Future of the USA: What Astrologers Are Saying

One astrologer actually predicted a people's uprising against big business--and there it is, the "Occupy" movement. That's just one of the vast social and cultural changes the next 80-year planetary cycle -- beginning now -- will bring to the United States. We U.S. citizens know we can't thrive with the government stalled out and the economy falling apart. As the three outer transpersonal planets all change signs, what changes will emerge? For the better? For the worse? Read more.

Horoscope Review: Facebook and Twitter Horoscope Mobile Version

Dailyhoroscopes.net is the source for Facebook's and Twitter's most popular daily horoscopes -- those with the colorful bar graphs showing "percentages" of astrological good luck for the day. Now you can read those free horoscopes using a mobile phone. The question is, do you want to? Read the review.

Horoscope Review: "My Horoscope" Smartphone App from ID Mobile SA

"My Horoscope," a mobile daily-horoscope app from ID Mobile SA, has been downloaded more than a million times from iTunes and Android Market. Is it real astrology? Read my review of the app's accuracy and usability.

When an Online Astrologer Says, "Act Now or You Will Miss Your Lucky Transit"

When an online astrologer predicts a "lucky transit" for you in a few days or weeks -- but says you will miss this once in a lifetime chance for luck and money unless you purchase her guidance, her spells, or other services, right now...is that true? what should you do?  http://sylviasky.hubpages.com/hub/When-an-Online-Astrologer-Tells-You-Act-Now-Before-You-Miss-Your-Chance

Horoscope Review: East Indian Horoscopes and Karma Reports Free at Cyberastro.com

Today's fashionable concepts such as "slow living" and "simplifying life" and the benefits of meditation are based on Eastern spiritual principles, and so is a horoscope site I've visited for many years now, both to get my daily or weekly 'scope and relax a few minutes in its very cool "online meditation room." The site is cyberastro.com, based in India. I once emailed its resident astrologer/swami a question and $10. In a few days I got a truthful and reasonable email answer by a real human being based on real planetary aspects, although, naturally, for that cheap price it didn't go into a lot of depth. (Want to try it? You can do that from here. Price per question is now $15.)

There are no psychics or posers at Cyberastro.com. These are mature and knowledgeable Hindu astrologers. The site offers traditional Western sun-sign astrology in a tan-colored grid on the right side of the homepage; click on your Sun sign for daily, weekly, or monthly 'scopes. But if you are willing to sign up for a free membership, giving your birth information so you don't have to enter it every time you want a report or service, there are a lot of free reports and services.

Free online services include a Hindu-style birth chart very different from the one you are used to, Romantic Compatibility, Numerology (I'm a 5), Your Monthly Karma Index Report, advice on herbal healing, and the online meditation room (a video) with its hypnotic flickering candle and chanting. Or see what your day, week or month will look like according to Hindu (also called Vedic) astrology. These free services are computerized but their point of view is fresh and interesting, a nice change from the usual Internet astrology which increasingly is corporate-run, with many daily horoscopes starting to sound alike.

Of course on Cyberastro.com you can become a premium member, or purchase other more in-depth kinds of reports such as business and financial predictions for the year ($40 to $95 U.S.) or the $50 "Vedic Astrology based Report, which will indicate you about the ups & downs prevailing in your life path during next one year, so that you can avoid the slumps & take advantage of the favourable times." Who wouldn't want that? (Smile.) The one thing I recommend against is buying the site's prescription gems. If you try CyberAstro's paid services, do email me and let me know whether you were satisfied.

Sylvia Sky, experienced astrologer, monitors 70-plus online horoscope and psychic sites for quality and accuracy. Copyright 2011 by Sylvia Sky.

Use the Zodiac to Compliment Women

Please see the article here:

http://hubpages.com/hub/Use-the-Zodiac-to-Compliment-Women

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.