to your personal situation. One online interview said Cainer writes 25,000 words per week. There's no question he writes quickly and airily, and sometimes the daily 'scopes are just hot air, I grant you. But I wouldn't call his work sloppy or wholly irresponsible. Writing at that speed and volume the best an astrologer might do is describe the drift of things. At this he succeeds.
Cainer is a talented writer and businessman, always staking out fresh territory. His site was among the first to have phone-in horoscopes (no longer available) and an Android app. He might not please everyone. But his online horoscopes are custom-written and not fake, and have pleased readers since 1994 (they're multi-lingual, too; click on the little national flags). When someone is that successful, it is usually because he's delivered the goods.

Sylvia Sky, experienced astrologer, monitors 70-plus online horoscopes for quality and accuracy. To read more horoscope reviews, click here. Copyright 2012 by Sylvia Sky.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Horoscope Review: Facebook's Top Three Horoscopes

If you got your Facebook daily-horoscope app through a friend you may not know there are three major Facebook daily-horoscope apps, all very different. Make an informed choice about the app that works best for you:

  • http://apps.facebook.com/daily-horoscope: Astrologers at Dailyhoroscopes.net provide the text here. They also supply the Twitter Tweetscopes with their highly simplified but hugely popular daily "percentages" representing the quantity of astrological "good luck" on tap for the day. The Facebook-impaired will find that their website makes the 'scopes and percentages much more accessible. These daily 'scopes often seem low on useful information and plumped with "filler" phrases such as "on the other hand," but this Facebook app has 421,000 monthly active users who'd argue in its favor. Its favicon is a pink square with a white sunburst.
  • http://apps.facebook.com/dailyhoroscopeapp/set_birthday.php, although not developed by Facebook, presents a daily horoscope unique to Facebook and has 2,111,490 monthly active users. The text correctly describes the day's planetary aspects and gives a sophisticated interpretation that for me is never accurate. By contrast, its "Love" forecast is superior. Annoying requests for "ZenBucks" appear if users want to see the next day's 'scope or change their zodiac icons.The other apps on this list offer tomorrow's forecast for free! No favicon will appear when this app is listed on your profile, but the app itself shares a blue icon with horoscope.com's Facebook page. Facebook's Horoscope.com app, however, will give you a totally different daily horoscope.
  • Calling itself a "game" rather than an application, http://apps.facebook.com/daily-horos/ has dreadfully cute kiddie graphics that are misleading. The day's "Love" forecast is represented by one to five hearts plus a one-line message, the "Work" forecast by one to five briefcase icons and a message, and so on. But the text goes right to the point; for example, "Refrain from eating a heavy meal after 5 p.m." That's not kiddie language and this is is not a kiddie horoscope. For me it's the most accurate Facebook 'scope of the three. This app also sorts your Facebook friends by Sun sign, which can be interesting. It has 1,190,000 monthly active users and its favicon is a fat five-pointed yellow star.

Enjoy your chosen Facebook horoscope. May it entertain and enlighten you.

Sylvia Sky, experienced astrologer, reviews online horoscopes for quality and accuracy. Read more reviews at hubpages.com. Copyright © 2010 by Sylvia Sky. Email horoscopereview@gmail.com. Information is current as of 17 November 2010.

Sunday, October 31, 2010

Tara the Medium Dreamt I Won the Lottery

I let Tara the Visionary Medium speak for herself here, through samples from the e-mails and messages received after I requested a free reading. You judge whether you want to pay $79 (usually $139, she says) for her "Dated Astral Reading of Luck and Money." Tara offers refunds, but it is probably smarter not to pay her in the first place.

Oct. 11: Dear Sylvia, you can count on my help...

Oct. 14: I have selected you to be included in a book I plan to write. If all goes well, I will be able to send you A CHECK FOR $300, MADE OUT TO YOUR NAME. . . . OVER 97% OF PEOPLE who had never won anything (or only very small amounts) STARTED WINNING ALL AT ONCE, THANKS TO AN ASTRAL READING . . .

Oct. 16: Your free reading is ready. . . I spent more than 13 hours performing an in-depth study of your case. . . . Your dominant planet is: Uranus. [That, remarkably, is true, but it's true of all Aquarians.]

Oct. 20: A VERY LARGE JACKPOT WILL SOON BE YOURS, Sylvia! I have a visionary gift that few mediums possess. A secret power allows me to see into the future and DETECT THE SPECIFIC DATES AND WINNING NUMBERS you have to use to ensure that luck is on your side. I’ll tell you when the right time is. But for now. . . there is an evil influence at work which wants to attract bad luck into your life, and prevent large sums of money from reaching you. . .

Oct. 22: Dear Sylvia, it's certain! Great good fortune should enter your life in the next 30 days. . . . In my dream I saw you feverishly waving a game receipt, jumping for joy as the winning numbers were announced. . .

Oct. 28: Sylvia, an urgent and personal message: . . . there is an exceptional configuration of a number of particularly influential astral planets [sic] that affect your luck, your happiness and your success. This rare conjunction only happens every 9 years. . . . ATTENTION: THIS EXCEPTIONAL MOMENT MAY NEVER COME AGAIN [but, Tara, you just said it happens every 9 years!]. . . I AM GOING TO MAKE AN EXCEPTION AND DO SOMETHING VERY UNUSUAL FOR YOU. . . perform A MAGIC ASTRAL CEREMONY OF PROTECTION on your behalf. . . .

Oct. 29: Sylvia, read this quickly, there is no time to waste . . .

Zero stars out of five for nailing only one astrological fact, and exploiting the hopes and worries of the saddest and most desperate people.

Sylvia Sky, experienced astrologer, monitors 70-plus horoscope sites for quality and accuracy. Copyright 2010 by Sylvia Sky.

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Horoscope Review: Gabriella, as Psychic as a Toilet Seat

After you click on a line ad saying “Free Horoscope Reading” and send your information, Gabriella Psychic and Spiritual Medium sends an email with a confirmation link. It says, in part, “our meeting is no accident. . . .The proof of this is that I’ve just now had a vision: United States, that’s where happened [sic]. That’s why I’ve decided to let you benefit from a special priority Reading. Please, note that I can only do that for people for which I feel a deep and special connection.”

