Archive for May, 2009





Buying travel insurance can be tricky. Complaints have risen twenty percent in the last year, according to the UK Financial Ombudsman. The problem appears to be that too many people buy travel insurance without actually reading their policy carefully enough to know what is actually covered!

Travel Insurance with Medical Cover

A few areas have proven particularly problematic. Medical cover, which typically will offer medical treatment worth up to AUS$4.5m and above, might sound like exactly what you’re looking for. However, if you have a pre-existing medical condition, the insurance you paid for may not cover you at all. Read the fine print on ‘pre-existing conditions’ or you may find yourself in trouble. Alcohol is another problem. Insurers may refuse to pay out if the loss or accident happened whilst you were under the influence.

Loss of Personal Effects

Generally, one thing you expect your travel insurance to cover is loss and theft. Chances are you will only be refunded the current value - that is, the second hand price of the item that has been stolen from you or that you have lost. If the item is classified as valuable - and this includes travel essentials like cameras - your claim may be limited to AUS$500 or some other arbitrary number. Worse, this number will cap the reimbursement on all valuable items, not on a per-item basis. These tricks might seem like they’d only be a problem with bargain basement policies but they actually happen in more expensive policies also.

Be Thorough & Read Your Travel Insurance Policy

One thing you must do is read the entire policy carefully. If it doesn’t explicitly mention the cover you require, do not assume it is included; it almost certainly will not be. For example if you are going skiing and you have travel insurance, you must make sure it covers winter sports or you may find that you are unable to claim anything skiing-related. The last and most important rule of buying insurance is ask before you buy - you can always save your quotes and come back later.

While his core interest on a day-to-day basis is personal finance, Tom Becker is also a keen traveller. He writes at MoneyCompare.com.au, which is a comparison website that compares travel insurance, holiday insurance and business travel insurance online.



Aquarius Relationships Explained





This is often one of the most intriguing star signs. Aquarius are truly amazing friends and seem to have the ability to be friends with everyone. Aquarius are probably are difficult to find and have few enemies. Just because you are the friend of an Aquarius it does not really mean that much. They will think little of losing your friendship and are unlikely to be offended. An Aquarius’ loyalty is poor and you can not count on their support in your time of need.

However, it does not take years before a Aquarius, in fact it can take only a matter of days before an Aquarius will trust those around them. It is difficult to tell whether you are a close friend of an Aquarius or not. They will talk behind your back at times and can be somewhat two faced. Aquarius are often tuned into the feelings of those around them and will say something just to please someone, even if they do not mean it. Aquarius can be laissez-faire when it comes to relationships. They have no urgency and are happy for the situation to happen the same. Aquarius’ rarely find it hard to get over an ex-partner.

Emotion plays an important part in the life of any Aquarius but they have a certain ability to control their emotions. An Aquarius will calculate and pick their moment rather than confront the problem. If you think an Aquarius has forgotten something they almost certainly have not. It sounds dreadful but Aquarius is the most murderous of the star signs. If they feel they are ill-treated or offended some make take matters into their own hands and exact the ultimate revenge.

In love, Aquarius is arguably one of the worst signs to be loved by. Aquarius will often seem detached and have a tendency to sulk. An Aquarius is not the one for big romantic gestures and will rely on their own characteristics to lure the opposite sex.

http://www.psychicfutures.com

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Why would someone want to gamble that their trip might unravel so much that insurance is required? No one wants to even think along the lines of getting sick overseas or having an accident, getting delayed en route and missing a connecting flight or bad weather causing major traffic delays. So they assume buying trip insurance is likely to bring on a disaster instead of helping you through one. Here are a few examples where trip insurance is valuable and why the state of the airline industry today almost requires that you purchase trip insurance.

Airlines are cutting capacity - sometimes drastically. Some smaller airports will have so few flights in and out that if you miss your flight, you will likely have to wait a day or two to get on the next one. Each night lost costs you perhaps $80-100 for a hotel room. And if the flight you missed is a once a day overseas flight, you are almost guaranteed that you won’t just be able to catch tomorrow’s flight either, as these once a day flights are usually oversold to begin with. If you are flying stand-by or as an airline employee, the risk is even greater as you will be THE LAST people considered for a vacant seat. The bottom line is more and more people are getting ’stranded’ at the airport and are looking for rooms at the last minute.

Rebooking on the next days flight (if you can do so) will also likely cost you more than you paid for your ticket unless you just recently purchased it or it wasn’t purchased at a sale price. I recently helped a guest traveling from El Salvador through Los Angeles and San Francisco to Mumbai, India and they missed the connection in LA. The next available flight was out of S.F. but not for 2 more days AND it cost them an additional $1400. This is on top of the $300 they spent with us.

Trip insurance with this type of coverage would have covered them for ALL increases in ticket fares AND for the hotel rooms. Thus simply spending $100 would have saved them almost $2000. This is where trip insurance is almost a necessity. Flying in winter risks bad weather at times. Airline service cuts reduces seats and flights and means your chances of catching a similar (priced) plane the next day are lessened greatly. And we haven’t even begun to explore any medical emergencies you may incur.

It’s not pleasant to think about such things when all you want to do is get to your vacation spot or dream destination place. Or even home for that matter. When the odds are good you won’t incur bad weather and you have plenty of option on other flights, insurance may be a luxury you can’t afford. But if you can’t afford the $100 for insurance, how are you going to feel about hitting your credit card for another $1200-2000 in additional fare charges on a different flight? Or $6,000 for emergency room charges in Spain or London? If that would break your family finances, then think of the additional insurance charge as part of the initial ticket cost and leave on your trip with a greater sense of peace.

David C. Reynolds is an author and longtime veteran of the Hotel business who offers common sense, money saving travel tips and advice. You can find many good travel tips in his articles and links to airline and hotel bookings and even trip insurance companies on his travel blog at http://www.bookhotelscheaper.com.







Isn’t it wonderful to have a positive outlook for the new coming year? A neutral expectation that will either warn, guide and excite us about the possible outcomes this new year might render. Some cunning predictions and pattern analyzes by psychics and astrologers keep us on track of what things to come and what awaits for our new life for this whole new year. A kind of resolution that will list the nighest DOs and DON’Ts we can rely on for the rest of the year depending on our star and planet association.

The new track of earth to a whole orbital cycle towards the sun can either advantageous or perilous to one’s star sign or zodiac polarity. Say, a Gemini might find this year as diverting and jumpy thus will end up either like a life-learning adventure or a crazy unpredictable living. His/her emotional and physical strengths would be the weapon as they seek for the most fulfilling journey to spirituality this year. The odds between his/her life patterns pertain changes and career deviations. Changes that could right-track Gemini people’s path through a year-end success and wisdom.

Just like Gemini’s possible fate this year, Sagittarius people will encounter new things though not necessarily as changes of their life route. It’s a kind of educational enrichment where new ideas, principles and field innovations will excite Sagittariuses as they crave for more knowledge-seeking ventures. Student Sagittarius might find this year surprising as they might come up with unique ideas as for invention, principle or technology innovations.

As Pisces also seek for things to learn this year, most of it will be from the people he/she will meet or drawn to. The more friends and acquaintances Pisces gain this year, the more they will be successful as Sagittariuses do in seeking perfect erudition. They might encourage themselves to excel in their field through the influence of his/her team and team mates. Group studies will be the closest experiment for their learning patterns.

But people that will surround Leos this year won’t be a training advantage for them. Otherwise, they will be just their coercive inspiration to progress in their career and lifestyle. Especially with their family and friends, the mutual status of relationship with Leo will define their success drive. Likewise, more friends and close acquaintances will be one of his/her primary assets in business, career and diplomatic-sort of growth.

Self-worth and enjoyment would be the odd basic of Libra people this year. They’re mostly eyeing their pursuit of happiness along with their nostalgia for their younger or childhood fun and plays. Though some signs might find Libras to be shallow towards felicitousness, their lightheartedness will become symmetrical to the positive attitude Sagittarius are known to.

Yet Libra’s pursuit of happiness isn’t elaborate about what would be their common candy to enjoy, money would be for Capricorn’s. The cash and credit flow would be their constant business as they spend and earn more finances this year. Some might possibly win raffle draws and even lottery as their luck for money-making exhorts. Capricorn’s quest for high salary jobs would be a piece of cake as they grab every opportunities that will pour to their way. Their ability to control and budget wealth would be the key to their impending prosperity through the end of 2009.

The author recommends to visit the site of universal psychic guild for online psychics and psychic services like dream interpretation, Chinese horoscopes, numerology, tarot card readings, and online psychics advice in love, relationship, health, career, well-being.



Crystals For Sun Sign in Libra





September 23 - October 22

Birthstone: Sapphire and Opal
Abundance Crystal: Sapphire

You are attracted to harmonious colors and they are also very important to you; this is the reason Sapphire resonates with you so well. Sapphire is known as the peace stone and it helps you align with the mental, spiritual and physical areas of your life and keeps you in balance which is very important to you. You love a tranquil life and Sapphire creates this automatically for you, all you have to do is carry it on you and/or wear it.

A Libra is happiest when in a loving partnership, your other birthstone the Opal supports faithfulness which is very important to you. You are known for the laid back sun sign, your prefer things to come easy rather than work hard to get them. There is also a tendency toward indecision and you lean towards perfection in all that you do.

Opal stimulates your creativity and assists your intuition to increase; another important thing that the Opal encourages and supports a positive outlook as your image and looking good is important to you, so if your self worth is less that full this stone can raise this to level where you are more comfortable with yourself.

