ZODIACAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR TODAY

ARIES (March 21-April 19): You don't share others' sense of responsibility today. You take a higher, more distant view of things now. Not being so emotionally involved, you can be a bit more objective and idealistic view of things.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You're apt to be a bit fanatical today. You take your beliefs seriously in a way that questions everyone else's faith but your own. You're challenged to scrutinize yourself and to relent on other people.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): You're focused on what you want to do and you minimize contact with anyone who would create distractions. You have a particularly astute, if gloomy, perception of what the future holds so you prepare for it.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): You don't want to be noticed in public today though, for some, circumstances push you into exactly that. You have different ideas about what it takes to do something important, which may not occur in open view.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Listen to the idealistic side of your intuition today. You may not see exactly how to make things happen the way you envision them but don't let that stop you. Go in that direction and the implementation will have to be worked out as you go along.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Your hang-ups are easily activated today. It's important that you be aware of how you feel and are about to react. Take control and understand that you can make changes in the world by changing the way you respond.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): It's important to re-evaluate your choices periodically. You're apt to make a decision and stick with it but it may not be a good one to begin with. Check expectations with results all the time.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You are challenged to do something that's important to you today. There is a strong compulsion to stay in habitual behavior but you can break out of it toward meaningful actions.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): You look for the right opportunity and vehicle for exercising your vision. You want to make a big impact and you rely on the purity of your ideals and the self-evident rightness of your cause.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): There is a strong tension between the expectations of your family versus your own self-direction. There can be arguments about the right thing to do. Everyone must assess genuine needs versus what's necessary.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Emphasize your virtuous characteristics such patience and steadiness today. However, don't expect everyone to do the same today. Don't give in to negative behavior on account of another's failings.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): You are challenged to use money for practical benefits while using or earning it by spiritual principles. Much depends on motives and ethical consistency: Put your money where your beliefs are.

Mar 25, 1634:
The settlement of Maryland

The first colonists to Maryland arrive at St. Clement's Island on Maryland's western shore and found the settlement of St. Mary's.

In 1632, King Charles I of England granted a charter to George Calvert, the first Lord Baltimore, yielding him proprietary rights to a region east of the Potomac River in exchange for a share of the income derived from the land. The territory was named Maryland in honor of Henrietta Maria, the queen consort of Charles I. Before settlement began, George Calvert died and was succeeded by his son Cecilius, who sought to establish Maryland as a haven for Roman Catholics persecuted in England. In March 1634, the first English settlers--a carefully selected group of Catholics and Protestants--arrived at St. Clement's Island aboard the Ark and the Dove.

Religious conflict was strong in ensuing years as the American Puritans, growing more numerous in Maryland and supported by Puritans in England, set out to revoke the religious freedoms guaranteed in the founding of the colony. In 1649, Maryland Governor William Stone responded by passing an act ensuring religious liberty and justice to all who believed in Jesus Christ. In 1654, however, the so-called Toleration Act was repealed after Puritans seized control of the colony, leading to a brief civil war that ended with Lord Baltimore losing control of propriety rights over Maryland in March 1655.

Although the Calverts later regained control of Maryland, anti-Catholic activity persisted until the 19th century, when many Catholic immigrants to America chose Baltimore as their home and helped enact laws to protect their free practice of religion.