Then in an hour or two Gabriella emails: “Yes, Sylvia, in you I have discovered someone of high morals and ethics who is also extremely sensitive.” This email links to my “reading,” not of a horoscope, but of three Tarot cards. Later, using a different name and email address, I requested another “reading" and got one that was identical. Both times Gabriella recommended a “Grand Indepth Astral Reading.” But her "inner voice" told her I couldn’t pay $200, her usual fee, so she will charge me only $49. She furnished a convenient link for my credit card or PayPal payment. A bit later I get an email saying slyly, “I know you have read my email.” She knows because I gave her that confirmation link that let her track me. The next email begins, “Sylvia, I don’t want to panic you, but…” and further emails pestered me every few hours until I unsubscribed.

Gabriella’s testimonials include nameless people photographed with supersized checks from Vegas and lotteries. Her bio says she studied astrology alongside a 33rd degree Grand Master and is the only Westerner taught "the secrets of" celestial magic by “the great Indian Master Shri Maliki.” Then there’s a quote from Clairvoyance Mag : “Several foreign magazines have already voted Gabriella ‘Best Psychic of the Year’…”

Needless to say, there is no Clairvoyance magazine or “Best Psychic of the Year” award. Her Indian Master is not referenced anywhere else on the Net; “Maliki” is in fact a form of Sunni Islam canon law; nothing celestial about it. The title “Grand Master” is given to every top officer in local freemason chapters, and their “33rd degree” designation, although it sounds dramatic, is meaningless, like the honorary degrees that colleges give their wealthy donors. Even if Masons were astrologers, which they aren’t, their men-only club wouldn’t be training women. Maybe Gabriella did study astrology “alongside” her freemason grandpa, but she gave no indication that she knows or practices astrology at all. I foresee that it’s best if you avoid Gabriella. She's about as psychic as a toilet seat. Rating: zero stars out of five.

Sylvia Sky, experienced astrologer, monitors 70-plus online horoscope sites for quality and accuracy. Read more horoscope reviews clicking here. Copyright 2010 by Sylvia Sky.

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Busted: How to Know if Astrologers are Real or Fake

Don't waste your money on fake astrologers. Here are ways to gauge who is probably fake and who is worth your time and money. To get the best results, know what to look for, AND research your choice of astrologer before spending any money:

Real astrologers do not claim that they personally are psychics and mediums too.

An online astrologer who always goes by just one name is fake. "Jenna" is fake. "Norah" is fake.

A fake will tell you about "your stars." A real astrologer will tell you about "your planets."

Real astrologers will ask you for your birth time, date, and place. They also need a birth date, time, and place for anyone you are asking about, such as a spouse. They will tell you truthfully that they can't give you accurate information without these facts.

Fakes say "star signs" rather than "sun signs."

A real astrologer will tell you that sun-sign astrology is very simplified astrology, and that the most accurate horoscopes are custom-made for individuals and are much more involved.

If you can make an appointment with and meet an astrologer in person, he or she is probably a genuine practitioner. Ask if he or she has a certificate (has taken a standardized test or graduated from an astrology course). Note: Testing for credentials became common in the U.S. only in the 1980s. Older astrologers may be self-taught or may have studied with experienced teachers, but may not have taken the tests.

"Intuitive" or "psychic" astrologers may not be lying when they say they think they can "intuit" or use psychic power to "do astrology," but real astrology is never a matter of intuition or psychic power; it's about math and skill.

A real astrologer will be glad to give you references.

A real astrologer will give you his or her contact information.

A real astrologer will never tell you what you "must" do.

A horoscope reading cannot solve your personal problems. If your situation is overwhelming, or involves bodily harm, a real astrologer will refer you to counseling or other resources.

An astrologer who has been in business only a short time, or is very young, may be the real thing but may not be experienced at interpreting charts for clients. As in any profession, experience counts.

An astrologer who pushes you hard to buy a reading, or sends repeat e-mails, or otherwise makes you uncomfortable, is probably fake.

An "astrologer to the rich and famous" is likely a fake. If his clientele was really the rich and famous, he would be making a good living and not needing to advertise.

A real astrologer will take at least a day or more to create your chart and study it before setting up a meeting to interpret it for you and answer your questions.

A real astrologer prefers not to give readings over the phone, although sometimes it can't be helped.

A real astrologer will give you an hour or a half-hour of time in which to answer your questions about your horoscope. Fifteen minutes is not enough time.

A real astrologer charges professional rates. $100 per hour is about right; some charge as much as $200. Remember that they have prepared and considered your chart or your question before meeting with you. If they are real astrologers, you will not have to have this same reading done over again.

Cheaper horoscope readings are available online, for much less money, but they are probably totally computerized, and you do not get to ask questions about them.

Real, in-person astrologers often record the session for you, or, if they're older or not comfortable with the technology, will allow you to make your own recording of the session.

Today's astrologers commonly use computers to calculate astrological charts, but proper chart interpretation can be done only by a human astrologer. It's like your doctor: She gets the results of your lab tests, but she has been educated to interpret what they mean for you.

No real astrologer will ever tell you that horoscopes are "spooky," "shocking," or "scary."

An astrologer who says you have a terrible chart and there's no hope for your business, love life, or whatever, is fake or very sick in the head; even more so if he suggests your future success depends on buying more readings from him.

A husband and wife team ("I can't meet you Thursday, but Bob can") who also claim that they are both psychics, is probably fake.

A real astrologer will not be so specific as to say, "You will meet a tall dark stranger," or "Yes, he is having an affair with your best friend," or "You will lose your job in two weeks, then go work at Wal-Mart." He or she will talk about planetary conditions and likelihoods, saying something like, "Saturn is entering your tenth house, and for the next two years job or career matters may be challenging. It may help you in this area of your life to become serious and organized."

No real astrologer will speculate about your lifespan.

A real astrologer cannot tell you the exact date, time, and place you will meet your "soulmate," or what his name is, and what he will look like. To answer that question, you really need a fake.