People pleasing is a huge challenge for you, you really dislike confrontations and it is very important to you that people like you and so you can tend to put others before yourself, if this tends to be an issue with you carry a Tiger’s Eye and it will turn your attention back to yourself and align your inner with your outer.

Because of your strong pull towards perfection you can tend to be judgmental, but wearing or carrying an Aquamarine will help you have more tolerance towards others and allow more room for them to make their own mistakes.

As with all sun signs there are certain areas of the body that show up weaker than others, and you are no exception. The kidneys, the lumbar region and the endocrine areas are your weaker spots. Jade is the crystal that is great for the kidneys it cleanses, purifies and energizes the kidneys and has been used for that for many years now. Fire Opal is great for the lumbar and also the kidneys and can be used to stimulate the sexual organs also. Amethyst supports the endocrine system and can promote healthy hormones and can also balance the endocrine system.

Darlene has researched, practiced and implemented many spiritual and personal growth paths: Crystal Readings for Vibrant Living; Feng Shui for personal tranquility; Sacred Movements for a disciplined life; Gentle Touch Energy Healer; Whole and organic food advocate-Food as Medicine; Artist of hand woven and beaded amulet basket necklaces. She resides in California in her own personal wellness center and sanctuary. She brings her wisdom, knowledge and spiritual self to you in all that she does. Darlene’s mission is to teach and encourage individuals how to find and maintain their balance in mind, body, spirit connection, which brings peace, joy and prosperity into their lives. They learn how to experience the joy of balanced living. She accomplishes this thru her Crystal Readings for Vibrant Living and her Wellness Coach Program, which is offer to individuals and corporations. Receive her f.ree report “Learn 7 Ways to Manifest Abundance With Crystals” at Spirited Boutique

Darlene Siddons



Crystals For Moon in Aries





Moon Crystal: Snow Quartz

Intuition Crystal: Aventurine

For your fiery moon, Snow Quartz works perfectly as it helps you understand the value of co-operation and finding the middle ground in situations. Snow Quartz also assists energy to go to its perfect balance for your being and it also helps the behavior patterns that always seem to be ingrained in the Aries Moon sign. Snow Quartz also helps negativity and clears the mind and brings clarity.

You have great courage and are very initiative, with strong ideals and lots of stamina, with the ability to assert yourself. You are an enthusiastic leader and others will follow where you lead. Aventurine will support these positive moon qualities and assist you in your care and concern for others. Aventurine is also used to elevate your spiritual vibrations, this crystal works very quickly and that works well with your impatient moon.

You have charisma in all that you do; you are full of passion, freedom and adventure along with emotional needs that demand instant gratification. You seldom like advice and/or being told what to do and some would say that you tend to be headstrong, but your real desire is to move out of selfishness to make contact with others and be open to friendships; the crystal that assists you to compromise between your needs and the needs of others is Kunzite, this crystal helps compulsive behavior, immaturity, depression and any thing related to stress.

Pyrite is excellent for your self worth and inner peace, you hate to be kept waiting and Pyrite carried with you all the time reduces this frustration and also helps negativity.

Blue Lace Agate assists in anger, impatience and encourages acceptance, discipline and reliability with the headstrong Aries Moon; it can also bring balance and emotional stability and improves communication on all levels.

Thought for the Day: “If you have not consciously made the decision to be rich, excellent, and healthy, then you have unconsciously made the decision to be poor, mediocre, and unhealthy.” -Wallace D. Wattles-

Darlene has researched, practiced and implemented many spiritual and personal growth paths: Crystal Readings for Vibrant Living; Feng Shui for personal tranquility; Sacred Movements for a disciplined life; Gentle Touch Energy Healer; Whole and organic food advocate-Food as Medicine; Artist of hand woven and beaded amulet basket necklaces. She resides in California in her own personal wellness center and sanctuary. She brings her wisdom, knowledge and spiritual self to you in all that she does. Darlene’s mission is to teach and encourage individuals how to find and maintain their balance in mind, body, spirit connection, which brings peace, joy and prosperity into their lives. They learn how to experience the joy of balanced living. She accomplishes this thru her Crystal Readings for Vibrant Living and her Wellness Coach Program, which is offer to individuals and corporations. Darlene Siddons Spirited Boutique



Love Horoscopes and Your Love Life





Are you out in the quest for love? — When this happens, it is very important for most people to have a quick look on their personal love horoscopes. We tend to have faith in these small advices that the stars eventually give us and take them as our guidance on what to do for our next move. Should you ask her out on another date? Are you going to meet your soulmate today? Does he really like you? Once that these questions pop into our minds, chances are, we will be speeding off to our love horoscope just to check possible answers to our questions.

Astrology is known to be a very complicated science. Most people rely on this because they believe that the sun, the stars and other astrological bodies have something to say about our lives, especially when we are considering the romantic arena. For a start, the different signs are attributed with some elements. You can compare these so called Sun signs so that you will be able to know if you really are meant for each other or not. The astrological signs Aries, Leo and Sagittarius belong to the Fire element; Gemini, Libra and Aquarius all possess the Air element; the Earth element belongs to Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn; and lastly, Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces possess the Water element.

Those who are born with the Fire element in their astrological signs are generally known as passionate and assertive. Communication skills and social spontaneity dominate the characteristics of those who have the Air sign. People who belong to the Earth sign are known to be introverts but have a strong sense of stability in character. Those who have the Water sign are born to have intuition and receptiveness towards ideas. With these characteristics, you are now able to know whether you are compatible with your lover or not. All you have to do is to figure out his or her birth date and find out whether he or she has the same characteristics that belongs to each sign. Once that you have figured out that your characteristics match, then it would surely be a match made in heaven.

Another complicated way to use your love horoscopes in recognizing compatibilities is to come up with a Natal chart. In this way, you will have to determine the astrological signs of two potential romantic partners and then compare the signs that the planet Venus, the planet of love, is in. It may sound more complicated, but it is certainly more accurate than just figuring out the characteristics of your potential love partner.

By drawing a Natal chart, anyone would be able to determine the default characteristics of each sign and analyze whether or not will they be able to be together or not. The location of Venus in their signs will be able to show how these potential love partners will develop. Most people consult their love horoscopes because nothing is more important than determining whether your lifetime romantic partner is really for you or not.

Insightfulpsychics.com is the best place to learn about psychics and their amazing gifts. Visit us today and experience the world of psychics through a private Psychic chat session!



An Insight Into Prediction





We often turn to divination when we are troubled and yearn to know the outcome of a given situation. At these times some of us choose to read our horoscopes in the daily newspapers and hope for the best while others take it more seriously and use divinatory techniques such as the Tarot or the I-Ching. It is important to realize that these latter methods, potentially, provide us with a direct connection to our subconscious.

This presents its own challenges however. The primary rule when forming this link is to first achieve a clear state of mind. Clarity can be difficult to bring about when you feel under pressure or confused so take the time to relax and to narrow down your question. If your inquiry is clear and concise then your answer will reflect this. You will notice the significance that it has for you and will recognize it as being relevant to your circumstances.

Ambiguity is a common mistake that is made when casting any oracle i.e. Will I or wont I? Should I or shouldn’t I? For the best results you should either request advice about your current situation or ask about the outcome if you take a particular course of action. Alternatively be precise when you phrase your query and firm in the knowledge that you truly know what you want. Be aware that promising conditions in your life can be spoilt by overconfidence. Conversely, difficult circumstances can be turned around for the better if the correct course of action is taken at the right time.

The following are some examples that you might take into account when contemplating your question.

What aspect of my life should I pay particular attention to this year?

Please advise me about my future direction regarding my career.

What will be the outcome if I decide to…?

How should I proceed with respect to my personal life?

What action do I need to take to improve my situation?

These are just a few suggestions that will hopefully aid you in achieving your desired result.

You will also need to consider your immediate environment when working with a predictive technique. Every questioner should have his or her inner-sanctum. By this I mean a quiet room to work in. Avoid noise or possible interruptions as you will have to focus your thoughts in a calm manner. Try to keep the room simple so that it has minimal distractions that might otherwise catch your attention at the wrong time. Remember that the answer to your question could be the catalyst that changes your life for the better. Your preparations are therefore worth the effort. Avoid all stimulants such as alcohol, tobacco, drugs or even coffee prior to making your request. These will prevent you from reaching the balanced state that you require in order to reach inside yourself. Once you have received your answer please dwell on it for a while. If it makes no sense whatsoever then perhaps you should leave it and ask again when you are in a better frame of mind.

Finally, and I speak from personal experience, if you persist in asking the same question over and over you will receive a rebuke from whatever system you are working with. This reproach can take the most unusual form but you will know it if you get one. Be respectful.

Good Luck.

Professional Numerologist and Astrologer, Peter Dobrovic offers personal consultations and professionally written reports based on over twenty years experience of practising Numerology. Peter, uses the three systems of Numerology, I Ching and the Chinese Horoscope to provide readings for his hundreds of satisified clients across the UK. You can visit his site at http://www.pdnumerology.com







The sheer, overwhelming amount of light pollution from a city can lead many of its inhabitants to believe that there is no way they can view anything from urban areas. Its not just residents who feel this way, I’ve even talked expert astronomy authors who have told me that there was no reason to get a telescope larger than 3″ diameter for city use as the light pollution would make that extra aperture useless.

The real truth of the matter is a bit different: While city astronomical viewing is hardly ideal, it is far and away from the futile effort that many ‘experts’ would have you believe. In fact, there are a few tricks you can do that may actually give you a decent viewing experience:

Look Up!

