Feliz Snakelianos de agua...

Erm... Or something. It's probably good I don't speak a word of Chinese, because that would be even less intelligible.

So what am I on about?

Yesterday, which I don't remember the word for in Spanish (ayer?), not that that matters, since this has nothing to do with Spanish except in my ability to mangle a title... but yesterday was the Chinese New Year... and THIS YEAR is the year of the SNAKE (specifically, the water snake)!!! (get it now?)

So what does that mean for everybody?

Well that depends what sign YOU were born under and how compatible that is with snakes. As a horse, I'm not particularly hopeful, as snakes are known to spook horses... but so is pretty much anything small. I got thrown from a horse once because of a rabbit. Wasn't a particularly scary rabbit... just one that moved fast and startled the horse.

This is a broad band water snake: you don't suppose he gets WiFi?

But water snakes are creative, intelligent, compassionate... all sorts of good stuff. So you can put away any snakiphobia you have about it. Snakes are charming, but the water snake seems a little more... real—less enchanter, more reality based. Not that we go in much for reality around here, but some of those snakes can be pretty freaky. Oprah is a water snake, which surely you ALL find reassuring.

So wishing you all a magical, amazing year!!!


In OTHER News...

I finished BIG EDIT for What Ales Me (my first shake at editing a book, I do small edit with notes, BIG EDIT where I address all the big things the notes pointed out, then SMOOTHING). So today I start smoothing. I have one reader lined up, but if anybody else is interested in a developmental read of it (micro-brew, Portland based)--developmental means NOT line editing, just notes of the big stuff—what is working, what isn't, spot any plot holes or missed opportunities..., I'd love another reader or two. Ideally it will be ready for that in maybe 7-10 days.

I have a HUGE HUGE exciting thing happening to a friend. But I can't tell you. *ducks*
(I will shout as soon as I can)

Two days left to first ABNA cuts... so that's something...

Dragon Speaks

So I am crawling out of the crypt. I feel a little like my fingers are bloodied and I am inching my way slowly. Hubby's health stuff is not moving much, which is stressful—I feel like he's strapped to me and I am having to pull him along for each inch I move. But I have heaved past the revisions my editor needed (One polish round still needs finishing, but the big work is done). It scares me a little that I need to keep plugging through the whole book to accommodate the changes, but I can pace myself more on that. For NOW, I turn to finishing my ABNA tweaks, as ABNA is OPEN. More on that tomorrow.

Today, I wanted to give you a heads up.

He looks menacing, but I love dragons.

It starts the Lunar New Year, otherwise known as the Chinese New Year. And it is the Year of the Dragon. More specifically, it is an Earth Dragon in Water year (most stuff says Water Dragon—I can't figure out what the subtlety is about): The Black Dragon.

Happy Black Dragon New Year!

Whether that is good news or bad news for you depends on your animal and element. This site will help you figure that out.

Here are the fortunes: http://www.geomancy.net/resources/yearly-forecast/fortunes-2012.htm

If you don't know your sign and element, it is probably best to go here first: http://www.geomancy.net/reports/free-report/freerpt-element.htm

I've known for years I was a fire horse. I had had NO CLUE that I had an element besides that—it looks like it might be related to western astrology signs, as mine is 'weak water' (Cancer is also water and I am early in it). The other new information I found that I LOVE is in the Chinese calendar I was born the 5th day of the 5th month. Five has been my favorite number since I was (you guessed it) five.

But other than that vague 'it will be a good year' what does a dragon year have in store generally?


The Feng Shui forcast says this:

“this year is going to be a transformational life-changing year! Generally, there are more goodies in store for you in the year 2012 than 2011. It’s a good year to improve oneself, take calculated investment risks and to build wealth. The year 2012 holds much promise and may be a major transition in your life. Whether it turns out extremely good, or really bad, will depend on how you ride the mighty Water Dragon!

The three powerful stars present in the year’s chart are the Star of Aggressive Sword, the Star of the External Flower of Romance and the Star of Powerful Mentors.”

The rest of that site was trying to sell amulets, so I will leave their grim predictions there...

