Opportunity may knock more than once.....

Astrology is a practice like medicine and law. It is a judgemental amplifier and works in the
real world where the laws of physics and chemistry apply; but it is not an exact science in the academic sense.

After having shown a group of history students around the British museum, Sylvie, a frail old lady, recognised me and invited me for a cup of tea at a nearby cafe. She got her laptop out so that she could make more detailed notes of historic events. Is anything significant going to happen today? she purred.

Well its Sunday the 27th May 2007 lets look to the stars.

I had spotted an aspect where the moon was coming to perfection with Jupiter. This meant that the faster closing moon was approaching an aspect to Jupiter at 16 degrees of Sagittarius.

The moon was moving from 15 Libra to 16 Libra exactly at two o'clock. There was only one race then, and it was at Clonmell in Ireland. We went to the betting shop and I was distressed to see no prices on the monitor! It was 1.56pm! The aspect was only red hot for 4 minutes, say up to about 2.04. If the race was late luck would stop being a lady. Jupiter and the whole chart gave me the noun 'wood' amongst others like the more adjectival “noble” which is more a matter of perception = 'grace and favour'. So the privilege flattery was much less than the solid “wood which is in the world where it grows slowly and changes shape but does not require an accident of birth or a vote.

My chosen horses 'Wychwood Way' and 'Inwood' came in first and second on cue.

Later I was surprised to see 'Storm' win although it was a near favourite at 9/2 whereas my horses were both 14 to one For a favourite the symbolism is less critical than the form and biorhythms of the horse.

My new friend Sylvie was intrigued by woody items as her name derived from 'sivestris' or wood in Latin. She chose 'Smokey Oaky', as to her, this was solid wood material. As a codicil she jokingly asserted that she was a strong clever witch and would send out her spell just before the race. The race she was looking at was the 3.15. and I advised her accordingly, but she insisted on placing the bet anyway.

She wanted to put a big bet on, but the shop refused the full amount and only took £100.
The horse was second last in the betting and the favourite was 13/8. The second favourite 15/8.
I was not too confident as she was banking on Smokey Oaky I feared Jupiter's thunderbolts!

With the fresh clouds near ground level, we watched excitedly as the horses came out of the mists in the final 200m. Sylvie threw her betting slip in the air as Smokey Oaky romped home by a good length. Naturally I was thilled for her, but puzzled by the wining streak. I had placed some bets using different symbolism = 'age' and 'restriction' for around 6 pm when the moon was coming to 18 Libra and Saturn was at 18 Leo. These bets won by each way placing. As I expected, Saturn not really being able to do much but swing the lead on a boat.

Then it dawned on me Saturn was is aspect to Jupiter, but separating like the moon the long arm of saturns law had reached out to embrace all the usual suspects thus wood had again been in play!.
'Holbein' was a non runner at 2. If he had run he would have been a slight danger as he was favourite and got votes by ageing noble. Saturn had lost the key to let him out of his stall. Now Saturn, who tends to delay but not deny things, had become our friend and saviour. We stopped and searched our memorys. The laws of karma had transferred the light of the moon back to Jupiter.

Luck was still running along and I suddenly knew that Sylvie's smile could be made even better. We actually bet on two dogs and, thanks to saturns gracious intervention, they came up trumps! Total combined odds 1980 to one. Next time a pigeon whispers in my ear, there will be life left in the old dog yet.

Richard Lawler.