Its a sad fact of life in the city: People rarely actually look up! And when they do, it is usually to admire some brightly lit building. But if you get in the habit of looking up in the sky at night you will start to notice that on clear nights there are objects in the sky that can be seen, and there’s more than just the Moon up in the sky! Getting into this habit will also let you spot the ideal nights for viewing. Of course, make certain you are not looking up at a tall building or street light first!

Get Away from the City Center

The center area of any city is where its light are brightest and its building are tallest. Getting just a mile or two, or even just a few blocks away from brightest buildings can result in some surprisingly excellent views of the night sky. I myself have been able to naked-eye view the Orion Nebula (with averted vision) from both the Ferry Docks in Manhattan, as well as in Northeast Philadelphia!

Get High!

The vast majority of light pollution in a city comes from its street lights. The trend in cities is to add more street lamps instead of removing them, so don’t expect them to go away anytime soon. But the good news is that most of street lights’ light is pointing down (and sadly, being reflected back up, but that’s another story). If you can get above these lights (which usually reach the third floor in most cities) by going on roof of a tall house or deck high above the ground you will avoid a large portion of the light pollution the city produces. Decks and roofs are not ideal for astronomy. Most decks are wood and prone to bouncing when you walk on them, your telescope image will shake accordingly if someone is moving around on your deck. In addition, not all roof decks have access that is easy to bring a telescope up to. Your mileage may vary.

Pick Your Nights Wisely

If you want a chance to see more than just the Moon and Planets, you will need to be choosy about which nights you want to do city observing. In addition to clouds, haze is a frequent factor in the night skies over cities in the warmer months and will spoil most viewing. The best nights for viewing will probably be in the Fall/Winter months.

Adapt your Eyes!

Amateur astronomers write volumes on getting their eyes to adapt to nighttime so that they can get the most out of their telescope viewing. They are, of course, assuming that you are working with excellent dark skies far away from any light pollution, but don’t let that fact put you off letting your eyes adapt. All too many urban astronomers walk out of their lit buildings and glance immediately up into the sky, without allowing their eyes any night adaptation whatsoever. This is not a good way to assess the night sky; instead give your eyes a few minutes to adapt to conditions. To do this avoid looking at any lights. You can sit in a chair and look up at the sky and you can actually see the effects: More and more stars will seem to ‘appear’. Its not that the city sky is improving, its just your eyes adapting to the night.

Choose Your Targets Wisely

Even with all these hints, you should be be judicious in what you want to view in the urban night sky. Trying to view Magnitiude 15-20 (the higher the magnitude, the fainter the object) objects is a daunting task even in the darkest skies and so should probably be avoided. Targets you should consider instead would be:

The Moon: The moon is utterly unaffected by light pollution. In fact, even in the city you might consider using a Moon Filter as the light can be quite bright through a telescope. Keep in mind that the best time to view the Moon is when it is waxing or waning, not when it is full. Why? Because when the Moon is full the light is shining right down of the surface and so you get few shadows to show you details.

The Planets: Jupiter, Saturn, Mars and Venus are also little affected by light pollution. You can enjoy the rings of Saturn as well the moons & bands of Jupiter with any decent telescope. Venus and Mars can also be enjoyed, however the former is very bright and shows only its crescent shape, wheras viewing the latter is often dependent on how close it is to Earth.

Brighter Deep Sky Objects: You won’t get magnificent images of nebulea and galaxies, but you still enjoy them with a decent telescope. The Orion Nebula is one of the easiest objects to find in the night sky, while the Andromeda Galaxy can it least be partially seen on clear nights from the city. Make certain you have a decent star chart or Planisphere to pick your viewing targets.

In Conclusion

Urban astronomy will never match finding true dark skies far out in the country, but don’t let naysayers tell you that you “Can’t see anything in the city”. You most certainly can!

About the author

Matt Kriebel is the owner of the telescope & science store Spectrum Scientifics. Spectrum Scientifics is your source for telescopes, microscopes, binoculars, science toys, weather instruments, robots, and much, much more.

Spectrum Scientifics: Telescopes, Science Toys, and Science Fun! http://www.spectrum-scientifics.com.







In case of having to be evacuated to your home country and to have protection against heavy financial costs of being medically attended to in a foreign country it pays to know about various options in regard to travel health insurance coverage. It pays to have the right kind of travel health insurance coverage to avoid facing dilemmas in foreign countries. You should therefore first check to see whether your normal health insurance covers you against medical costs in foreign countries and then look for an insurance plan that does cover you when you travel overseas.

It is however a good idea to consider purchasing travel health insurance coverage that covers you for global travel or even one that covers you in particular countries. Such travel health insurance coverage can provide protection from as little as five days to as many as three full years. In addition, you benefit from the fact that these travel health insurance coverage plans have no bars as to the age of the insured and you can get coverage for single journeys or for multiple trips.

You must first decide on the type of travel health insurance coverage you require. For those that plan on traveling on their own taking out a family coverage policy makes little sense and there is also no sense in opting to be covered against hazardous sports if your purpose of foreign travel is only to see the sights and other attractions. However, you must check that the travel health insurance coverage you buy will cover any pre-existing conditions that you presently have.

Another aspect to checking travel health insurance coverage is finds out what is available in terms of proper short term travel health insurance plans. To ensure that you have few problems in regard to overseas travel and any accompanying health issues makes sure to carry all of your medical records on your trip and to ensure that ambulance services, hospitalization as well as prescription drugs are included in your insurance plan.

Rich Wells runs his own online travel business. His particular specialty is vacation rentals. Check out this great Tourism And Travel website full of ideas and info about vacations and more.
http://www.tourismondemand.com







In the year 2009 we find the planet Uranus in the sign Pisces which is in semisextile aspect with Neptune in Aquarius. This is happening around the 26th degree of both signs, in the summer. This aspect will be repeated a couple of times, during the year.

Uranus in Pisces and Neptune in Aquarius have been in mutual reception for a while in heaven.

Their growing influence in our worldly days is felt slowly, and often, in subtle ways.

The overflow of this astral configuration penetrates the minds and hearts of all individuals as well as nations ‘consciousnesses.

In Astrology to be in mutual reception means that each slower planet is positioned in the sign ruled by the other planet. Uranus is the classical ruler of the sign Aquarius, while Neptune rules Pisces.

In the past, Uranus was in this sign during the ascent of fascism in Europe and Japan, preparing the way for an enormous amount of suffering. Only the choice of the human beings prevented the world from havoc.

In any event of life this planet provokes a sudden release of power along with an inner strength.

Catching in the hidden waters of Pisces what is still veiled, Uranus with its typical flashes of intuitive awareness reveals the unknown in forceful ways.

“Lightening in the Waters”…and the collective knows!

For many years a pressure on emotional and mental awareness has been spreading around the world, raising the level of its consciousness.

This state of things is absolutely new, it never occurred so widely, so globally, in the past.

The emotional level is linked with the intuitional one. It tends to favour the connections among people of different countries, amalgamating them, dissolving old barriers, finally giving a chance to peace to be widely spread on earth.

Things need practical turning-points, this is “The New Millennium”, both Uranus and Neptune forecast simplifications in world problems.

New archetypes - along with a subtle comprehension in how compassion should be globally lived - are the generational characteristics of children born under their influence

The modulation caused by the passage of Uranus in Pisces blends the scientific with the intuitional. Moreover, Neptune in Aquarius suggests an expansion of feelings among brothers and sisters in the whole humanity.

What a gift it is to be able to recognize and live up to such expectations!

In the Aquarian Age, Love is brought to the surface in an impersonal way, and enhances the well-being of all organisms on Earth. Interconnection is the new mental-emotional archetype of this era.

The new Science will be devoted to the resolution of the problems of climate and overcrowding.

The financial system is upset with Neptune in Aquarius.

Before being able to use all the power and insight of Uranus and Neptune, economists will have to rethink, rebuild, and regenerate the area connected with international money. Fresh solutions should come out; the price for attaining them is striving and suffering.

Crises are a prelude for future harmonies; to increase planetary growth we have to go through all this.

This tension and the connected release can be represented in a graph by a line moving upwards. The tension is moving up but, sooner or later, the line will become flat, like n esplanade. This is a sign that a temporary harmony is reached in life.

Every time crises are faced, consequent states of harmony follow.

This applies both to individuals and societies

With the semisextile aspect between Uranus and Neptune, the Age of Pisces, ruled by Neptune, is linked with the Aquarium Age, ruled by Uranus.

This aspect can integrate harmoniously the passage between the two Eras.

“A six-inch line is short when compared to an eight-inch line.

An eight-inch line is short when compared to a ten-inch line”-Tibetan saying

Interrelatedness among people, nations, all living things, will be more evident when this minor aspect will begin to show its effects. In 2009 an arising consciousness that all phenomena arise dependently will cast more light on the illusion of being separated one from another, nation from nation, and so on and so forth.

Reality does not exist independently, this old concept and archetype will not fit into the New Millennium and some signs of this relativity are found in a current word: Net.

A fuller picture of the conditions of our world can be found if we pay more attention to the dependent-arising phenomena,

I think that the new President of the U.S.A. represents, in the collective unconscious, this hope for the future. True love and compassion are unbiased and devoid of exaggeration. Uranus and Neptune, are the nexus of the conditions that will follow in the events of the world, for good or for bad.

So important is this planetary combination.

Those planets stimulate in people a strong sense of group purpose: awareness of society, of life, of our surroundings.

The sense of responsibility for all life is the first sign that an individual or a nation are making way to group consciousness.

Perhaps in 2009, with the help of this combination, banks will deal with clearer perspectives on money matters, trying to redirect losses of funds.

The slow disappearance of money is not an independent phenomenon.