Creator, whisper what you want me to do

ZODIACAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR TODAY

ARIES (March 21-April 19): You mobilize resources toward a goal today. A big enterprise is begun. The more unique it is, the more successful it's likely to be. It's important that you feel passionate about the success of your venture.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Inwardly, you are confident but when it comes to action you try to accomplish too much. Moderate your efforts, and strike a balance between what you have the energy to do and the results you get from it.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): You're liable to become agitated unnecessarily. Whether good or bad, fantasies are blown out of proportion to what's really going on. Calm your mind through meditation, for example, and don't let your imagination get out of control.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Progressing toward your goals involves what you do to succeed, as much as how many impediments you get rid of. Emotional, intellectual and physical blocks must be addressed and eliminated.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): You are positioned for success today. Expand your contacts, which for some can mean an international outreach. The wider your audience, the more likely you can connect with people you can deal with.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): You want to be right but in order to win your motives must be honorable. The truth must be your overriding concern now, so set partisanship aside so that justice and fairness may reign.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Some are inclined to make a financial contribution to a worthy cause. Many can begin projects with a big result, though they must start out small. Don't do something because someone makes you feel obligated.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): There is a lot of drama in relationships today. You gain and lose friends. A general shake-out occurs probably leaving you with associates who are more compatible with your ambitions.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): You see how it is possible and necessary to step up from a hobbyist to a skilled worker or from a worker to a professional. An upgrade in work or health is clearly seen as important.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You make a big impression today but your delivery can be too dramatic. You're challenged to push your agenda forward instead of simply getting attention. Combine compelling flair with genuine arguments.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Your awareness of what's going on in the world makes you concerned for your family. You seek ways to think globally and act locally. You want to upgrade and improve home and property.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): You have an excellent grasp of details and how they connect to big ideas and theories, You may be lacking in ways of acting on your understanding, however, and should try harder in this.

Great Spirit, remove from me any doubt that comes up today

ZODIACAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR TODAY

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Relationships can relax now after a bit of tension. Relief is at hand but this can be joyful for some and sad for others. This is a day that seems like a postscript to the main event.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You have cause to feel anxious about finances today. You may not have the Monet you were expecting. It's important to heed your concerns but act wisely about the situation instead of being paralyzed.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): You feel that you aren't living up to your job standards. Someone can make you feel inadequate. From the start, you need to go to work determined to do your best and live up to your employer's mission.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Suspicion attaches to someone in charge. You feel you can't believe everything you're told. You need to make your own decisions based on what you can verify, while still doing what's expected of you.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): You tend to doubt reports, perhaps without good reason to do so. It may make good sense to suspend belief on early stories but don't let it linger as the evidence comes in.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): You are easily displeased but hold your feelings inside until you know the whole story. Many people are having a bad day, so don't make it worse than it already is.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): It may be that you relent from a stubborn position today. You can see the sense in an idea you've been resisting. You can move forward if you stop resisting and use good sense.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You're feeling low on energy today. It's best to stay within your limits and not push yourself too hard. Pay careful attention to a proper diet and to the proper doses and schedules of any medications you may be taking.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): You take situations too personally today. It would be better to ignore unpleasant things people say and do since they aren't indications of a permanent attitude but of a passing mood instead.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): A sense of privation moves you to hoard. You want to stem losses but you should also give careful consideration to letting go of what you no longer need.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Be wise about spending money but creative about how to earn it. Don't rely on just one plan for anything but have a variety of approaches and several alternatives to your main path.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): You feel very apprehensive today. You may feel you're being led down the wrong path. Stop and think things through. You must trust your instincts and distinguish them from baseless fears.

Grandfather, today, let me learn values from Mother Earth.

ZODIACAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR TODAY

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Feelings are harsh today. Someone wants to be in control and will do almost anything to achieve it. You need to be prepared to stand up for yourself without being as ruthless as anyone who would victimize you.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You want to make a good impression and do a good job. You're willing to endure a lot to see projects to completion and perfection. The day favors learning and travel.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): You require a large group of people around you, the better to stand out and be noticed. You want to lead but more than that you want to take people someplace where they can feel fulfilled.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): It's very important to treat people fairly. The wrong move could create a vindictive reaction. Your actions must have good reasons to back them up, which must be made clear to all involved.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): You are, in some way, a personal trainer today. You have a good idea of how to teach someone. You meet someone who wants to be like you or who needs to be shown how to achieve the same as you.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): People are attracted to you because you can articulate what's already on their minds. You need to stay genuine and speak only for yourself, however. You could become trapped by trying to be what others want you to be.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You feel as if you're in a prison and can't get out. Your options are limited and the chains of obligation, guilt and shame are strong. You are highly challenged to break free of them and live more free and more honestly.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): There is a great need to share information and probably just as great resistance to do so. Someone with a need-to-know mentality is hard to convince that you really do need to know it.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): You are highly sensitive now. You desire approval and can feel crushed by disapproval. You must remain low-key and undramatic. Becoming the center of attention could turn out bad.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You feel a strong need to protect yourself today. In most cases, this is simply protecting your vested interests but, in many cases, this could also mean protecting your reputation, your possessions or your person.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Issues of personal integrity are important to you now, especially since it seems in short supply. However, don't alienate people with unfounded suspicions. You need to work on feeling and cultivating trust.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): If you are preoccupied by money, then you aren't managing it well. A good investment should be taking care of itself, by and large. You must endeavor to set your money on a path that needs only occasional tweaking.