Sylvia Sky, experienced astrologer, monitors 70-plus online horoscope sites for quality and integrity. Read her reviews of 20 different sites at http://hubpages.com/profile/sylviasky. Copyright 2010 by Sylvia Sky.

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Horoscope Review: Da Juana Byrd's Texas Blandscopes at Dailyhoroscopes.com

Texan Da Juana Byrd, Professional Psychic and Medium, claims that a near-death experience in 1980 let her see and hear ghosts and angels. If that's true, there would seem to be no need for her websites to offer also a dozen game-like oracles, including the "click here" I Ching, runes, numerology, and advice on choosing puppy names. There's astrology, too; the direct link is dailyhoroscopes.com. A tab for "Grandchildren" on Byrd's blog hints to me that her site appeals to older readers who used to take questions and worries to their pastors. Today such readers want a choice of answers, all of them nice and safe, and Byrd's sites let them shop for a whole buffet of answers, mostly for free and well worth their price.

Regarding dailyhoroscopes.com, one must first sincerely admire Byrd for having bought and held that URL at least since 1993. Registering on the site's homepage and then confirming the link gets you a free natal horoscope chart and a basic personality reading. Not perfect, this is still one of the Net's better "instant horoscope" offers, computerized but not fake. For accurate results enter your birth time as Greenwich Mean Time. If you don't know what that is, good luck. Furthermore you are now on Byrd's email list. Like most horoscope providers, C & D Byrd Enterprises -- phone psychics, astrology and all -- is a business: Here's its corporate homepage.

But on to Byrd's daily scopes. They are awfully nice and lavender-scented. Excerpt from the daily Leo scope, Sept. 27: "Later this afternoon, you enjoy a little work in the yard; it may be time to plant or prepare for a fall garden." From the Cancer scope, Sept. 20: "Perhaps you and your friends can enjoy a little bicycle trip through the park or around the neighborhood." From Virgo, Sept. 3: "You enjoy the sunset, or an evening walk with a loved one." Please note, however, that Byrd's site allows access to past forecasts, a useful feature if you want to see how wrong they were.

I was once a fan of Byrd's daily horoscopes. As I recall, Byrd and the site were more astrology-centered, and navigation was simpler. Finding the current day's forecast at dailyhoroscopes.com is easy, but tomorrow's requires a click, scrolling through a long list of links, and another click. This interface cries out for redesign. Accuracy? The homepage says the forecasts are composed using charts plus numerology. Real astrologers don't need numerology to supplement real charts. On the corporate website, Byrd's astrologers are called "psychic astrologers." That too is unpromising as an indicator of accuracy. One star out of five for entertainment value.

Sylvia Sky, experienced astrologer, monitors 70-plus online horoscope sites for authenticity and accuracy. Click here to see more horoscope reviews. Copyright 2010 by Sylvia Sky.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Horoscope Review: Really Great Compatibility Readings at Zodiac-traits.com

It’s said, and you’ve heard it, that Earth signs (Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn) pair best with Earth signs. The same with Air, Fire, and Water signs. Matching elements always seem to have a four-star or four-heart future, while a mixed pair such as Taurus/Aquarius might get a snarky “What were you thinking?”

Fortunately, experience eventually proves to us all how wrong casual Sun-sign compatibility readings can be. Reducing 12 Sun signs to four "elements" makes such readings less accurate, not more so. The solution is compatibility readings with depth and detail. For this I joyfully recommend http://zodiac-traits.com.

Astrologer Nancy Fenn profiles each of the possible Sun-sign pairings, and not just (for example) Virgo/Cancer but Virgo woman/Cancer man — or Virgo man/Cancer woman. Because naturally those will differ! Each discussion is about 1,000 words long, maximizing the chances it will mirror your own situation. Fenn describes how to attract a certain sign, how much romance, passion, and friendship the couple are likely to share, and how it may end. Fenn is honest and has a sense of humor. If you like, she offers an individualized compatibility report, using both partners' birth information, for $19.95. On the site, readers share their own fascinating compatibility triumphs and woes. One of the comments called zodiac-traits.com “a brilliant site.” I think it is. And it’s easy to navigate. Five stars.

Fenn has another URL profiling natal astrological traits including Sun sign, Moon sign, and Rising Sign at http://zodiacsigntraits.com. It’s good also. Who is Nancy Fenn? She teaches online astrology courses and calls herself America’s expert on Saturn Returns (very unfortunately suggesting that the second Saturn return can be lethal if the first wasn’t negotiated well). Common sense I hope tells you that planets can’t kill anybody. Planets can’t destroy a solid relationship, either.

Sylvia Sky, experienced astrologer, monitors 70-plus online horoscope sites for integrity and accuracy. Read more of her horoscope reviews at hubpages.com. Copyright 2010 by Sylvia Sky.

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Beware of "Jenna" at AboutAstro.com

Beware of free horoscopes offered by online astrologers who go by their first names only. True astrologers use their full names so you can google them or buy their books. The sole reason to use only a first name is to thwart research and investigation. In the case of aboutastro.com, the provider is "Jenna." Strike one.

But if the first-name basis and freebie offer have you convinced that Jenna wouldn't let you down, enter contact information and after 48 hours receive by email a link back to her website, where your free horoscope waits, secure. There, "a long personal text," 3600 words of rambling double talk and blither, not a horoscope and not personalized except with your name and birthdate, begins by wishing you (on September 16) a Happy New Year 2010. Strike two.

Naturally it’s a year of opportunity and true love. Yet “Only a professional astrologer can read your Skies correctly. . . . Sylvia, I warn you in this way because the stakes concerning this period are far too high. You need a professional to help you through this vitally important time in your life. This Transit is too significant and too important not to try and get all the chances over on your side." Jenna says Mars has been opposing my fifth house for SEVERAL YEARS NOW. In fact, transiting Mars doesn't stay anywhere in the sky for “several years.” Strike three.

But golly, I don't have any common sense, so clicked to her ordering page (with testimonials from people with first names only) where I plan to put $60 on my VISA for a "second" astrological reading plus Jenna's two e-books: one on clairvoyance, including secrets for developing my own, and the other on "radiestheisia" [sic] so I may try guiding my spiritual self and changing my life by playing with a pendulum.