Nagarjuna in his essay “Wisdom”, says:

“Because there are no phenomena

That are not dependent-arisings,

There are no phenomena that are not

Empty of inherent existence”.

Leni Sibilio, Astrologer, Aspirant in Spiritual Sciences

By Leni Sibilio

Leni provides a large variety of astrological services, workshops, readings and is an accomplished lecturer and writer, in both English and Italian. She has appear on television and radio, and is much in demand for the both traditional and soul centered astrology.

Leni Sibilio

http://astrominds.com

leni@astrominds.com







Hopefully you already know your life path number, if you don’t then please follow the link[1] in the footer of this article. You’ll find out exactly how to calculate your life path number. Then come back here.

Back? Ok, Let’s begin:

Life path numbers 1 and 1:

The nice thing about this combination is that these will be two strong, talented and quite noble individuals who understand each other’s goals and desire to achieve perfectly. On the negative side of things, two ones together can find themselves competing with each other. One up manship (no pun intended) can definitely be a problem.

The sad thing about two Life Path number 1’s together is that they are often separated by distance or the demands of a career rather than any real friction with each other. For the most part, these two numbers together make a nice pair and if they do manage to stick together they are quite capable of building a financially secure future together that is also filled with excitement and worthwhile goals.

Life path numbers 1 and 2:

In this pairing, one individual is the submissive (the 2) and the other is the dominant partner (the 1) This combination can work well as long as the 2 does not step out of line and demand anything for his or herself. In the case of the 1 paired with the 2, “to rule is truly to serve” if you are the 2.

Often these relationships take very classic traditional forms with the ambitious 1 out conquering the world and the docile 2 at home feathering the nest and figuring out ways to please the 1. Mostly these relationships fall apart when the 1 starts taking the 2 for granted, not giving the 2 enough attention or when the 2 gets sick of playing master and servant.

Life path numbers 1 and 3:

This is a very cheery couple that will likely inspire each other as well as share many good times. The 3 (the number of the performer) will be just challenging and exciting enough to keep the 1 continually interesting. The 3 is also great at pumping the 1’s ego as they are very talented when it comes to courting, lovemaking, and entertaining.

They also make a great working relationship with the 3 being the talent or the ideas person and the 1 being the number that makes things happen. Often such a couple is very popular and at the center of a social scene. If a 1 and a 3 do break up it is often due to “creative differences” or too much criticism of each other.

Life path numbers 1 and 4:

This is not a match made in heaven simply because the 4’s insecurity makes the 1 very nervous. The 4’s emotionally tough past often makes turns them into a control freak which competes directly with the Life Path 1’s ambition to also be in control. The result is usually a non-stop catastrophic relationship with plenty of hard-won and barely understood karmic lessons.

Accepting each other for who they are never works with this combination. Often it falls into parent/child type conflicts, codependency and addiction to arguing. It is probably best not to match-make these two numbers at all. However being opposites 1’s and 4’s are often sexually attracted to each other even if they are not great relationship material.

Life path numbers 1 and 5:

1 and 5’s are extraordinarily compatible as both numbers appreciate the need for freedom so they can travel, make contacts, social climb and fulfill their ambitions in general. These two numbers will support each other’s drive for independence and actually enjoy “missing each other” if their careers take different directions. This is the best combination of numbers in terms of overall compatibility and it is also good for long distance or online relationships.

Still there are two things that can sabotage this relationship. The first is any insecurity that might cause one number to impose their will on another. Distance or scheduling leads to a permanent split are separating the second threat.

Life path numbers 1 and 6:

This is another relationship disaster waiting to happen. The 6 is a nurturer and caretaker that wants to contain the freedom loving Life Path #1. It is the #6’s fondest wish that the 1 focus on nothing else but the 6, the 6’s family, setting up house with 6, having children with 6 and spending every single waking moment with the 6. Needless to say the number 1 is absolutely smothered by this attitude.

This relationship only works if the 6 somehow drops his or her tendency to be jealous or possessive. In that case the 1 will then enjoy the same kind of dominant/submissive relationship that he or she does with a 2.

Life path numbers 1 and 7:

Although it does not seem like this relationship can work, it does. The introverted 7 often compliments the extroverted 1 nicely. These two numbers have the ability to take care of each other spiritually and psychologically. The 7 motivates the 1 with inspiration and the 1 motivates the 7 by bringing his or her ideas in the 7.

Another reason this relationship can work is that the 7 is lost in their own world while the 1 is preoccupied with the outer world. Somehow the two of them manage to meet somewhere in between those two worlds. The only way that this relationship goes sour is if one or the other takes the other’s temporary lack of focus on the other personally.

Life path numbers 1 and 8:

1 and 8’s are not good matches romantically but they can be a good match in business. Usually a 1 can procure needed funding to realize a project from an 8.

Romantically this relationship is a bust. Both 1’s and 8’s are so assertive and demanding that the relationship degrades into one big ego struggle. Furthermore, relationships between these two life path numbers tend to unrealistic in some way. Either expectations of each other are too high or there are delusions about who the other person really is. If this pair decides to split, the consequences are usually dire and usually include obsession, vengeful activity and other types of destructive behavior.

Life path numbers 1 and 9:

A 9 is not a bad choice for a 1. Initially a 9 brings a selflessness to the relationship that allows the 1 to be the star of the show. If the 9 can maintain this submissive position and let the 1 hog the spotlight then the relationship will go smoothly.

Although 1’s generally admire the humanitarian and gracious sides of the compassionate 9 they are also secretly jealous of them sometimes. Usually these two Life Path numbers split up either because the 1 became insensitive to the delicate number 9’s feelings or the 9 decided to go out and pursue a spiritual quest or mission on their own.

I hope you’ve enjoyed learning about the numerology compatibility between the life path numbers, if you haven’t already I recommend you calculate your own life path number and that of your partners and see where you come up on the chart above.

Many thanks,

B Gorman, Master Numerologist of http://www.123Numerology.com/ to be consulted for your free numerology reading.
link[1]: How to calculate your life path number








People consult the horoscope section of the newspaper to determine what’s in store for them in the future. Many actually do not know that they can also determine what’s in store for their pets as well. Pet horoscopes are based on the Western or occidental zodiac (Aries, Taurus, etc.) and are in two categories: the dog sun signs and the cat sun signs.

Pet horoscopes, Chinese love horoscopes, Western horoscopes… these are all predictions and advice based on a person or animal’s sign determined by when he or she was born. They tell you what your personality is, your characteristics, and what the stars have in store for your fortune, successes, relationships, and happiness in the future. Pet horoscopes determine the personality of your dog or cat as well. For example, if your dog was born a Libra, they are very inconsistent and overeat often. They will become restless at first then suddenly act lazy the next. If your cat is an Aries, it will always act like a kitten, feeling that the world revolves around them and that you would do their every bidding just by the sound of their meow. It’s quite interesting to know your pet’s horoscope because you can determine if your pet has the same personality based on his or her zodiac sign.

Aside from pet horoscopes, people can also tune in to what the stars have in store for their love lives through Chinese love horoscopes. Basing on the Chinese zodiac, you’ll be able to determine what will happen every month of a certain year to your relationship or your search for a new partner in life. For example, in a Chinese love horoscope website, those who are born in the year of the Horse will experience in the first two weeks of September 2008 a positive relationship but might become impulsive and too much in love later on. For the last two weeks, they will experience a certain excitement in their love lives depending on two scenarios: either they will enjoy tender moments with one another or will experience difficulty and will result to infidelity on the part of the mate.

Though it is very different from the usual spiritual orientation, people nowadays still consult horoscopes, whether for pets or for themselves, as a way of knowing what to do or what will happen to them in a certain day or year. Pet horoscopes help determine what must be done to a restless dog or a self-centred cat, and what is in store for him or her as well. Chinese love horoscopes can predict what will happen to one’s love life and affairs in the years to come, which can determine one’s actions and behaviour towards himself and his partner. To say that we should believe in pet horoscopes, Chinese love horoscopes, and all other kinds of horoscopes would draw criticism from every corner of the earth. It is really up to the person if he would lead his life the way the horoscopes would tell him to or behave and act the way he should everyday.

To get more information about pet horoscopes and to learn more about reading tarot cards visit our online community at Insightfulpsychics.com







Know that you can assist others in refining their talents and skills and using them successfully. You must help others by refining their talents and helping them understand their meaning in life.

The Six of Coins wants you to think of yourself as the ultimate talent agent, seeking individuals who show an inspiration or a gift towards their goals. Help them to refine that talent they have and for you to help them upgrade their skills so they can see the bigger picture they will have in life. The end result will be a peer relationship for you and them which will have you both will have a mutual regard and admiration.

This goal can be very delicate and should be handled with caution. Constantly check what your real intentions are and do not expect something in return. Don’t feel too proud about helping someone that is in need of help. The truth is you are paying back old debts to those who served before you as your mentors.

Great wealth is a sign of the Six of Coins, it can be a great thing for you to have wealth to give you support in your life, it will allow you to have financial freedom and have great health.

This symbol represents the generous nature but be aware it has a flip side. This Wealth which is very good thing and can do many great things when used in a proper way. It is important to remember that a man of great wealth will expect in return love and sex and it is important not to be tempted to this, for the reason of wealth is to help others not just for personal pleasure.

The man can be someone who is less fortunate or down on his luck, maybe even a famous person. The problem is that man will want to influence the persons talents to benefit himself. The person being helped must be cautious about the help he received and keep his eye on the ultimate goal, finding out the meaning of life.