This depressing site that looks like the equivalent of the Farmer's Almanac (and helpfully explains that earth and water thing—water ON earth) predicts a bunch of earthquakes and water disasters (erm... and epidemics). But thankfully less violent fighting:
http://www.fengshuitoday.org/features/the-year-of-the-dragon (not incompatible with those pesky Mayans)


But I am going forward hopeful, as for a fire horse who is weak water, it is predicted to be a good year. And my personal horoscope gave years when things would be 'lucky' versus unlucky in terms of financial fortune and unless I live past 105, the rest of my life looks lucky (the first half looked pretty darned grim—a truism)--so I've got that going for me...

I wish you all a great year. Please pay some homage to the moon and go out and dance naked tonight, even if there will be no moonlight...

My Bull Addiciton

Taurus, as some of you may know... is a very PLAYFUL sign. As a Cancer, two signs away, it happens to be the most perfectly MATCHED playful sign, and somehow this stretch of May is VERY hard for me to do anything... productive... Why, you must wonder... memories, for one... the 8th of May... for another...

We Cancers are sort of an emotional, family oriented sort, by reputation, but the Taurus playfulness has a sort of childlike joy to it... it doesn't SEEM like the self-indulgent play of the fire signs, or the self-destructive play of Pisces... Taurus play is a drug we Cancers can get addicted to.

I have several fast friendships with Taureans, and they are a different sort than a lot of my friendships. That complimentary thing goes a long way in bond formation. (yes, I believe this, though I never look at birthday when forming friendships... it's an after-thing). It's funny though... the difference in the girls and boys...

I have some good friends who are April Tauruses... relatively normal friendships—mostly female, but some males... I like them a lot... a lot in common... easy camaraderie...

Then there is the Week of the Exes... I honestly didn't even know most of these guys were Tauruses until reconnecting on FB but May 4-9 only has one day without a 'past love'--by love, I mean only infatuation/attraction most of the time, but considering there are 2 of them on the 5th, and that this is probably HALF of my life's deep attractions (3 of the others are Virgos... like me some earth signs, I guess—only 3 aren't one or the other (there is a Cancer, a Leo and a Libra in the others, if anyone cares))--seriously... what are the odds... that 6 of 12 'loves' would have their birthday in the same week? If ANYONE can explain this, I'd love to hear it. Note ALL of these are only friends now—I married one of my Virgos... in fact the 3 Virgos are the only 3 I ever felt I might marry... weird, astrology, when you think of it...

I suppose my memory may be skewed because ALL these Taurus boys are in my 'current friends' set—easier to remember people you still talk to (then again that says something... that I still talk to them...) ... but I have a feeling this particular week is ALSO one with the ability to relax the sometimes insecure Cancer. They have a sense of fun, a sense of loyalty, and an enjoyment in a little self-indulgence that is fairly suited to that first week of Cancer. (I'd LOVE feedback from my friends born this week... ALL of us are writers, so I know there are a few of you out there)

And then we get to the week starting 5/12... Of my 'intentional friendships'--those perhaps FORMED by proximity, but maintained because there is a deep connection... the 12th to the 19th is a pretty good run week on girlfriends for me. My current boss falls in here, for which I believe I am VERY fortunate.... one of my middle school friends... but my friend Stacy, who is the single person more nutty than me that I know, and my friend Natalie (I have a daughter named after her if that is any indication of how I feel)... this timing is the PERFECT match for total support... for fun when it is appropriate, for unjudging honesty... for BEING THERE...


So in honor... I just wanted to toss you all a little bull...

Taurus is ruled by Venus, goddess of beauty and the arts. This brings a love of luxury and affinity for the physical expression of love... tangible, tactile... do I need to be more clear? Sex matters. (as does good food, drink and ambience).

Tauruses LIKE STUFF... it is an aesthetics thing... they want to be surrounded by beauty (Cancer's like stuff, too, but for us, it is security).

The SYMBOL of Taurus, represents the bull and horns, but also the CUP of material power brought about by force of will. (HA! Force of will! I know about that!)

Taurus rules the neck and throat and often has individuals with a lovely speaking or singing voice (my daughter the Taurus provides supporting evidence here... she has had perfect pitch since birth (and covered my mouth because I didn't when she was a toddler *rolls eyes*)

So to all you Tauruses out there... I love yibus! You are my kind of drug. You keep we hermit Cancers venturing into the world and having fun, in spite of our hermit habits. I promise to always reflect as accurately as possible, as I think you can use the emotional check of your most complimentary sign.