Before trusting a one-name wonder, I should have googled “Jenna Astrologer.” And found that “Jenna” and aboutastro.com have collected over the years many bitter complaints.


Sylvia Sky, experienced astrologer, monitors 70-plus online horoscope sites for quality and accuracy. See more horoscope reviews at hubpages.com or email horoscopereview@gmail.com. Copyright 2010 by Sylvia Sky.

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Horoscope Review: The Mystery of LSN's Daily Horoscopes

An impressive daily horoscope column copyrighted only by "LSN, Inc.," made me curious to know the astrologer's name. So I emailed LSN, an Atlanta-based mobile media and marketing company that feeds mobile websites "content," such as weather, gas prices and horoscopes. And got no answer. But I still wanted to let people know about that nice substantial scope and credit its author.

Searches showed the column scattered across the Net, and syndicated also by a service called Topix that does what LSN does: spread content through online and wireless mass media. Nowhere was the individual astrologer's name revealed. But the searches proved that the horoscopes were not computerized but in fact custom-written for each sign each day.

Finally I matched the syndicated scopes with an individual astrologer: Rob Tillett, editor and publisher of Australia's astrologycom.com. Tillett's team of astrologers offers a site with 4,000 (four thousand!) pages of information: lovescopes (a.k.a. the "Nude Horoscope," not very naughty); weekly, monthly and annual forecasts; teenscopes; compatibility stuff; and articles that discuss in depth, for example, pagan holidays or the meaning of Venus in Scorpio. Tillett confirmed that he writes the daily horoscopes, and they are syndicated to a firm called Tinbu. Tinbu's clients include Topix and LSN. Some U.S. television networks feed LSN horoscopes to their mobile sites. I now realize that LSN never sent me the astrologer's name because they they had no idea who it was. Only a search back through a long chain of providers uncovered the author. And, half a world away, he had no idea he was LSN's astrologer, either, and as such had at least one big fan.

Tillett's daily Sun-Sign forecasts on his home site, astrologycom.com, offer half a month's worth of daily forecasts: September 1 through 15 are online on September 1. Feel confident that Tillett correctly states the Moon's current placement in the zodiac, or when planets go retrograde. Now, fifteen daily scopes and 4,000 pages can be distracting, and of course contain some bloat -- real astrology doesn't generate or "predict" lucky colors or numbers -- but they're harmless. Prepared to dismiss the site's monthly "Tarotscopes" by Lili Rosace because horoscopes aren't done with Tarot cards -- period -- reading them I saw that she's a real Tarot reader, and I respect that.

Five stars for the daily forecasts' integrity and the site's educational and entertainment value.

Monday, September 6, 2010

SexualAstrology.com, How to Seduce a Man by Sun Sign

Sexual astrology? What an irresistible idea! Find it on SexualAstrology.com and the related StarAstrologer.com. Bookmark the latter site if the word "sexual" on your computer unnerves you; both sites share the same monthly forecasts.

Scroll down the SexualAstrology.com home page to find your monthly Sun Sign forecast. Then you will probably want to peek at your sweetheart's. Maybe like me you will prefer the weekly scopes, because they offer four chances a month to hope that this coming week you will truly "mature in your sensuous relationship with your mate" or that "an Aries, Libra, or Sagittarius might rock your world." That's as racy as the language gets. Do not expect X-rated detail about what you will do in bed this week, month, or year, or with whom. SexualAstrology.com's advice is about emotions, romance and relationships: the "weather in the bedroom" that has to be right before great sex can happen.

Have fun with this site, and don't make my mistake of taking it too seriously. The weekly Sun-Sign horoscopes have almost never reflected what actually occurs in my world, and regarding my sweetheart they have steered me dead wrong. Although it is just as computerized as the weekly scope, the monthly scope seems more accurate, and earns two and a half stars out of five.

The site's menus are lengthy and crowded, so use the search box at the top of the homepage, or the Sitemap in its footer to quickly find what you want, whether that's a very short and basic Sun-Sign compatibility reading, "How to Seduce a Man by Sun Sign" (there's no "How to Seduce a Woman"; I guess we're all easy, LOL), or to order extended computerized reports, such as the "Torn Between Two Lovers" report ($49.95) I haven't seen offered elsewhere on the Net.

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Rob Breszny's FreeWill Astrology: Cosmic Energies

Hippie, cockeyed optimist, poet and musician, and a Cancer (birthday June 23), Rob Breszny is many things, but not a traditional astrologer. His weekly column, syndicated mostly to counterculture newspapers, was once called "Real Astrology." Maybe because he offers instead of real horoscopes self-described "oracles," Breszny's enterprise is now named "Free Will Astrology." His weekly Sun-sign messages provide readers with, like, a spiritual Tic-Tac, mostly to remind them that they are not powerless and the world is not hopeless.

Breszny is an "intuitive" or "improvisational" astrologer. This kind simply feels some vibes and shares what comes to mind. Astrologers who use calculations and charts call these people "fortunetellers" or fakes. Brezsny says he thinks of "horoscopes as love letters to my readers," and hopes to guide them by issuing them self-fulfilling prophecies of a positive, uplifting kind. Nothing wrong with that, but it's not astrology.

My own cosmic vibes hint to me that for each zodiac sign Breszny does not consult a chart but instead pulls a card from the Vertical Oracle deck, a strange and beautiful 40-card deck not at all like the classic Tarot. He then posts it with his weekly oracle, maybe advising Aries to go with the flow this week, or telling Pisces to make beautiful mistakes.

Whatever Breszny calls himself, he's an entertaining New Age writer. Breszny's big purple slab of a book, Pronoia is the Antidote for Paranoia: How the Whole World is Conspiring to Shower You With Blessings, typically asserts, "This is a perfect moment. . .You are a gorgeous genius. . .Glide through life as if all of creation is yearning to honor and entertain you." Those living in a tent or yurt because they want to will like the book. Those living in Tent City underneath a drop cloth will think the author is a nut.