For more information on Psychic Horoscope Reading go to:

http://elovemagic.com







The compatibility for Capricorn and Libra is a complicated question. Capricorn is one of the earth signs and one of the four cardinal signs while Libra is an air sign. A Capricorn is often considered to be most compatible with either a Taurus or Virgo with a Libra considered to be most compatible with an Aquarius or Gemini. Many Astrologers suggest that a relationship between these two signs can never work.

However, this is far from the case. The compatibility for Capricorn and Libra can vary greatly from case to case. A Capricorn is a methodical and sometimes cold personality. Libra being one of the air signs is often able to overcome the early hostility and slowly break down the barriers between the two star signs.

If both star signs share a common interest then the situation is made a lot easier. While in some relationships opposites attract that is not the case between a Capricorn and Libra. Only with a shared interest will Capricorn and Libra ever converse let alone become friends or more.

The compatibility for Capricorn and Libra is increased if both individuals are attractive. For both Capricorn and Libra appearances greatly affect their first impressions. Some Capricorns will not even talk to people they deem unattractive.

While these two signs are not the perfect match there is some potential for a lasting and loving relationship. The Libra man or woman has to take the lead and be almost aggressive if they want to get any sort of response from the Capricorn. For Capricorns they need to try and be as relaxed and laid back as possible around a Libra. Libras are free spirits and do not want to be tied down by a boring and rigid Capricorn.

Keen to find out more? Visit Kooma to read out more about sign, reading your horoscope and even get a reading. Excellent videos explaining how you can master tarot and understand clairvoyance.

http://www.kooma.co.uk



Pluto in Capricorn - What Lies Ahead?





News flash! Pluto is now in Capricorn. What does this mean for you and me?

Pluto in Capricorn mixes the transforming and obsessive qualities of Pluto with the limiting and realistic qualities of Capricorn. What needs to be transformed is how we view the world and the nature of reality. If we obsess about how things are and what we need to do to change then we are not taking positive action. We need to be self empowered and to work within the limitations that are before us to achieve a new reality. This is a reality where we don’t annihilate (Pluto) the world (Capricorn) but rather re-examine our assumptions of how things are. Thus we can re-create and re-build the world so that it is truly enduring and sustaining of life.

At the start of the twentieth century Pluto was in Gemini, as was Neptune. A few years previously, in 1891, these two outer planets were in conjunction in Gemini. A major theme of the twentieth century was that of communication and movement. Through the development of transportation and communication systems such as: flight routes, improved roads, centralised hubs of communication, the telephone, space satellites, the internet, courier post, motorised travel and flight, television and video; the world has become more interconnected and a greater understanding between peoples has emerged. The flip side is that the world has become smaller. It is harder to keep secrets and to have our own personal space. Nowadays conflicts between people across borders can occur more rapidly (compared to before the twentieth century).

At the beginning of the twenty first century Pluto was in Sagittarius in conjunction with Chiron. The theme of the twenty first century is that of the bigger picture. Chiron being conjoined to Pluto points to the part of our psyche that is deeply wounded. It is the truth (Sagittarius) that hurts us. The truth of our existence, of what we are and what we do. We expand and expand following the same routines and formula’s day after day, oblivious to anything but the imperative to keep on going as we are. Yet the small voice which was hardly heard in previous times has somehow become less of a background whisper and more of a roar.

Our failings as individuals and as a collective are now loudly broadcast for all to hear. If we don’t change soon we may be doomed to face some horrendous consequences and what’s more it is already happening. And so on. Even if we did want to change, how can we change? What should we change? Can we change? What can I, but one individual, do to make a difference in the face of such a huge problem as our possible mass extinction? Especially as the collective appears not to care and seems hell bent on going on in the same way as before?

Perhaps one person can’t change the world as a whole but surely one person can change their own world and this personal change will have some effect on others that the individual comes into contact with. First there was one. Then there were two. Then there were four. And so on.

As Pluto moves through Capricorn from 2008 - 2023 it starts to slow down in its speed. After a relatively quick dash through the signs Libra, Scorpio and Sagittarius, Pluto starts to become more concentrated and enduring in its zodiacal influence. Pluto was in Cancer for 26 years, in Leo for 18 years, in Virgo for 14 years and in Libra for 11 years. Pluto was in Scorpio for 10 years, in Sagittarius for 12 years and will be in Capricorn for 15 years.

It is thought that created the world as it is and it is through thought that the world as it is can be transformed. By acknowledging our connection to the earth, our common humanity, other life forms and the universe as a whole; we can open ourselves to a truly universal change of consciousness and being.

The ingress of Pluto into Capricorn represents the end of the Libra - Capricorn cycle and the beginning of the Capricorn - Aries cycle. As Pluto moves through Capricorn issues that will begin to surface and gain prominence include: how we treat our collective home, our sense of origins and where we belong in the scheme of things and what our role as a species is. Does each and everyone of us belong just to a few particular places on the earth, divided into tribes and nations, or do we belong to the earth as a whole as one collective family?

On a more cosmic scale, is the earth our only home, or do we belong to a greater home, the galaxy and universe that surround us? Are we the dominant species, to do what we want to the world? Or are we just one of many species? Or should we be a guardian species, protecting and nourishing other life forms?

Do we control and restrict the movements and rights of others, because of some authoritarian mandate? Or do we allow for the maturing of our species; to recognise ourselves, each and every one of us, as true global and international citizens and travelers?

Fundamental questions of life and existence and the nature of being will arise and need to be addressed as Pluto moves through Capricorn.

Stephen Winder has been an astrologer for over 18 years. He offers readings, astrology resources, articles, a monthly ephemeris, a newsletter and more!
Astrologer.cc is his website.



The Myths of Travel Insurance





Holiday insurance is complicated; I’m not going to deny it. There’s such a huge range of policies across companies and price ranges with such subtle differences that it can be a real struggle to stay on top and know which is for you. The secret here is to carefully read the small print of any policy you want to take out, but even before that stage there are many common misconceptions going around that I hope to put to bed here. With no further ado then, here are the top 5 myths of travel insurance that I am all too happy to debunk.

Credit Card Cover is Sufficient

According to the Daily Telegraph, millions of people set off to the sun with the mistaken belief that they don’t need annual multi trip travel insurance because they’re “covered by their credit card.” Most credit cards don’t include holiday insurance, and as a result these people are left with potentially huge bills when they discover they aren’t covered. What cards sometimes offer is travel accident insurance which means an illness is not covered - nor is a bad heart, because it’s not an accident that caused the condition! For peace of mind, those who thought they were covered by their card should get a decent annual multi trip travel insurance policy, to ensure they’re covered against illness, theft, cancellation and loss of luggage.

European Health Insurance Card is just as good

This is another old misconception that just refuses to go away. The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is not the same as travel insurance - you will be liable for the costs involved in healthcare (albeit at a reduced rate). This isn’t to say that the EHIC isn’t worth taking - it can reduce the costs of healthcare while you’re awaiting reimbursement from your travel insurance company.

You’re obliged to buy travel insurance with your holiday

According to one survey, 25% of insurance users believe that there are certain insurance policies you’re obliged to purchase with a product - like travel insurance with a holiday. This is not the case with holiday insurance, though obviously it is something you should definitely look into. That said, you are not obliged to take the travel insurance that your holiday provider wishes to bundle with the sale, so feel free to shop around.

Travel Insurance is automatically included with your holiday

The flip side to this is the belief that travel insurance is automatically included in the cost of the holiday. It usually isn’t, and it will be a costly mistake to find this out when you need to make a claim, so if in doubt ask!

Holiday Insurance covers everything that could go wrong

The thing about travel insurance is that it scales to cover your needs - not all policies are equal, and if you go for the cheapest one you can find, the chances are it won’t cover higher risk activities like skiing or extreme sports. According to a survey I read, 49% of people don’t understand their policy, which is an amazing statistic! When you get your holiday insurance policy, read it through and make sure that every likely activity is covered, and if it’s not, try and get it as an add-on to make sure you don’t have an unpleasant surprise awaiting you when you need to make your claim.

Should you be in the unfortunate situation where you need to claim on your holiday insurance, it helps to be prepared in advance. Read the small print and make sure the cover you’ve chosen is going to cover you against the worst for your holiday and you’ll be able to relax and enjoy your vacation, safe in the knowledge that your annual multi trip travel insurance can save you in the worst case scenario!

Patrick Chong is the Managing Director of Journey’s Travel. Their commercial travel insurance website, Insuremore, offers annual multi trip travel insurance for families, couples and singles with a quick and easy online claims feature.







Zodiac sign compatibility might seem a bit ludicrous to some individuals but for others it is a way of determining a person’s psychological and social make-up. They look for certain characteristics in a potential love interest or they want to see if their partner is compatible with their own sign.

Zodiac signs compatibility is serious business for astrologers. Their predictions can make or break some romances just based on a few sentences. That is the power in which some people place their faith. You have to make the determination about whether or not it is fact or fiction, with regard to how it affects your life.

Let’s take for example the zodiac sign Cancer and the zodiac sign Aquarius. These two people, according to astrologists, are not a good match at all. The person born under Aquarius is very aloof and wants to retain their independence and creative spirit. However, the person born under Cancer is more of a homebody and wants to be close.

This can smother Aquarius who does not understand Cancer’s sentimentality. On the other hand, the zodiac sign Cancer and the zodiac sign Taurus do make a perfect match because both want the same commitment from a mate, as well as a commitment to their home life. They work together to create and foster an atmosphere of comfort and security in one another.

If you are looking for zodiac signs compatibility, then you should check out “Msn”. The famous website has a link for horoscopes at the top of the page. You simply click on the link and it takes you to their astrology center where you can enter in your information so that you can get a personalized reading. Beware though that the more advanced readings require you to pay for them.

