Aloha to all,
And Happy July! Before we get to July's astrological tips, I'd like to announce that I am celebrating this month of my solar return in two ways:
1) I am now introducing the Celestial Living Arts individual astrology reports to YOU, your friends and families. The individually customized reports are 18-45 pages long and absolutely fascinating! Choose from:
* Child Astrology
* Love & Relationship Astrology
* Body & Soul Astrology
* Forecast Astrology
And they make GREAT Gifts too (gift certificates available)! Contact me directly for more details @ Liz@CelestialLivingArts.com. For those of you in Hawaii, stop by OFF THE MAT on 12th Avenue in Kaimuki (their annual sale starts July 1) where you can view the Celestial Living Arts reports and cd gift packages.
2) I expect to have the Celestial Living Arts website up and ready for a visit by the end of the month. Stay tuned...this will be exciting.
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And now, onto July's astrology. In response to the Astro-Foodology column in the June e-newsletter, I heard from a number of readers with food astrology questions. One asked, "Is there a way to know what NOT to eat depending on one's astrological sign?"
In fact, from the standpoint of each astrological sign, there are plenty of red flags, forbidden fruits and Pandora's boxes that merit consideration when it comes to navigating the grocery isles, refrigerator shelves and restaurant menu offerings. With a little bit of applied astrological knowledge, all culinary experiences can be enjoyed, even if we need to curb our enthusiasm a little more at certain stations on the buffet line of life. Here are a few tips for each sign of the zodiac.
Enjoy!
Liz
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CELESTIAL LIVING ARTS
How best to enjoy the art of living for July 2006
© Liz Howell
Please note: In addition to one's Sun sign (the astrological month in which you were born), personal planets beyond the Sun - including the Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars and Jupiter - will reflect these traits listed below. So, if you're an Aries who likes to dawdle instead of rush or perhaps an Aquarius who prefers routine to constant change, then look to the rest of your astrological chart which has a much more interesting story to tell!
ARIES: (March 21-April 19):
The greatest danger for Aries always lies in their "too much, too fast" approach to life which can register in the body as overexertion and over-stimulation. Headaches, eye strain and short tempers are often the result. Aries has a lively appetite but needs to remember to slow down when it comes to eating. Typical default traits to watch for include eating too fast, gulping food, eating on the run and not chewing food thoroughly enough. Like Scorpio, Sagittarius and Aquarius, Aries is drawn to sharp, strong, pungent and especially spicy dishes. From time to time, it would behoove Aries to lighten up on the cayenne, hot chilies, ginger and garlic.
TAURUS: (April 20-May 20):
As they say, too much of a good thing is generally, too much of a good thing. Taurus will be drawn to rich textures, savory sauces and juicy meats, with libational preferences ranging from sweet and fruity to complex and tannic. Taurus is not one to outrun the battle of the bulge so best to derive a more Taurean approach to healthy eating and culinary pleasures. By exercising their special knack for slow and steady enjoyment, Taurus can have their proverbial cake and eat it too by finding enjoyment in the QUALITY of the culinary experience not the QUANTITY. With Venus as the ruler of this sign, too many nutritional no-nos in the diet can register in the body as lethargy and blood sugar imbalances.
GEMINI: (May 21-June 20):
Needs brain food -plain and simple. This sign of the twins is characterized by busy minds with busy hands naturally preferring to pick and snack as thoughts of hunger arise. With attention to regular eating and proper nutritional balance of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals and fluids, snacking in small meals can be fine. But more likely than not, Geminis may be overlooking a food group when not sitting down to proper meals. If nutritional needs are pushed aside or postponed, nervous energy results. This sign rules nuts and no Gemini should be without a supply of nuts near-by at all times (hazelnuts, almonds and walnuts are best).
CANCER: (June 21-July 22):
It is my observation that Cancer earns the distinguished title as "Dairy Queen of the Zodiac." Favorite foods for this sign often include things like macaroni-and-cheese, creamed soups (especially crab bisque, clam or seafood chowder and oyster stew), ice cream, shakes and plenty of sour cream and butter on the baked potato. In moderation, all of these foods help serve the nutritional needs of any sign of the zodiac, but moderation is the key. Cancer will always have to watch for tendencies toward emotional eating. This sensitive, Moon-ruled sign will do well to learn to eat by the cycles of the moon. Like Pisces, Cancer needs to be careful of lymphatic stasis which will result in bloating, lethargy and under-performing immune function. Cancer natives should never eat when upset since this sign rules the stomach and the second phase of the digestive process.
LEO: (July 23-Aug. 22):
In a recent food astrology survey I conducted, one question queried participants on what their favorite foods were. One Leo responded, "That's easy: salt, sugar and fat." In truth, that does sum up the dietary palate of many Americans today which has been educated by processed foods laden with dangerously high levels of sugar, salt and fat (many artificially flavored with GMO ingredients, hydrogenated oils and preservatives). This is a tribe of HEARTY eaters as well should be since Leo rules the heart. Because of this, heart healthy habits and heart healthy foods are a must for Leo. This would include easing up a little on the red meat, and getting plenty of fruits and vegetables included on the meal plan. For Leo, sun-kissed and warm foods are best. Often, chronic back pain can be a tip off to imbalances in Leo's diet.