Great Spirit, allow me to understand both the Spirit World and the Physical World. Today, let me be happy

My Creator, I thank you for my ancestors, seven generations ago

Apr 2, 1513:
Ponce de Leon discovers Florida

Near present-day St. Augustine, Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon comes ashore on the Florida coast, and claims the territory for the Spanish crown.

Although other European navigators may have sighted the Florida peninsula before, Ponce de Leon is credited with the first recorded landing and the first detailed exploration of the Florida coast. The Spanish explorer was searching for the "Fountain of Youth," a fabled water source that was said to bring eternal youth. Ponce de Leon named the peninsula he believed to be an island "La Florida" because his discovery came during the time of the Easter feast, or Pascua Florida.

In 1521, he returned to Florida in an effort to establish a Spanish colony on the island. However, hostile Native Americans attacked his expedition soon after landing, and the party retreated to Cuba, where Ponce de Leon died from a mortal wound suffered during the battle. Successful Spanish colonization of the peninsula finally began at St. Augustine in 1565, and in 1819 the territory passed into U.S. control under the terms of the Florida Purchase Treaty between Spain and the United States.

My Mother, help us to heal ourselves. Make us strong again

ZODIACAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR TODAY

ARIES (March 21-April 19): It's hard to keep relationships on an even keel today. You don't understand how to please a partner, whose rules are constantly changing. You need to set your own conditions in order to introduce fairness.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Frustration develops if you constantly give in to what others want. You must press your own desires and get satisfaction. You must communicate effectively instead of being a slave to another's whims.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): You have bad reactions when people try to control you. You tend to be fearful and resentful. You must try to insist on justice, no matter how much it seems to be in short supply.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): You're in a difficult position in which you need to have answers but asking is risky. You have to find ways to be more self-reliant now. You're apt to show your feelings too easily now and you require self-control.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Be careful about how you relate to people at work today. Someone in authority could be hard to get along with. Don't be timid. People need to know where they stand and honesty is more important than being shy.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): You're prone to be inoffensive but that can easily change if provoked now. You may often feel confused about what to do or how to start and this frustration can turn into anger. You need clear instructions.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You feel overwhelmed and helpless today. You must put the most important things first, even though you want to put the easiest things first. Give yourself a lot of lead time to overcome unforeseen problems.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Relationships can be in trouble if they are too public. Minimize contact and you may reduce the drama. The root of most problems lies in vanity and selfishness, so cultivate the reverse virtues.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): There are serious problems with people in authority at work or at home or both. Beware of walking into situations that could escalate, as it could be quick and extreme. At all times, keep emotional levels low.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You're apt to feel intellectually confused and distracted today. You don't know what to believe because some very important concepts have been contradicted or questioned. You need logical and scientific rigor.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): People are upsetting. Disagreements cause a lot of bad feelings. It's important to keep the focus on points of agreement, no matter how small, in hopes that harmony can be built up from there.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): You feel that it's you against everyone else. Paranoia is a likely frame of mind unless you can become objective and calm. Not everything requires an emotional reaction so deal with what people do, not with perceived insults.