If you do find someone special and your zodiac sign compatibility is not right for each other, yet you still like that person, then do not worry about compatibility horoscopes. For every naysayer on the internet who remains steadfast in their belief that certain signs do not belong together, there is someone who does.

There are far more important things to worry about in a relationship other than astrology compatibility. The zodiac signs compatibility is more like a suggestion than something actually rooted in science.

It matters more that you and your partner love each other than whether or not the signs are properly aligned in the sky. Take anything about astrology or your horoscope with a grain of salt, as sometimes there is more fiction than fact.

A free gift awaits you at our portal site, where you can enrich your knowledge further about the zodiac signs compatibility. Your comment is much appreciated at our horoscopes blog.



Meteor Showers in Late July





While Americans associate fireworks with the first weekend in July, with their July 4th Independence Day celebration, those of us into skywatching get our shows throughout the latter half of July, with several showers reaching their peaks in the last week of the month.

As long time readers already know, meteor showers are the specks of sand and bits of gravel left over from outgassings on comets. Some of those have been documented in modern history. Most, however, have been running for tens of thousands of years, and a handful may be nearly a hundred thousand years old.

There are a lot of meteor showers in July, and they go through building periods and waning periods. They’re named after the closest star in the sky the streams seem to be radiating from - in effect, the part of the sky where the tangent of their orbital velocity is directly perpendicular to the Earth.

We’re past just past the peak of the July Phoenicids. However, there are a number of meteor showers picking up that started earlier in the month such as the Alpha Pisces Australids (which tend to be few streaks, but a few bright ones) and the gem of the southern skies in July, the Southern Delta Aquarids, which hit their peak around July 28th to 30th, and first started sparking on the 14th. They taper off rapidly from their peak around August 3rd.

We are particularly fortunate in the timing of the Southern Delta Aquarids, because they’re very near the night of the new moon; this keeps moonlight from washing out your vision as you stare into the skies.

Starting roughly a week later, and lasting longer, are the Alpha Capricornids, about 30 degrees counterclockwise on the sky. They’re likely to hit their peak about August 2nd or 3rd, and when they peak, they tend to create a lot of streaks of color across the sky arcing out from their radiant. (One reason why the Alpha Capricornids tend to peak “off center” of their visibility is the angle that they intersect the earth’s orbit at; they sort of brush across the Earth’s orbit and “ride with us” for a bit through the densest part of the storm.

To prepare for watching meteor showers, we recommend taking a nap in the afternoon. Besides, it’s a great justification for the missus. “I’m not being lazy - this is for science!”. Once you’re up, dim the lights - and make a red filtered flashlight to find your way outside. It will take a good 20-30 minutes for your eyes to fully dark adapt.

Then sit back, get comfortable and enjoy the show, taking plenty of time to see the meteors as they become visible in bursts of activity.

Ian Maclean - Author, Presenter and Science Show host
Homepages: http://www.nightskysecrets.com and http://www.askthescienceguru.com Discover the hidden secrets of the night sky for yourself.
On my nightskysecrets homepage you will be able to download a fr*ee copy of my Audio “Night Sky Secrets - Revealed” plus pick up a f r e e subscription to nightskysecrets, where you will be kept up to date with all the latest events you can see in the night sky and gain subscriber access to my blog page, often with maps, charts, photos and movies to compliment my articles and much more.
At askthescienceguru you can download and subscribe to the RSS feed or just listen to the latest podcasts from my weekly radio show “The Science Hour”







Mon 9/22/08 Affectionate and Creative

We are going to be feeling rather nurturing under the Cancer Moon today. Even though Cancer is the sign of home, we may feel like getting away. Many will be affectionate, and some will be impulsive. We could also be feeling very creative. Those of us up late may end up going to extremes on a few of those projects.

Major Planetary Events Today: Sun Enters Libra (Fall Equinox), Venus Sextile Pluto

Tue 9/23/08 Feeling Impulsive and Possible Accidents

We may be feeling really impulsive today, and some of those impulses may lead us to accidents. Some of us will be struggling to make some changes in our relationships, and others could be overspending their budgets. We may feel like we are ready to make some changes around lunch time (mid morning west coast), but as the day progresses our efforts may backfire on us. Emotions will flatten out early this evening (mid afternoon west coast) as the Moon goes void of course. Watch out for accidents tonight, and think before you speak.

Major Planetary Events Today: Mercury Conjunct Mars, Venus Enters Scorpio

Wed 9/24/08 Mercury Retrograde - Accidents

We are going to be feeling pretty good today under the Leo Moon, but we may encounter some problems with Mercury at retrograde station. There could be some communication problems, and there is a higher likelihood of accidents on the highways. But, most of us will deal with these problems in an optimistic way (a few may throw a childish fit). It will be a great night for entertainment. Do something special to reward yourself for surviving the day.

Major Planetary Events Today: Mercury Retrograde Station

Thu 9/25/08 Drama and Excitement

People should be rather generous and confident today under the majestic Leo Moon. There will probably be a little extra drama in everything we do, and romance could be on our agendas. The excitement could amplify this evening (late afternoon west coast), and we should find that the rest of the night is just plain fun. Enjoy.

Major Planetary Events Today: None

Fri 9/26/08 Cleaning and Organizing

We may have a little trouble getting started this morning, but by mid morning we will be ready to get to work as the Moon enters industrious Virgo. Its going to be a great day for scouring and scrubbing, and getting down to the details of any project. People will be cooperative late this afternoon (early afternoon west coast), and it will be a great time for conversations. We may decide to do some more cleaning and organizing tonight.

Major Planetary Events Today: None

Sat 9/27/08 Getting Things Done

We may start today with a very big “to do” list, and we should find that we steadily check off the projects on our list through mid afternoon (early afternoon west coast). There is a tendency to become overly critical tonight (this evening west coast), and some of us may find ourselves dealing with anger backlash, if we don’t think before we speak.

Major Planetary Events Today: None

Sun 9/28/08 Strong Spiritual Connections

We are going to want to communicate this morning, and our words and thoughts could be on the creative side. Spiritual connections will be strong, and many of us will feel the artist inside calling out. There could be some fearful or paranoid situations early this afternoon (mid morning west coast), but by late afternoon (early afternoon west coast) we will be ready to be social again as the Moon enters Libra. It will be a great night for social events or just enjoying time with our significant other.

Major Planetary Events Today: Mercury Trine Neptune

Janet (Sparrow) Moon is a professional psychic and astrologer. You can visit her web site for more articles about upcoming events in astrology, and to order a personal reading. (This article can be reprinted freely online, as long as the entire article and this bio is included.) http://www.sparrowmoon.com/







Flowers are a wonderful gift regardless of the occasion. When planning your flower delivery one way to make it a success is consult a floral astrology chart. Each Zodiac sign has associated flowers and colors and by considering these before making your selection your flower delivery is sure to be a success. Why take the extra time, it is said that flowers that align with the recipient’s Zodiac sign bring them greater joy and happiness than flowers not aligned.

What are some examples of flowers aligning with Zodiac signs? Aquarius are said to like orchids as their love, strength and beauty appeal to the sign’s sense of loyalty. Pisces, a water sign, is said to enjoy plants growing around water, bamboo is a good example of this. Roses are also a perfect Pisces pick as they are said to appeal to the romantic streak common to this sign. The go to flower pick for a Taurus is lilies. Large and fragrant they appeal to the sign’s sensual natural side. Also, the star shape can placate any jealousy showing the recipient they are your only star. The list goes on and on. Most flower websites have charts explaining all of this before you make your choice.

Once you have the type of flower narrowed down you also need to consider optimal color for your sign’s enjoyment. Water signs enjoy blues and other cool tones, look to delphinium, hydrangeas and the like for these colors. In contrast, Fire signs enjoy bold reds, oranges and yellows like Sunflowers.

Even textures and shapes can play in to flowers appealing to astrological signs. Delphinium, named for their dolphin-shaped flowers is a perfect match for the water sign, Cancer. With large proportions, open faces conveying happiness and warmth, sunflowers capture the Leo’s confidence and strength. The star shape and wild flower quality of asters along with lush texture appeal to Virgos. A lacy flower with strong wooden stem hydrangeas personify the balance of opposites necessary for Libras. Peonies are perfect for Scorpios with their full shape and bold colors the flowers embody a sense of romance and power. Carnations are a mirror of the Sagittarian’s strength and longevity. Finally, the Capricorn loves large blooms, the bigger the better. Poinsettia’s are a perfect birthday choice for this December born sign.

Flower delivery is a wonderful gesture. By considering the recipient’s birth date, zodiac sign, and element you can order a bouquet they will never forget.

Camelia Smith has been arranging flowers and studying the zodiac for years. For more information how to select the right flowers and get reliable flower delivery Pueblo to your home or office, visit her site today.







Annual trip travel insurance is easily purchased from any health insurance provider… just make certain you look through the fine print. For example, one of my friends bought a policy for his annual trip to Cozumel, Mexico, and ended up having compression problems while diving there. What he didn’t realize was that scuba diving was considered a dangerous activity, and was excluded from coverage. This poor guys had to shell out over twenty thousand dollars, out of pocket. How’s that for a travel story?

Let’s face it: travel insurance is an important part of planning. In my experience, the best way to get insurance for an annual trip is through a short term policy. These are generally very cheap, and don’t require a lot of paperwork. I’ve received acceptance for several online. It’s important to determine what coverage, if any, you currently receive. For example, many credit card companies offer free travel insurance if you use their card to book your trip. Most folks get some kind of coverage from either family, their job or the government; check it out and you may be pleasantly surprised.