For the purposes of this review, I give Free Will Astrology site zero stars out of five, because I can't see any genuine astrology even between the lines of its weekly oracles --but I don't want to discourage visitors who might find Breszny's approach liberating, appealing, or visionary.

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Horoscope Review: Birth Charts Free at Alabe.com

Www.alabe com is "Home of the Free Birthchart Page." Yes, online you can get a free natal horoscope: a real chart, with a not-bad computerized "mini-reading" of its meaning, and it is not a con or a ripoff.

Read the directions and enter accurate and specific information about your birth date, birth place and birth time. As a default, if you don’t know the time and Mom can’t tell you, enter 6:00 a.m., which is better than nothing. Click for your printable view of your natal horoscope chart--a sky chart shaped like a pie cut into twelve pieces, or “houses,” studded with planets. Scroll down for the computerized "mini-reading" describing what your natal planetary placements mean. This isn’t a full natal horoscope, just a good start. Thank the people at Alabe who have been doing this for more than a decade. I give the site four stars out of five; minus one star because the site is plug-ugly.

If you really like your "mini-reading," Alabe.com offers a detailed 30-page version for $25, or a one-year forecast of planetary transits and progressions for $35. They also sell "Relationship" readings, “Asteroid Goddess” readings, and many others, with computerized interpretations originally written by well-known astrologers. They sell books mainly for astrologers (fixed stars, anyone?), and have for download the advanced astrological calculation software called Solar Fire ($325) used by professionals. Solar Fire is not gameware. It will not spout fun readings for your friends. A dabbler or casual horoscope fan would not know the first thing to do with it.

"Alabe" is short for "astrolabe," an old-time instrument for charting the sky. Alabe.com's home page displays the "current astral weather" – where the Sun, Moon and planets are right now, in the sky above Brewster, Massachusetts. It's got a small interpretive paragraph about some current aspect, a tiny detail in the scheme of things.

Enjoy your freebie natal chart. And if you really, really love your chart, Alabe.com sells a gold "StarDate Pendant," engraved with glyphs of your natal planets and their signs, for $350.

Under the name “Astro*Intelligence,” alabe.com sells some charts with computerized interpretations originally written by respected astrologers Liz Greene and Rob Hand. Greene advises against getting ‘scopes for kids under 14, and I strongly second the motion. Despite its reputation, astrology is not for kids. And you shouldn’t be so foolish as to let a child’s horoscope affect the way you see and raise him. Some things are more important than horoscopes.

Friday, August 27, 2010

Horoscope Review: Personalized DailyTransits From Adze.com

Few astrology sites will calculate your transits daily and for free, but since 1995 the site of the late, flamboyant astrologer Adze Mixxe has continuously done that. With your input, the "Personal Daily Horoscope" part of the site figures the position of the planets at your birth and compares them with the current, always-changing planetary positions. The result is a list of aspects, which Adze's site interprets, a little bit.

After entering your information once, bookmark and visit to see lists of what astrologers call "transits" or "transitory aspects" : today's, tomorrow's, and yesterday's. But on Mixxe's site these are communicated in astrological symbols or glyphs. Unless you know your glyphs you get only Mixxe's brief and quirky computerized advice for each aspect: advice categorized as useful for either hours, days, or weeks. It might be a long list of aspects. It might be short. The calculations are accurate; they aren't the problem.

The problem is that Mixxe died in 1997 and the site treats his words as sacred. Were he alive he'd update the antique look of this site and delete Paul McCartney and Heather Mills as a Celebrity Hot Couple. He'd likely expand or refine his advice for each aspect. For transiting Pluto square natal Jupiter, he advises, "Challenge motivations," a phrase so vague it can't be called "wrong," but not very helpful either. Another aspect advised reading You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay, so I did, and I can't say it hurt me, but it took up my time.

Know that entering your birth information does not generate a natal horoscope or "personality reading." The site offers that and other types of computerized horoscopes for a fee. Do not bother with the site's free daily Sun-sign forecasts. As one of the earliest online astrologers, Mixxe could not benefit from a competitive atmosphere such as we have today. Seekers can now choose from many daily Sun-sign scopes of more value.

Mixxe's site attracts me only when I'm too lazy to calculate my own transits. I then interpret the results using other resources. So should you. I give Adze.com two stars out of five for continuing to offer free transit calculations.

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Horoscope Review: Weekly Forecasts from Dailyscopes.com



On Sunday evenings Dailyscopes.com updates its weekly Sun-sign forecasts, which run from Monday to Monday, and if mine isn't posted yet I get impatient--so impatient that I discovered a trick. Clicking on the date menu sometimes exposes the coming week's date and its forecast. I can then read it and feel secure.

The weekly forecasts from Belgium-based Dailyscopes.com combine the work of two astrologers. The sections headlined "Family," "Love," "Friendship," "Career," and "Finances," and the Karma Numbers, are by Rita Ann Freeman, a Wisconsin astrologer who seems quite the hot number in her world. After a couple of years I learned to scroll straight down to the "Weekly Overview" paragraph by Deborah Browning.

Resident astrologer at astrologysource.com, Browning, a Canadian, has been forecasting online since 1996. Her site offers an interesting page of free horoscopes, but mainly offers fee services, specifically reports: natal, compatibility and others. They are so cheap ($9.97 for a natal report) they are certainly totally computerized.

Browning's weekly scopes are also computer-assisted. It took me a long time to see that, but this sort of advice really sticks in the mind: "If you're feeling a bit bitter when it comes to a lover or a would-be lover, you really need to get over it." Knowing I'd read that before, I googled it, finding it recycled word-for-word in Browning's scopes for all Sun signs, dating back to at least 2005. Discovering Browning's 2010 Love Scopes at Cafeastrology.com, based completely on Venus transits, I find the aspect that generates that message is Venus square Ascendant, which happens twice a year. When Venus squares your Ascendant, "Get over it" is good advice.

There is nothing wrong with recycled or and recurring statements in astrology, because all planetary patterns or aspects will recur.
As long as the computerized forecast reflects current astral conditions, no harm is done. This is called "cookbook astrology." The computer is a great astrological tool, but a totally computerized horoscope is like a totally computerized doctor. Only a human astrologer can deliver the whole astral enchilada. But maybe all you want is a bit of a Sunday-night pep talk, free. That's what I want and I get it.