Great Spirit, today, let my thoughts be about others

ZODIACAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR TODAY

ARIES (March 21-April 19): You have a good chance to make political gains today but only if you stay in situations on topics that are already familiar to you. Pursue what genuinely interests you and connect with others who also have it as a primary interest.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You put issues into a religious context today. You generally are dissatisfied with disconnected pieces of data and want to understand what they mean and how they relate.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Relate to people at work on an emotional and intuitive level today. Finding common points of agreement in spirituality or other beliefs can connect you better than the common purpose for the job you're doing.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): This is a good day to pursue efforts at self-improvement. This is especially effective when you apply this toward matters of motivation, success and learning. For some, travel can be very rewarding now.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): You seek ways to put unusual talents to use, preferably in ways that pay. In many cases, an expense that's put toward an independent job or career can really turn out to be an investment.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): You feel overwhelmed with information, so you need to make sense of it all. You need to apply the arts of logic to sift through what's meaningful and what's not.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Pay close attention to issues regarding your health and income. You need to ensure that both immediate and long-term needs are being met. Take extra measures that your plans are practical. For some, explore energy healing.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Stay with people who keep you motivated and positive. This is not a good time for romance but you can connect more broadly to many people in matters of idealism and activism.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): This is a good day to carefully consider a job change that would fit in with your true ideals. For the moment, it's not money that's important but the sense of fulfillment.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You have an excellent ability to read people today. Trust your instincts about what people really want but also make sure you're correct before acting on it. You connect intuitively and emotionally.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): You may desire to be free of obligations when you actually have many of them to live up to. It's important to bring your ideals into practice now, even though it can be very difficult or simply seems too bothersome.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): You feel free to say what you want today so try to stay in a refined state of mind. You can inspire people with your kindness and point their minds towards something better with your aspirations.

Great Spirit, let me listen to Her songs.

Apr 5, 1614:
Pocahontas marries John Rolfe

Pocahontas, daughter of the chief of the Powhatan Indian confederacy, marries English tobacco planter John Rolfe in Jamestown, Virginia. The marriage ensured peace between the Jamestown settlers and the Powhatan Indians for several years.

In May 1607, about 100 English colonists settled along the James River in Virginia to found Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in America. The settlers fared badly because of famine, disease, and Indian attacks, but were aided by 27-year-old English adventurer John Smith, who directed survival efforts and mapped the area. While exploring the Chickahominy River in December 1607, Smith and two colonists were captured by Powhatan warriors. At the time, the Powhatan confederacy consisted of around 30 Tidewater-area tribes led by Chief Wahunsonacock, known as Chief Powhatan to the English. Smith's companions were killed, but he was spared and released, (according to a 1624 account by Smith) because of the dramatic intercession of Pocahontas, Chief Powhatan's 13-year-old daughter. Her real name was Matoaka, and Pocahontas was a pet name that has been translated variously as "playful one" and "my favorite daughter."

In 1608, Smith became president of the Jamestown colony, but the settlement continued to suffer. An accidental fire destroyed much of the town, and hunger, disease, and Indian attacks continued. During this time, Pocahontas often came to Jamestown as an emissary of her father, sometimes bearing gifts of food to help the hard-pressed settlers. She befriended the settlers and became acquainted with English ways. In 1609, Smith was injured from a fire in his gunpowder bag and was forced to return to England.

After Smith's departure, relations with the Powhatan deteriorated and many settlers died from famine and disease in the winter of 1609-10. Jamestown was about to be abandoned by its inhabitants when Baron De La Warr (also known as Delaware) arrived in June 1610 with new supplies and rebuilt the settlement--the Delaware River and the colony of Delaware were later named after him. John Rolfe also arrived in Jamestown in 1610 and two years later cultivated the first tobacco there, introducing a successful source of livelihood that would have far-reaching importance for Virginia.

In the spring of 1613, English Captain Samuel Argall took Pocahontas hostage, hoping to use her to negotiate a permanent peace with her father. Brought to Jamestown, she was put under the custody of Sir Thomas Gates, the marshal of Virginia. Gates treated her as a guest rather than a prisoner and encouraged her to learn English customs. She converted to Christianity and was baptized Lady Rebecca. Powhatan eventually agreed to the terms for her release, but by then she had fallen in love with John Rolfe, who was about 10 years her senior. On April 5, 1614, Pocahontas and John Rolfe married with the blessing of Chief Powhatan and the governor of Virginia.