Complimentary Astrology

So I am also over at Burrowers, Books & Balderdash today, and I am ALSO talking Astrology there, but THERE, I am applying it to ME. (post goes up at noon GMT) But HERE, I am applying it to WRITING.

I did this once before, but I think I had about 40 followers back then, and my use has changed. I am going to START with a pet peeve of mine...

[And yes, I'm aware of the tilty shifty thing and thirteenth probable sign. My thinking is THIS though. Over many centuries, trait clusters have been observed... those still exists. Maybe not related to the zodiac animal we thought, but they are there, so I like it as a tool ANYWAY].




Characters with the WRONG Birthday!!!

I GET that not all people BUY Astrology, but that doesn't stop it from bugging the HECK out of me if an author bothers to give a character a birthday and they give one COMPLETELY incompatible with their personality.

There are a lot of signs with wiggle room in a lot of domains, but... a shy and retiring fire sign? Aren't gunna find one. A super emotional or sensitive should be water, but they HAVE to fall within a feminine sign (water or earth).

Harry Potter (because it's been too long)

JK Rowling did a pretty darned good job with birthdays. Not all of it was apparent up front (though some of it was). Harry (her brainchild) shares her birthday (July 31), which was probably brilliance for keeping consistency. He is a Leo... but not the 'show stopper' Leo... say that Ginny is. Hermione the Virgo (Sep 19).. DUH—every answer in a book---MAD in Half Blood Prince that Harry gets better Potions results by following ALTERNATE rules... total Virgo (says the woman married to a Virgo). Even Ron as Pisces (Mar 1)... Pisces is the LAST of the Zodiac signs and so can be a bit reckless... ideas hopping lines between light and dark... (life and death)--look at this in light of his doubt in Deathly Hallows. The only DIFFICULTY with her placement is Harry (the Leo) and Hermione (the Virgo) should have more trouble getting along—those two signs are notoriously incompatible. But then Hermione is REALLY on the cusp of Libra, so perhaps her sense of balance makes the difference.

Even her sub-characters... Draco as a Gemini? Yes. James as an Ares (ABSOLUTELY—had to be a fire sign... so did Sirius). Remus as Pisces.

My only quibble with her placement is Luna. She pegged Luna as a Leo, and Luna is an Aquarius if ever I saw one... completely set and comfortable being 'out there' with her ideas.

Some Dominant Traits by Sign

Aries: this is the sign of ME ME ME. Lots of charisma, often leaders... but can be vacuums.
Taurus: playful, leisure (and beauty) loving, stubborn.
Gemini: smart, flexible, fickle
Cancer: Persistent, supportive, needy
Leo: Generous, charisma of a more generous sort than Aries (think cult leader), hot headed
Virgo: Smart, organized, picky
Libra: Fair, even-keeled, indecisive.
Scorpio: playful, loyal, secretive.
Sagittarius: Lucky, fun, the only sign with no negative trait which is annoying.
Capricorn: Hard working, genuine (less inclined to games than other signs), paranoid (in a security oriented way)
Aquarius: unique, free spirited, detached.
Pisces: Intuitive, open, reckless

Broadly, the feminine signs (red) seek some form of security and the masculine (blue) seek some form of recognition.



So how do I use this in MY writing?

I typically write my character FIRST (a few scenes to see how they act—a profile of what I know they NEED) and then I assign them a compatible birthday. If I CAN, I like it to have a personal meaning... the birthday of a friend or family member... but then I use what I KNOW of that sign to drive responses that weren't part of that original profile but come up... for instance a girl's crush is talking to another girl... does she CARE? Is she JEALOUS? Does she walk up and join? Is the motivation for that reminding him she's there, or is she that comfortable? (or oblivious to the potential?)[I use this example because romance is never my primary plot... if I DID write romance, I'd probably choose a sign with this in mind... feminine signs are more possessive and inclined to jealousy, other than that chest-pounding property kind... really AIR is the only one sort of oblivious (re: secure enough they don't really feel threatened)--the rest of us get jealous in some form or other unless we have life lessons that train us differently—or in my case, a collection need and recognition I can hardly get jealous when I expect him not to]


Do any of you consider Astrology when you write?