Prior to purchasing the policy, compile a list of what you expect to do on your trip. Heed the lesson from my scuba diving friend, and list questionable activities at the top. These generally include scuba diving, sky diving, trekking, rock climbing, mountaineering, etc. If your most strenuous activity is applying sunscreen, you can forget about this step.

After you’ve reviewed your existing insurers, apply for a short term policy to cover the remainder. This will lower the overall cost of annual trip travel insurance.

In conclusion, you can learn more about annual trip travel insurance at http://www.travel-smarts.com

Adam Costa began his travel adventures at the age of 19 with a round the world trip across thirteen countries. He has worked as a North American tour guide, running tours in Canada, Mexico and all over the United States, from San Francisco to Boston to Key West, Florida. Currently, he works as a travel agent, and continues to dream of hitting the road.



Tarot Cards Instructions





If you have ever wanted to find some easy to follow tarot cards instructions then you have come to the right place. Many people want to learn more about the tarot and using tarot cards, but finding tarot cards instructions that are geared for beginners can be tricky, especially if you are unsure of what, exactly, tarot cards are for.

First here is some basic tarot card information: tarot cards are not going to predict the future. They aren’t going to give you answers from the cosmos. What tarot cards do is speak to your intuition. Tarot cards are not going to tell you anything that some part of you doesn’t already know. The card can shed insight into a current situation or help you figure out answers to problems yourself. Keep that in mind as you read the following tarot card instructions.

1. Choose your tarot card deck carefully. This is not a normal deck of playing cards or a pack of trading cards that you are picking up. Each tarot card deck has its own energy and it is important to take your time in figuring out which deck you feel the most comfortable with. Look at the illustrations on the cards and pay attention to your senses. You will eventually find a deck that you feel a connection to and that is the deck you should purchase.

2. Even if you haven’t started to learn what each of the cards means, take some time to become familiar with each of the cards in your tarot card decks. Really look at the illustrations and start figuring out how each one of the cards fits into the different categories of cards.

3. Begin studying what each of the cards means. Putting meaning to each card is easier if you can easily call to mind the card when you are reading about it. Sure it is easy enough to do a tarot card spread and then look up the meaning of each card, but a tarot reading is far more fulfilling if you already know what the cards mean.

4. The easiest tarot card spread is the three card spread. This card spread gives you insight into the past, the present and the future that surround the question you are concentrating on. We’ve already said that tarot cards cannot predict the future, but they can give you some insight into your feelings about the future. Once you’ve mastered the three card reading, you are ready to move on to other card spreads.

These are just a few simple tarot cards instructions. Obviously there are more complicated card spreads and there are techniques to learning about the individual cards and what they mean. If you are just starting out, though, hopefully these tarot cards instructions will provide you with enough background information to start you on your journey to being a practiced reader of the tarot cards. Before you know it, you will be advanced enough to do readings for other people.

Copyright (c) 2008 Steven Magill

Are You Lying Awake At Night Beating Yourself Up With What-Ifs And Desperately Searching For that glimpse of your future ? Not Any More http://www.meaningofeachtarotcard.com







In response to the requests we’ve had about our professional view of the candidates for the 2008 U.S. presidential election, we offer the results of our analyses below, which are based on comprehensive handwriting analysis, astrology, numerology, and intuitive assessment.

Please understand that we’re simply presenting our findings and that we don’t have any political agendas. We’ve set aside our political opinions and have tried to be as fair and objective as possible.

First we’ll view the candidates’ personalities through handwriting analysis.

A holistic approach (spacing, movement, form, rhythm, etc.) in handwriting analysis is acceptable by itself to gain a worthy overview in our view, and we insist on combining it with a conventional trait-stroke approach so we have the best of both worlds to yield solid analyses.

The following include many of Senator Obama’s positive personality traits found by thoroughly analyzing his handwriting: great team player; very persistent and tenacious; social maturity; inspirational to others; great organizational ability; high intelligence; logical; great talent for communication; good problem-solving skills; high initiative; resourceful; healthy amount of cautiousness; practical; avoids excessive (even average) amount of fantasy and daydreaming; good ability to bond with others emotionally; action-oriented; competitive; self-starter, but talent for working in groups; doesn’t really care if others don’t approve of his views–he’s not too sensitive to criticism; adjusts well to unexpected circumstances, able to tailor expression to effectively relate with (or maneuver around) others; persuasive; good listener; purposeful; self-disciplined; and admirable emotional health.

Delving deeper into Senator Obama’s personality and also acknowledging the challenges, we find the following: lacks discernment regarding the character of others; could possibly be easily walked on; doesn’t place an emphasis (more than average or even average) on ideals; lacks strength in abstract and theoretical thought; somewhat of an opportunist; tendency to rationalize feelings; at times, faulty reasoning (but not an excessive concern); skilled at rationalizing his mistakes; fails to fully, sincerely, accept responsibility for errors; evasive and too indirect; self-deceit is higher than average–readily believes only what he wants to believe and accepts half-truths, from himself and others; lacks genuine sincerity to some degree; in response to spontaneous questions asked of him, he frequently lacks straightforward communication and will instead offer jumbled responses, for example, despite his otherwise apparent compelling talent for communication; somewhat self-destructive; and overall he projects a stronger, more potent image than he actually possesses.

As for Senator John McCain, if we only recognized the virtues of his personality, we would list the following: very constructively methodical; puts things in simple terms; strong intelligence; versatile; very efficient; organized; objective, strong common sense; practical; able to see the core issues; very good problem-solving skills; resourceful; cuts to the chase; healthy rebelliousness; strong intellect; thoughtful of others; healthy amount of contemplation; and very logical.

Examining further, listing exclusively the negatives, we find the following through Senator McCain’s handwriting: appears somewhat unemotional, but is incredibly sensitive and possesses a somewhat high-strung, nervous energy; emotional repression; sometimes too detached on a personal level; overly emotionally controlled; distances self from emotions; excessive need for approval; like Senator Obama, he has a tendency to avoid squarely facing his mistakes so it takes a little longer to learn from them (perhaps a common trait of politicians); to a minor extent he has a “do as I say, not as I do” disposition; overly controlled behavior; a bit too self-protective, and he has an above average need for freedom, which may not necessarily be a negative.

Our Reliability and Confidentiality Evaluation meticulously measures, through the science of handwriting analysis, seven vital personality areas including Sincerity/Integrity, Discretion, Decision-making Ability, Objectivity, Emotional Balance, Emotional Maturity, and Substance Abuse Risk. This appraisal is remarkably useful, especially combined with background checks and other intelligence work.

In applying the Reliability and Confidentiality Evaluation to the candidates, the edge goes to Senator McCain in the overall assessment, as he scores slightly better than Senator Obama. Here are the details: Senator McCain scores better with Sincerity/Integrity (above average to Senator Obama’s average); they score essentially the same in Discretion, Decision-making Ability, and Objectivity (both above average in all three categories); although they both rate above average in Emotional Balance and Emotional Maturity, Senator Obama rates slightly higher in both categories; and finally, Senator McCain scores better in Substance Abuse Risk (below average to Senator Obama’s average score).

Senators Obama and McCain both have reasonably consistent personalities, solid organizational skills, good negotiation skills, and plenty of courage to get out in the world, live their lives, and strive for goals. Both are fit to politically lead, and neither is a security risk to this nation. In our view, it comes down to which candidate’s policies you favor.

Some have asked us if we can see an election win in McCain’s or Obama’s charts. We haven’t yet identified an exact set of patterns in the comprehensive numerology and astrology charts that represents a U.S. presidential election victory. We believe an analyst must look for patterns of varying levels of fame and recognition, infamy, public disgrace, triumph in competition, accomplishment, and overall success, among others, in the natal and timing charts. A lot of deduction is necessary since there is no “presidential signature.”

Based on their comprehensive numerology and astrology charts, both candidates have remarkable lifetime fame and m.o.n.e.y indications. Both have notable life success considerations, and both are best suited to operate as part of a group, rather than be completely self-employed, such as an independent entrepreneur.

Senator McCain has an enormous amount of emotional sensitivity and we surmise it’s tough to handle at times, perhaps manifesting in occasional fits of petulance, though not so much that it is a major concern or national security risk. The charts also indicate he has a lot of energy that is representative of a kind of agent of change, an other-worldly civil servant, one who is largely a peacemaker and collaborator, and he’s being compelled to make an impact in a more substantial leadership position at this later stage of his life. He is surprisingly progressive according to the comprehensive astrology and numerology charts.

Senator Obama also possesses a unique type of non-mundane personal energy that outlines him as a symbol of unity for the human race. His role in this lifetime is very special from a spiritual perspective, similar to that of Oprah or Angelina Jolie, one that includes bringing people together and helping to break down antiquated barriers.

However, the aforementioned spiritual reasons for Senator Obama’s popularity outweigh his chances, based on what we perceive, of actually winning the 2008 presidential election.

Whether he wins or not, he’ll still be fulfilling his purpose and it’s also his destiny and good karma to gain very substantially financially. He offers a firm sense of stability to those around him, and is good at opposing others’ initiatives. In other words, Senator Obama is good at playing defense, but ironically he’s extremely resistant to change on a personal level.

In our view, all natal and timing indicators viewed collectively, including what we perceive as good karma earned in past lives for Senator McCain as a powerful and benevolent ruler (we completed these analyses in early August 2008, before McCain named Governor Palin as his running mate, and coincidentally, we perceive that she has also earned similar good karma from past lives), Senator McCain has an edge over Senator Obama in the race for the White House.