Their marriage brought a peace between the English colonists and the Powhatans, and in 1615 Pocahontas gave birth to their first child, Thomas. In 1616, the couple sailed to England. The so-called Indian Princess proved popular with the English gentry, and she was presented at the court of King James I. In March 1617, Pocahontas and Rolfe prepared to sail back to Virginia. However, the day before they were to leave, Pocahontas died, probably of smallpox, and was buried at the parish church of St. George in Gravesend, England.

John Rolfe returned to Virginia and was killed in an Indian massacre in 1622. After an education in England, their son Thomas Rolfe returned to Virginia and became a prominent citizen. John Smith returned to the New World in 1614 to explore the New England coast. On another voyage of exploration in 1614, he was captured by pirates but escaped after three months of captivity. He then returned to England, where he died in 1631.

ZODIACAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR TODAY

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Many relationships seem too restrictive now. You're challenged to assert independence without breaking things off entirely. You need a lot of emotional space today. Try to get people to understand without being offended.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): People are attracted to you and you want to be generous but this could also leave you open to exploitation. Don't let people use you. Maintain control over what you do with and for them.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): You strive for professional success in an uncertain environment. Failures are more likely not your fault but due to situations beyond your control. You have good luck but still must exert yourself.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): You're prone to be impetuous today, with unfortunate results. It's important to consult with others and avoid making unexpected moves. The consequences of your actions should be understood beforehand.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): While you have a lot of information to share, you must think more about making it relevant. You're prone to talk about trivia. Gauge the necessity of what you want to say; intelligent self-censoring may be called for.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): While you're in competitive situations, you don't treat them that way. You're more likely to help everyone and share what you have. You can see that everyone benefits when everyone cooperates.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You may feel desperate to have the freedom that others have but you don't. At least, it looks that way to you. You're challenged to be moderate in your solutions as an extreme response will create a bad reaction upon you.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You give special attention to bolstering friendships and improving your social circle. You should be in search true friends, the ones you meet face-to-face. Don't be satisfied with anything superficial.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): You want to bring the benefits of work to home now. While you want everyone to be happy, you also need to watch out for indulgent overspending. You may prefer to ignore genuine problems at this time.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You're challenged to meet responsibilities at home and work despite the desire to evade them. Your restlessness creates problems so do what you have to do today and find free time at a later date.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): You find it hard to think too deeply about anything. You want to relax and enjoy yourself. While escapism is the thread that runs through your pleasures, it's important to pick your diversions wisely and safely.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): It may be easy for someone to push your buttons today. However, you have the capacity to be aware of this and act according to better, perhaps spiritual, principles.

Great Spirit, today, let me support my brothers and sisters

ZODIACAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR TODAY

ARIES (March 21-April 19): You're compassionate and outgoing now. You feel that having something is pointless unless someone benefits from it. Something you know will come in handy unexpectedly.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Gathering information is important to you yet you tend to depend on others to bring it to you. Even so, careful evaluation of it is important; beware of partial or biased data.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Something makes you feel ashamed to act naturally and spontaneously. You must struggle against this and show yourself as you are, warts and all. Don't punish yourself for something you can't help.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): You must have a thick skin today. There is a lot attention on you, a lot of expectations and a lot of inevitable criticism. You must have answers ready at hand now while keeping your cool.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): A dramatic event gets your attention today. You feel connected to people through your shared attention. You may be challenged to dig deeper and ask questions beyond what is being presented.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): It can feel as though your money is not yours to own. You need to work harder at creating a savings instead of getting into debt. You should encourage people to rely on themselves more instead of on you.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You tend to let others take the lead while you lend a helping hand. You like to be and adviser at the ready, while someone else makes decisions. You must accept it when your advice isn't taken.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You're more likely to waste time than be productive today. It's important not to slip into bad habits. Do something useful or what takes creative thought. Don't get sucked into mindless entertainment.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): You lay careful plans now. You may be aware that what you're doing will displease someone and keep it secret. You are more concerned with consequences than with ethics, at the moment.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You want to pay attention to your family but necessity requires that you focus on the job. You may find that people are depending on you for information on precedents and prior research.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): You're apt to feel as though you don't belong in a social circle. Your attitude or beliefs are a bit unacceptable. You may need to downplay aspects of yourself that make you a misfit even though this puts you in the background.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): It's a good day to collect and examine all your financial information for evaluation. Are you earning enough? Are you saving enough? Are you spending too much or in the right way? Put all options out for review.