Deborah Browning's weekly paragraph gets an honorable three stars out of five for being rooted in the math and science part of genuine astrology.

Saturday, August 21, 2010

Horoscope Review: Jeraldine Saunders, Successor to Sydney Omarr

For millions of people, Sydney Omarr (1926-2003) was the first astrologer they had ever heard of. At peak, his syndicated daily Sun-sign horoscopes appeared in 200 newspapers. To this day most daily astrology columns, printed or online, use his blend of Sun-sign astrology and advice, and almost exactly the same small inch of space, although online astrologers have no space limitations. They're just channeling Sydney Omarr!

A byproduct of Omarr's column were millions of skeptics who said, "Those things are so general they could apply to anyone," and in fact the nicest thing many astrologers could say about "Sun-sign astrology" is that it is a recent development. But thanks to Omarr's influence, millions don't know that there is any other kind. When astrology caught on big in the 1960s, Omarr went from weirdo to celeb, made a fortune selling Sun-sign annuals, and inspired imitators.

Omarr's forecasts were workmanlike, spotty, sometimes eccentric -- one predicting "Seafood tonight!" had me buying fish for supper. After 25 years I wondered who'd eventually replace him. Alternatives to Omarr had appeared and their forecasts seemed more accurate or at least more thoughtful.

Omarr appointed Jeraldine Saunders, who had briefly been his wife. A former cruise director, Saunders invented the "love boat" concept, and in 1976 published the book that inspired the Love Boat TV series, and if you don't believe me, look here. As a daily astrologer, after a shaky start Saunders has done well. She or her assistant (she will turn 87 on Sept. 3) seriously follows the ephemeris, interpreting the day's planetary aspects. There is no question the astrology is genuine. The Jeraldine Saunders scope is better-written, too -- really rather tasty -- but appears in few places online, and in some of those it's still labeled "Omarr's."

Stepping in for Sydney Omarr was no small job; so many readers had known no other name in astrology. From beyond the grave, Omarr the franchise still sells books. As the Omarr daily column became scarcer I too took my interest elsewhere, but Saunders, very Virgo, delivers reliable quality, and deserves your attention. I give her column four stars out of five.

Monday, August 16, 2010

Horoscope Review: Russell Grant's Daily Horoscopes

Whether or not it's a fact that Russell Grant is "the world's most loved astrologer," a tagline which sounds more like an affirmation to me, his detailed and well-written daily advice can be mesmerizing. Grant writes a full paragraph per Sun sign per day. This maximizes the chances that the issues and concerns he mentions will match yours. He doesn't bother to state what the astral conditions are, no doubt realizing that to casual readers, planetary positions and aspects are so much mumbo-jumbo. Instead, Grant broadly interprets astral conditions as they affect each Sun sign, giving not horoscopes but advice that sounds like a proper British next-door neighbor's. The results are so very much on target that I used to consult his site every day, and probably should resume doing that.

Allow me to demonstrate this with an example. I am indeed leaving on a trip tomorrow, but am concerned about its unusual expense. And Grant's Aquarius horoscope for tomorrow begins: "Future holiday plans incur further expenses and you might wonder what you are letting yourself [in] for. If you are travelling with friends, let them know you aren't happy. . ." Coincidence? Who cares? I now have license to tell my friends I can't spend money like it's water.

On RussellGrant.com you can barely find Grant's horoscopes among all the ads for psychics and angels, but I have discovered an alternative and better site for reading Grant's daily forecasts at 12House.com. Less cluttered and more navigable, provided that you know the glyph or symbol for your Sun Sign,, the site 12house.com offers Grant's horoscope for both today and tomorrow. A view of both days can be very useful for thought and planning.

Grant's horoscopes & astrology main page tries to be all things to all people and thus is loaded with fun stuff to look at: women's daily and weekly horoscopes by Carole Somerville, "the most loved" female astrologer; gay and lesbian horoscopes and celebrity profiles by Philip Garcia; video horoscopes; "Zodiac Teen" reports; and even a job-search link (mostly jobs selling ad space, in the U.K. only). Grant clearly knows his readership: women, gays, teens, the curious, the unsettled, the unemployed -- people frequently and for good reason in search of online guidance in this difficult world.

All the astrologers and forecasts hosted on Russell Grant's pages deserve and will get their own reviews. Today I'm reviewing Russell Grant's daily advice, and for usefulness and detail I rate it four and a half stars out of five. The thing I hate about his site: those horrid little Sun-sign-specific animations endlessly looping alongside each sign's daily scope, the Taurus animation being the stupidest.

I have no idea about the politics of being a famous astrologer, but I know competition makes it hard to make money at the job, and few clients will pay what a horoscope is truly worth. A personal horoscope, done by a professional, is a customized work of art and interpretation. It is however much easier to keep forecasts general and vague, and try to make money advertising computer scopes and clairvoyant hotlines. Russell Grant gets points for having classy daily forecasts. You can ignore the rest.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Horoscope Review: "Shocking Online Horoscope" at Premiumastrology.com

Click on those little text ads saying "Scary Accurate Horoscope" or "Shocking Online Horoscope," and you may well be linked to premiumastrology.com where "Norah" is offering a FREE HOROSCOPE. Enter your name, your sign, and then choose a "wish" from a drop-down menu. Enter also your birthdate and e-mail address. You will soon receive in your email box a letter from Norah saying how special you are--so special that Norah got back to you much sooner than the stated 48-hour wait, so she could let you know about yourself and your exciting future.

The email links to a long message, the same, regardless of Sun sign -- on a webpage belonging to premiumastrology.com. This message reiterates that major planetary aspects will make the next 103 days, or 23 days, or whatever, very important, but to benefit from the aspects one must take action. This message contains links to the "premium" part of "Premiumastrology": Purchase her "product," a full reading, for $80.

Now, while it is true that currently the sky holds major planetary aspects, that is always true. It is always true that the next 103 or 23 days of your life will be very important. And it is always true that to benefit most from favorable astrological conditions, you must take action. Now that you know that, you needn't give Norah your information or money.