According to Senator McCain’s comprehensive charts, his presidential election victory prospects have steadily increased over the past few years. Initially, we weren’t convinced that Senator McCain’s splendid timing considerations had anything more to do than with securing his party’s nomination. But after in-depth analysis, we find the advantage is firmly his. In the contest between Senators Obama and McCain, we predict Senator McCain will win the U.S. presidential election in November 2008.

Copyright © Scott Petullo, Stephen Petullo

Scott Petullo and Stephen Petullo are identical twins and have been exploring metaphysics since the early 1980s. They are experts in the fields of prediction, personal fate, love life, and past life regression, and are natural psychics and mediums. Get their free report: 13 Spiritual and New Age Myths and 11 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Psychic.

http://www.mystictwins.com

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Have you been dumped? Have you been finding it difficult to find a true love and get the best out of your relationship? Are you still struggling in matters of love ? Do you find that you are constantly being rejected in matters of love? If your answer is in affirmative to any one or all of these questions it is high time that you make a reassessment of your relationships and the reasons leading to such disasters!

Quite often you may not be able to do the retrospective and find out the real reasons behind your problems. Astrology and Horoscope reading can do wonders in such cases. Indian Vedic Astrology, which is thousands of years old, can make the correct assessment of your relationships and emotional problems and suggest very effective remedial measures . No one is born with excellent relationship skills .The difference between a guy who is considered as a Cupid by many girls and another who is being dumped by all is very thin. If you can makeup the difference you would be stepping into the shoes of the former, and will be reaping success ever after.

Astrological predictions are not fatalistic readings of your life . On the other hand they are scientific analysis of the innate characteristics and talents of the subject and help fix the problems and find permanent solutions. The remedies in the form of offsetting ‘Karmas’, use of Gems and crystals and many more such remedies help to set right your approach and make you a well-balanced individual. There is no wrongdoing or making use of magic here. It is a pure spiritual remedy by invoking the universal energy by accepted ways and help save the individual by improving the personality and thereby the responses of the individual. The remedies suggested also help you to get suitable surroundings and situations conducive for your success .

If you are desperate over your failures in love life, it is time to act now and change your future and fate! Your success is guaranteed by our Astrological suggestions and you will see the changes within a couple of weeks of following our instructions

If you like to know more about the remedies that help you succeed in your love Visit Author’s Blog for free details.

Raveendranath Menon is an astrologer . mystic and spiritual healer of repute with more than 25 years of service to the society. You may get accurate predictions for all your burning problems at his blog Love and Marriage in Astrology.







In more ways than one, the Tiger people are born leaders. Their battle cry is “Let’s go!” They are the daring fighters and are capable of standing up to the better end for what they think is right. If the West call their fierce woman dragon lady, the Chinese call her, an “old tiger lady.”

With their fierceness comes the addiction to excitement as they love adventures.
And with this confidence, it is better not to challenge the Tiger because Tigers are unpredictable, always tense and like to be in a hurry. They like being obeyed and not the other way around. As the Tigers are viewed with both fear and respect, their protection and wisdom is sought after. The Chinese, as well as all of the East, see the Tiger, not the lion, as the king of beasts.

After the Ox, came the Tiger. The third animal to reach the opposite bank of the river was the honorable Tiger. The Tiger, as the story unfolds, came panting. He was busy explaining to the gods his predicament while he was traveling. According to him, it just seems so difficult to cross the river when heavy currents are pushing him downstream at all times. But with powerful strength, it made to shore and was named the third animal in the cycle. The rest was named as how they finished.

The Tiger and the Ox are never compatible. Just as how they finished in the race as also how they are ranked. The Ox is always stronger than the Tiger. So the Tiger has to avoid the Ox since the Ox will keep on attacking him until he is destroyed. If there is a Tiger and an Ox under the same roof the Tiger will have to quit before he is annihilated. As with the Rat and the Boar, Tigers will feel definite affinity. But encounters with the Horse and the Dragon will be especially interesting. The Tiger should also avoid the Rabbit.

The friends of the Tiger born usually secretly admire the Tiger’s determination and optimism, though sometimes may find it complicated to share the Tiger’s enthusiasm and can be pushed away and left behind. They are equipped with the most contradictions, like they can be generous and then become self-centered. So if your friend was born in the year of the Tiger, there will be highs and lows in your friendship, but the friendship itself will remain firm.

March is the month of the Tiger. The time of the Tiger is from 3:00a.m. to 4:59a.m.;their direction of orientation is east-northeast. The Tiger’s color is green.

In the year of the Pig, 2007, the Tiger sign shows your sensitivity, being emotional and capable of great love. But has a tendency to get carried away and stubborn about what you think is right; often seen as a “hothead” or rebel. The sign shows that one born in the year of the Tiger would do well as boss, explorer, race car driver or matador.

Some famous Tigers are Sir David Attenborough, Agatha Christie, Stevie Wonder and Emily Dickinson to name a few.

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Astrology has been around, in one form or another, for many centuries. Despite a great number of attempts to prove it is wrong, astrology still persists in our modern world. Why is this?

Some people have tried to show that astrology cannot be a true science, because it is impossible for the patterns of the stars and constellations to influence events on Earth. Yet astrology is still widely believed, and used by large numbers of people. The scientific community, taken generally, is against it, but there have been some scientists who have spoken out in favour. By far the most celebrated of these was the Swiss psychologist Carl Gustav Jung.

Jung was the first to coin the term “synchronicity” to help explain the theoretical basis for astrology as a scientific activity. He agreed that it is impossible for the stars to influence events. But he suggested that underlying forces and influences could produce the patterns in the stars and AT THE SAME TIME could influence the events happening on Earth. Hence the term “synchronicity” which means “at the same time”. These underlying influences are undetectable by our instruments, so all we see are the effects of them. When we see the pattern of the stars, and the pattern of events, and we note that they are similar, it is natural to think that one of them is causing the other. But according to Jung, they do not cause each other, they both are themselves caused by something else.

So how does this work? The key to understanding it is to think about patterns. You may have heard of a certain kind of pattern called a “fractal”. This is a pattern that repeats itself when magnified. In other words, you see a particular pattern in the fractal, and when you magnify it a hundred times, or a thousand times, you see that the larger pattern is made up of millions of smaller copies of the same pattern. This continues, however deep you go into the fractal, and if you zoom right back out, you still get the same pattern. So this is how the same pattern can appear in the stars, and in the events on Earth at the same time. Because they are component parts of the same fractal pattern happening at the same time, in synchronicity. We cannot see the cause of the fractal because we are inside it, we are ourselves part of the fractal.

The people who believe “scientifically” that astrology does not work, are suffering from a limited world-view. The universe uses underlying forces and influences that we cannot detect to give rise to similar patterns great and small, which share the same characteristics by synchronicity. And that is why astrology works. Find out more at our “Astrology” blog on the link below.

You can read more on our “Astrology” blog at http://phe-astrology.blogspot.com/







We live in unstable economic times. It’s a message we’re hearing everywhere, but nowhere more than in the travel industry, where XL airlines have recently gone under due to the credit crunch. The prices of fuel, more taxes and a bad economy meant that less people were travelling which forced the company out of business - and it’s predicted that many more will follow.

Bad news for the investors but also for the passengers who had already paid up for the trip. Not only would they have their holidays cancelled without warning, but they would also not be guaranteed a refund. Holiday insurance might cover you (more on this later) but otherwise you’re in trouble. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to make sure you get your money back when booking holidays, so consider these options as you go along:

Cover from your credit card

The first way to be protected is to book your holiday with a credit card. Yes, you will have to pay a little bit extra in some cases, but if you’re paying more than £100 (and in some cases less) you’re covered by the Consumer Credit Act which will protect your money in the event of something going wrong. Debit cards are not typically covered but you may be able to work something out with your bank if you’re both a good customer and persistent.

Cover from your travel company

The next way is to look for companies that are covered by an association guaranteeing the protection of customers’ money. Firstly, holiday companies that have an ATOL (Air Travel Organisers Licence) are worth looking out for - they protect their customers in the event of bankruptcy by having to lodge funds with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). In the event of bankruptcy the CAA will refund customers and arrange alternate flights. If the CAA doesn’t have enough funds to help everyone, the government backed Air Travel Trust step in and ensure everyone affected is protected. Be careful though - you will not be protected if you book direct with an airline or only buy your ticket within 24 hours of payment.

Other organisations to look out for are ABTA and AITO. Members of these groups are usually bonded to protect you against the company going bankrupt, but be sure to ask them about your specific package to be on the safe side.

Be wary of assuming you are covered if you buy cheap travel insurance from the company you book with - if they provide it themselves then it is likely the policy will go up in smoke the second they do!

Cover from your travel insurance

Finally there’s protection from your holiday insurance. Be very careful with this, because a lot of cheap travel insurance companies won’t provide cover against cancellation through bankruptcy. The cover you need to look out for is called ‘financial failure cover’, so read the small print and make sure it’s there. Alternatively, call them up and ask directly. They may charge an extra fee to include it with your holiday insurance, but a few extra pounds is worth the risk in these economic conditions when it seems that every travel company is at risk!

To recap then, it is essential that you are backed up in these uncertain times - as many more holiday companies are expected to struggle through these months of economic downturn. Make sure that you either have financial protection as part of your travel insurance, or that your holiday company are a member of a body that offer their own guarantees or that you book using a credit card that promises reimbursements in such a scenario. Whatever you do though, read the small print of everything to ensure you aren’t left out of pocked when you should be enjoying the sunshine!

Patrick Chong is the Managing Director of Journey’s Travel. Their commercial travel insurance website, Insuremore, offers discount travel insurance and a quick and easy online claims feature.