VIRGO: (Aug. 23-Sept. 22):
This sign of the zodiac can often be described as a nervous eater which will inhibit not only their ability to enjoy food, but also their system's capacity to digest and assimilate nutrition since Virgo rules the intestines. Because of their sensitivity, Virgos need to pay special attention to how, when and where they eat. Additionally, it is crucial that the environment in which they dine is calm, orderly and clean so they can properly absorb the food's nutritive chi. Intestinal disorders and food allergies are possible if Virgo is choosing the wrong foods or eating habits - fresh, organic with few additives is best.
LIBRA: (Sept. 23-Oct. 22):
Again, as with Taurus, we are under the domain of Venusian influences with Venus as the sign's planetary ruler. She speaks to beauty, congeniality, refined aesthetic tastes and above all, balance and harmony. With the scales representative as the sign's symbol, herein we find the yo-yo dieters of the zodiac. For, this is often how many Librans find the balance they seek - by swinging from one end of the spectrum to the other, touching down on the middle ground along the way. They also tend to be fond of rich and sugary foods which may result in adrenal fatigue, hypoglycemia and the presence of candida. Troublesome skin conditions can often be caused by improper diet as well.
SCORPIO: (Oct. 23-Nov. 21):
Only Taurus can rival Scorpio in the intensity with which taste, smell and touch can be experienced and enjoyed. Fortunately for Scorpio, this sign seems to possess the ability to control its lustings with an "all or none" principal. Generally, Scorpios should avoid fatty, rich, and intoxicating foods and drinks, but that's not likely to be the case. Scorpio's regenerative powers are very strong, so even if they do spend too much time indulging in the shadow side of culinary pleasures, they have an internal cycle that tells them when to switch from excessive attraction to intense aversion where their subject of obsessive delights are concerned. Scorpio rules the sexual organs and the process of elimination so difficulties in either area can result when the attraction/aversion principal is overactive or undernourished.
SAGITTARIUS: (Nov. 22-Dec. 21):
It is quite fitting that the liver is the organ that falls under the sign of Sagittarius since this is a sign that loves to LIVE. The danger is that this Jupiter-ruled sign enjoys life generally (food and drink especially) in a large, generous, expansive way and preferably without limits. So, if the living is too high for too long, the liver will indeed protest. Enthusiastic Sagittarians also enjoy physically challenging endeavors of all kinds and this can balance their fondness for food. However, if they overdo physically, they are likely to feel it in their hip/thigh region or experience a flare up of the sciatic nerve.
CAPRICORN: (Dec. 22-Jan. 19):
Good dietary habits if learned in their youth tend to stay with Capricorns as adults. Known as the taskmasters of the zodiac, you can be sure Capricorn natives are ten times as hard on themselves as they are on others. This supports their efforts to control any urges to overindulge or overdue the acceptable gustatory limits. This is a cold sign requiring more heat producing foods, which is why most Capricorns are meat eaters - they need foods containing iron to enrich the blood. They also need magnesium to calm their nerves and relax their muscles. The ruler of their sign, Saturn, holds sway over the bones (especially the knees), skin and teeth. Because of this, proper calcium absorption is imperative for this sign. Capricorn's challenge at the buffet table is quite simply finding the right application of nurturing discipline without cruel denial.
AQUARIUS: (Jan. 20-Feb. 18):
This sign rules over that which is unpredictable, unorthodox and unusual.
It is the sign of inventors, rebels and great humanitarians. In the dietary department, Aquarians are bane to be tasked with the drudgery of planned meals, regular mealtimes or lackluster foods. Because circulation is monitored by this sign, foods that stimulate blood circulation - like chili and cayenne peppers, as well as brain and nerve foods such as fish, flax oil, and generous amounts of foods containing the Vitamin B's - are an important part of the Aquarian diet. Foods that stagnate or compromise the circulatory system (fried and fatty) are to be enjoyed moderately. We also add to this sign's dietary plan the need for regular breathing and healthy air. Yogic pranayama (breathing techniques) will assist Aquarians with their overall nutritional balance.
PISCES: (Feb. 19-March 20):
The nutritional pitfalls for this sign can be lurking behind the bar as well as atop the buffet table. The symbol for this sign is two fish swimming in opposite directions, and while Pisces may be able to drink like a fish, this Neptune-ruled sign will benefit from checking from time to time to make sure the fish are not swimming in the direction of self-undoing. Like fellow water signed Cancer (and Scorpio to a lesser degree) water retention is a possibility and lymphatic stasis is to be watched for. Proper in take of fluids with balanced nutrition and a generous dose of physical activity will help regulate these tendencies in Pisces natives.
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CELESTIAL LIVING ARTS
Inspirationally practical advice on how best to enjoy the art of living
© Liz Howell
Please send your questions or comments to Liz Howell at: 