I clicked on the "Who is Norah?" link and find she is not called an astrologer but a "psychic" and "medium" with an "international reputation." Some ads call her a "fourth generation clairvoyant," but the website doesn't, and there is no documentation or proof regarding these claims. This type of "psychic" has her audience, but it shouldn't include anyone seeking customized and genuine astrological advice. She's a "bot" or robot e-mail computer. Everyone receives the same vaguely worded messages.

Real psychics exist, but don't need to advertise; word-of-mouth suffices. Some people use telephone psychics or online psychics as counselors or sounding boards. That's fine; good luck to them all. I just want the world to know it will not get astrology from Premiumastrology.com. For that reason I rate Premiumastrology.com zero stars out of five.

Saturday, August 7, 2010

Horoscope Review: Jacqueline Bigar, Daily Newspaper Horoscope

Labeled the chintziest form of horoscope, daily-newspaper horoscopes nonetheless appear in nearly every paper, because readers demand them. These scopes are vastly important, reaching millions and generating public interest in astrology. They are the only contact with astrology some people ever have--including cynics who say, "Oh, this horoscope stuff; it's so general it could apply to anyone. Who could believe humanity is made up of 12 groups that all have certain traits." Yet these same people can't resist reading their daily forecasts, if only to find fault. Authors of these scopes have enormous power and the responsibility that comes with it.

Jacqueline Bigar's column, Bigar's Stars, begun in 1991, is syndicated to 200 U.S. newspapers and internationally, so her column is probably familiar to you if you ever pick up a paper. And you likely rate her column "Feh" without even reading it, because it's printed in the same paper that you use to line the birdcage. But Bigar wouldn't have her position if she didn't skillfully tread a very fine line, without fail. Imagine her job. She must write:
  • 12 forecasts and a birthday forecast for every day of the year, with no holidays.
  • These must be in simple language, and 50 words max, and
  • the tone must always be mild, preferably encouraging.
Each Sun-Sign forecast concludes with the word "Tonight" and a word or phrase characterizing the upcoming evening. Bigar furthermore assesses each Sun Sign forecast and assigns them one to five stars depending on the astrological currents of the day. Here is where the cynics might point out that one-star days (Bigar labels them "Yuck") almost never appear. But if Bigar gives, say, Gemini's day just one star, some Geminis will not leave the house. Honest to Pete. That's not good for the workplace and the economy! Their bosses will phone the newspaper to complain about the horoscope. The call will be transferred to the features editor. The features editor will complain to the syndicate, and the syndicate will complain to Bigar. And like everyone she wants to hold on to her job.

Now, given her workload and the severe restrictions on content, how sharp and accurate would you expect the forecasts to be? About two stars out of five? That's what I give them.

Bigar otherwise keeps a low profile. She is not a Web-celeb, and seems uninterested in keeping up with initial blog and Twitter postings. Her modest-looking website offers consultations ($179), indicating that she has time to do them and could probably use the money. Newspaper astrology serves readers better than a comic strip, yet newspaper editors consider horoscope columns "filler" or "junk entertainment" and pay accordingly.

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Sally Brompton: Daily in The NY Post

Before the Internet, in the grocery store checkout line I'd grab a copy of TV Guide and find astrologer Sally Brompton's scope for the approaching week. Brompton, one of Britain's three top tabloid astrologers, is a pro, and this Yank became a fan because her short weekly scopes were on point. Now I consult her column through the daily The New York Post online. Interestingly, TV Guide online, the U.S. version, does not run horoscopes, and TVguideuk's daily astrologer is Russell Grant, who delivers more or less a fortune cookie.


Although the sites for Brompton daily scopes are few -- don't go to sallybrompton.com to find them, because she's too shrewd to give anything away --her weekly scopes are even more elusive. They appear in the online version of the Sunday London Daily Mail, but you can't see them until Monday morning, London time. Media lord Rupert Murdoch owns the Mail (and TV Guide, The New York Post, FOX News and more), and he isn't giving anything away, either. Canadian national newspaper The Globe and Mail will show you Sally Brompton's "weekend" horoscope, a single entry meant to cover Saturday and Sunday. But if you consult The New York Post you will find that Brompton does write and post a separate Sunday horoscope.


Brompton also writes, in teeny-bopperese, horoscopes for the print version of the monthly Seventeen (USA). That magazine's online scopes come from astrology.com.


Four stars out of five for Brompton's professionalism and accuracy. Lacking one star because it's too hard for online horoscope readers to get more of her.


Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Ganeshaspeaks.com: Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Yearly

Ganesha is the Hindu god of prosperity, a friendly and jovial god with an elephant's head. I enjoy Ganeshaspeaks.com horoscopes -- generated in India -- because, starting with the home page, readers are offered a huge range of choices: daily, weekly (my favorite), monthly, and annual scopes, and also love-match-by-sign scopes, all free. Also one may register and enter birth information and receive for free a current biorhythm chart or one's "lucky direction," among other fun things. For a fee you may consult with the very serious-looking Ganeshaspeaks team of astrologers. They write and post blogs about current astrological conditions and how they affect business, stocks, or sports.

If Vedic astrological principles and predictions are strange to you, there is more than enough Western-style or "zodiac" astrology on on the site so that those who never heard of Rahu and Ketu can skip it and still experience the site's generosity and richness. The Vedic stuff is always there should you want to check it out. Although the daily and weekly zodiac scopes are brief, in my experience they have proven to be right on the mark and very pleasant reading. Because it's generated in India, if you live in North America be sure to consult your daily Ganeshaspeaks.com readings in the early half of your day, because at about noon the next day's horoscope will be posted and there are no archives. I happen to like looking a day ahead at what Ganesha is planning for me.

Make a visit to GaneshaSpeaks.com and see for yourself. Three and a half stars out of five.

