The rise of the constellation Aquarius indicates the beginning of the planting/harvest cycle coinciding as it did with the annual flooding of the Nile in ancient Egypt. This association with Spring is borne out in our time by our celebration of Groundhog Day. Aquarius is a time of awakening from the hibernation of Capricorn: A time when we look around us to see how we can bring our lives into better alignment with the future goals of humanity. Aquarius is an Air sign and therefore has yang or masculine energy.

The monthly installment of The Great Astrological Light Bulb Joke:

Q. How many Aquarians does it take to change a light bulb?

A. Well, you have to remember that everything is energy, so....

Note: I have no idea who originally wrote this. Erika sent it to me years ago and I still think it’s as funny as it is insightful!

January 20^th - The Sun enters the 30 degree portion of the space-time continuum we know as Aquarius.

January 21^st is a new moon in Aquarius: The Moon and Sun are conjunct in the sky. The moon is dark and gradually increases to a crescent. This is the time to begin a ritual involving a new project, to ask for new vision. Does the moon look the same from different places on the earth? No, it does not. Here is a great website explaining what the moon looks like from various places, and why: What Does the Waxing or Waning Moon Look Like in Different Parts of the World?

January 22^nd is the Chinese New Year - The Year of the Monkey:

Click these links to read how these yearly rulerships are determined as well as a forecast for this year:

Year 2004 of Chinese Astrology Green Monkey Year

Raymond-Lo: The Year of the Monkey

February 2nd is Candlemas or Groundhog Day

If Candlemas day be fair and bright,

Winter will have another flight

If Candlemas day be clouds and rain,

Winter is gone, and will not come again.

-- E. Holden

This is the traditional day to take down the Winter decorations. Groundhog Day is a Canadian and American tradition: the groundhog, or woodchuck, comes out of his hole after winter hibernation to look for his shadow. If he sees it: There will be six more weeks of bad weather. If he cannot see his shadow (because of clouds), Spring is coming. He is supposed to go back into hibernation if more winter is ahead and stay above ground if Spring is near. Unfortunately, statistical evidence does not support this tradition. Did you see the movie "Groundhog Day" with Bill Murray? Well, you can click here for Punxutawney Phil's official website and visit www.groundhog.org.

February 6th is a Full moon in Leo: The Moon and Sun are opposite each other in the sky. The Moon reflects all of the Sun's light. This is the time to perform rituals for protection, clarity of vision and consecration.

February 6th is also the first Friday of the month and therefore the Dunthor Open House & Get Together. (see details below)

February 14th is St. Valentine's Day: This is another instance of the Christian church adding a new overlay of meaning to an existing holiday. The 14th of February was Rome's feast of Juno, Goddess of Marriage and the Queen of the Gods. This was the day when marriages and betrothals were performed. The 15th of February was the Roman holiday of Lupercalia. Lupercal refers to the cave in which the she-wolf suckled Romulus and Remus, the future founders of Rome. It was at the Lupercalia in 44 BC when Mark Antony, dressed as a reveler, approached Julius Caesar with the Laurel wreath of kingship. Julius Caesar rejected the offer at that time.

During the reign of Claudius II a series of unpopular military campaigns were underway. "Claudius the Cruel" was having difficulty finding motivated soldiers and blamed this on his fellow Roman's love of home and married life. So, he outlawed marriage. Saints Valentine & Marius went about the communities marrying couples in secret and were apprehended and martyred as a result. Saint Valentine became the patron saint of those who love under duress.

During Pluto's era of gangsters, St. Valentine's Day marks Capone's massacre of his rival Moran's gang. McGurn, in charge off the hit on Moran, lured the gang into a bootleggers warehouse to make a buy. Then his own men, dressed in stolen police uniforms and trench coats, gunned them down. Moran arrived late and was not killed. There wasn't enough evidence against Capone to make a case.

Click here to read about the St. Valentine's Day Massacre at one of my very favorite websites: Crime Library

February16th is President's Day

February 18^th - The Sun Enters Pisces

This is pietersite. Aren’t they gorgeous stones? They contain swirls of black, caramel, gold and brown tones. Pietersite is about change. According to tradition, it resonates with Aquarius. Aquarius can elevate us above personal interest to impersonal ideal. The swirling colors and natural chatoyancy represent the power to change one’s life.

Call or drop me an email if you are interested in purchasing these pendants.

To learn more about how to use Gemstones in your daily life, see "What Gemstones Should I Wear?" guide in our Library.

Click here to learn more about purchasing Inga's Earth Magic Jewelry.