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Eastrolog.com: Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Annual

Eastrolog.com, by "professional European astrologers" who are never named, in fact comes from a site based in Utah, U.S.A., and almost certainly the "European" astrologer/writer is Valentin Dragu-Banu, a Romanian translator and webmaster for whom English is clearly a second language. Eastrolog.com has a homepage with advice for all signs; individual daily, monthly, and yearly horoscopes; and Sun-sign compatibility notes. The site is easy to navigate. Its advice, however, takes a brusque, no-frills approach which can feel refreshing but more often feels like someone wagging a finger in your face. Sample daily scope, Aquarius, July 25, 2010:

"The results of your efforts at work over the last period of time will start showing. You will have the opportunity to assert yourself in society, but the tense atmosphere around you will not work in your favour.

You are advised to avoid meeting with friends today, for you might easily be involved in a quarrel.

You'd better avoid driving today, for you are prone to causing an accident."

Good to know. However, about half the time Eastrolog sounds like a Chinese menu. For example:

"Aquarius’ Love & Relationships Horoscope In July 2010

In your relational life there are two significant directions: one of them highlights shared intellectual preoccupations and communication, and the other highlights an increase of the interest in sexuality, not for the pleasure in itself, but for the influence it can have on the harmony in the couple.

The conclusion can be that July 2010 might be an excellent month to discuss with the partner various aspects of eroticism, maybe even have an update of the knowledge in the field."

Dragu knows what's going on in the sky, but Eastrolog is not good counsel for a casual horoscope fan or one who needs guidance more complex or nuanced. Dragu is a professional translator and it sounds as if the "Love and Relationship" scope above was run through translation software. Nonetheless I check Eastrolog occasionally, particularly when I'm impatient to read "tomorrow's" horoscope. Two stars out of five.

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Georgia Nicols: Daily, Weekly

Advertised as "Canada's most popular astrologer," Georgia Nicols is a former theater critic who's got a way with snappy one-liners and sassy innuendo. Her daily forecasts score high on entertainment value. Based in Vancouver, Nicols writes a daily horoscope that appears online and in many Canadian newspapers, and offers a free weekly column by email. Her monthly columns appear in magazines such as Elle.

Daily forecasts for all 12 signs appear on her homepage, www.georgianicols.com, and that page links also to her forecasts for "yesterday" and "tomorrow"--a feature I love, offered by too few astrologers.

Nicols appears to be unique among popular astrologers in attending to "moon void" periods. To greatly simplify, I will explain: The moon changes zodiac signs every two days. When it's between one sign and the next it is said "the moon is void-of-course," and it can remain so for a couple of minutes to several hours. Astrological tradition has it that "nothing will come" of plans hatched under a void-of-course moon: first dates may fizzle, meetings end in stalemates, and major purchases prove unsatisfactory. At the very least, confusion is likely. Nicols' warning is limited to (example from July 18, 2010): "Avoid shopping or making important decisions from 10:15 a.m. until 2 p.m. EDT today." She adds, "After that, the Moon moves from Libra into Scorpio." Those were facts, which is more than you can read in some daily horoscopes.

In my experience, the "moon-void" effect is real. If you're not in the Eastern Daylight time zone (EDT), correct for it and you will have your own personal "moon void" consultant in Georgia Nicols. I find her "moon-void" note the most useful thing about her horoscope.

Nicols offers Sun-sign forecasts for the calendar year for $11.95, donating 90 percent of the receipts to a Tibetan refugee school in Nepal.

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Michael Lutin's Daily, Weekly, and Monthly Horoscopes, Plus More

Michael Lutin used to write the witty and knowledgeable horoscopes for Vanity Fair, and that's how I became his devotee. Michaellutin.com just got a makeover, much for the better, but to see your "Daily Fix" you must still scroll down the home page. "Daily Fix" is blanket advice for all signs, based the day's most powerful planetary energies. I find this helpful and feel secure because Mikey knows his ephemeris. Daily Fix messages are often riddled with typos probably because busy "Mikey" lives in fast-paced NYC, but you'll know what he means.

Find Lutin's "Next Week in Review" scopes -- for all twelve signs -- through the menu buttons on the left. They usually are refreshed late Monday or early Tuesday. I take them seriously. Lutin's "Your Monthly" predictions are a single paragraph, except for the sign concurrent with the Sun, and not as helpful. My bookmark is on the Daily Fix.

On the homepage's right side are the premium offerings. For $15 Mikey will email you his interpretation of, say, Saturn leaving Virgo for Libra and what it will mean to your Sun sign. I ordered one and felt it was not worth $15. For free, and to get a sense of who Michael Lutin is, see his five-minute YouTube video on Pluto in Capricorn. He believes it means "you're (all of us) under surveillance," and "the party's over" -- and he's so right. Four stars out of five.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Who is Sylvia?

An Aquarius with a Scorpio ascendant and 12th-house Scorpio moon conjunct Neptune, I began studying astrology in 1976. I monitor 70-plus online horoscope sites and cast and interpret natal, transit, horary, and compatibility charts. For two and a half years I wrote a monthly astrology column using the name Sylvia Sky, and I published an article on The Grand Cross in American Astrology under my real name. My Pluto is at Midheaven conjunct Regulus. I'm also a trained media professional and writer, and live in the U.S.A.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Monthly: Astrologyzone.com

Let's start with my absolute favorite monthly horoscope, Susan Miller's astrologyzone.com. Miller's a certified astrologer with a huge following because she writes lengthy, detailed, highly specific monthly forecasts for each sign for free. They appear around the first of the month, and they are so good that another horoscope site, which does fairly good daily and weekly scopes, www.dailyscopes.com, refers you to Miller's site for monthly forecasts.

Miller offers daily horoscopes by email for $4.95, and I'm tempted, but by searching I thought I'd found a place where I could read them for free. I was wrong. When writing monthly forecasts Miller will refer to the reader, distinctively, as "dear Aquarius" (or "dear Virgo," or whatever). I'd found a daily scope that used the "dear" and sounded so much like Miller I was convinced. But Miller assures me that those are not her scopes; they are the work of imitators.

One year I ordered Miller's wall calendar but did not like the dark and swampish New Age paintings that served as their illustrations. But Susan Miller, astrologer, has my total respect and -- trust me -- that's saying a lot. Five stars out of five, especially for those two-thousand-word monthly scopes!