Aquarius is when we become aware of the world again after hibernating indoors for Capricorn. Our preoccupation with getting gifts wrapped and shipped on time is replaced by a new interest in what is going on in the outside world. Something I’ve noticed over the years is that everyone starts talking about politics again.

Elections belong to the people. It is their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they will just have to sit on their blisters." -- Abraham Lincoln

A lot of readers have sent me links over the last couple of weeks and I’ll include some here:

• Move On

• Grist Magazine

• The League of Women Voters

• King County Government

• Michael Moore

I accept credit cards for services, astrological reports, and jewelry through PayPal. Scott added a button to each page of my website to click for payment. When you click it the button, the new screen will ask for quantity: type in 1 to pay 50.00, 2 to pay 100, etc. If you have an odd amount and want to pay by paypal, email me and Scott will make you your own button. I have been using PayPal both as a buyer and seller since 2000 without a hitch. If you are not currently using PayPal, click here to visit their website. 

We think of this newsletter as a community forum. You, our friends and clients, are welcome to participate. We celebrate diversity and we'll print whatever you send in be it Wiccan, Christian, Pagan, New Age, etc., as long as it reflects Love. You may choose a one-time holiday to write about or have a regular column. We'll give you space and a byline! Please send in your own book reviews, ideas for rituals, ideas about stones, your journal excerpts, your experiences and most of all, ask us questions. We love answering questions!

Three quotes from Scott:

"There never has been a war yet which, if the facts had been put calmly before the ordinary folk, could not have been prevented...The common man, I think, is the great protection against war." -- Ernest Bevin, Speech in the House of Commons, 11/23/45

"I believe there is still something inherent in the fiber of America worth saving, and that the fortunes of the entire world may well ride on the ability of young Americans to face the responsibilities of an old America gone mad." -- Phil Ochs

The meaning of life is to give life meaning. -- Ken Hudgins

A quote from Deborah:

“Looking back we see with great clarity,

and what once appeared as difficulties

now reveal themselves as blessings.” -- Dan Millman (writer)

From Dawna:

"If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you.

This is the principal difference between a dog and a man." -- Mark Twain

From Kim:

"When I am working on a problem, I never think about beauty. I think only how to solve the problem. But when I have finished, if the solution is not beautiful, I know it is wrong." -- Buckminster Fuller

From Sunny:

Happy Year of the Monkey!

We've always wondered what would happen if we got the friends we've made through Inga's Earth Magic (IEM) into a room together. Why? Because every one of us has a unique gift to offer to the world. And if we get enough of us in one place at the same time, something magical is bound to occur.

• When: The 1st Friday of every month. Please join us for dinner. We start eating around 7 PM. Or join us for dessert later on!
• Where: Our place (click on LIBRARY in the navigation bar at the top of the screen and then MAP ROOM for directions)
• What to bring: Just your enthusiasm and love! There's a big pot of pasta on the stove, salad, bread and plenty of microbrews and red wine. If you have specific preferences, please bring whatever you'd like.
• How long: Until the good conversation ends! If you'd like, you can spend the night on one of the couches with the kitties or bring your sleeping bag and mat and camp out on the floor of Inga's office.
• RSVP: Just let us know in advance via e-mail or phone if you are coming and if you are bringing guests so we don't run out of food or beer!

Instead of writing an article for Aquarius, I've been having fun updating or adding pages to my website. See below. */:-)

• The Couch Rocket - 2003 Honda Gold Wing (GL1800A)
• You know you ride in Seattle when....
• Activities observed taking place in cages from the saddle of a motorcycle
• Motorcycle Humor
• Great Quotes
• And you thought it always rains in Seattle!

Click on this link to visit the Amazon home page. If you buy a product through this link, Amazon will pay Inga's Earth Magic a referral fee that we'll use to help offset the cost of our web page. Thanks in advance!

Distribution via e-mail is free of charge. We feel the Internet is a great way to share knowledge and information and very compatible with the environment.

Distribution via US mail is also free but if you'd like to help offset the paper, postage and envelope costs, please send $12. That pays for 12 issues for one year. Please send a check and your name and address to the address listed below. Thanks!

We certainly hope you enjoyed our newsletter. If you are not interested in this information and would like to be removed from this mailing list, please click the e-mail link below and place the word "REMOVE" in the subject line of your message. This message is being sent to you in compliance with the Federal legislation for commercial e-mail (H.R.4176 - Section 101, Paragraph (e)(1)(a)) and Bill s.1618 Title III passed by the 105th US Congress.