Great Spirit, today, let me show the greatest respect to our Women.

ZODIACAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR TODAY

ARIES (March 21-April 19): You are concerned about the right way to get what you want. You don't want to be overbearing but you also won't take no for an answer. Charm can be a useful tactic but if it doesn't work you could get mean.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): An important relationship is troubled but you should exercise care and compassion because of it. There is cause for anger, perhaps, but there is also a need to heal and forgive.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): A dramatic upheaval in your personal life develops today. The home or family is involved or your ability to stand on your own is challenged. Strengthen your overall ability to be secure against disruptions.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): You're prone to get outside help when you should be more reliant on your intuition. Prioritize tasks when you feel overwhelmed. When uncertain, rely on someone you trust for advice.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): You're prone to feel anxious today as your sense of security is undermined. You can respond to perceived threats with anger. It's important to determine whether your perceptions are correct, so be careful.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): You need to strike the right balance between being pleasant and being assertive. You're prone to turn mean if you're thwarted. Your good manners must carry through regardless of success or failure.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You are apt to be unprepared for achieving something important. Today, you have to start small from the beginning and work up toward greater competency and comprehension. Don't be ashamed of this.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Laziness and inattention steal valuable time today. Many are prone to waste energy on unimportant activities. Don't play games; look at the real world around you and get busy.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): You are feeling ambitious, particularly as a way to impress someone. It's important that you be caring and keep the crueler side of your character or mood carefully hidden away.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): It can seem that your plans are slowing down and being stymied. You could benefit from sympathetic counseling and also from patience. Time and effort together will help get you past stagnation.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Your interpretations of events are liable to go amiss today. Stop thinking and imagining so much. Today, it's better to take what you see and hear at face value until you get explanations from the source.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): You're liable to accept a certain amount of disadvantage philosophically today. However, others may seethe with anger because they can't do anything about it. It's important to take measured action.

Apr 8, 563 B.C.:
Buddhists celebrate birth of Gautama Buddha

On this day, Buddhists celebrate the commemoration of the birth of Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, thought to have lived in India from 563 B.C. to 483 B.C. Actually, the Buddhist tradition that celebrates his birthday on April 8 originally placed his birth in the 11th century B.C., and it was not until the modern era that scholars determined that he was more likely born in the sixth century B.C., and possibly in May rather than April.

According to the Tripitaka, which is recognized by scholars as the earliest existing record of the Buddha's life and discourses, Gautama Buddha was born as Prince Siddhartha, the son of the king of the Sakya people. The kingdom of the Sakyas was situated on the borders of present-day Nepal and India. Siddhartha's family was of the Gautama clan. His mother, Queen Mahamaya, gave birth to him in the park of Lumbini, in what is now southern Nepal. A pillar placed there in commemoration of the event by an Indian emperor in the third century B.C. still stands.

At his birth, it was predicted that the prince would either become a great world monarch or a Buddha--a supremely enlightened teacher. The Brahmans told his father, King Suddhodana, that Siddhartha would become a ruler if he were kept isolated from the outside world. The king took pains to shelter his son from misery and anything else that might influence him toward the religious life. Siddhartha was brought up in great luxury, and he married and fathered a son. At age 29, he decided to see more of the world and began excursions off the palace grounds in his chariot. In successive trips, he saw an old man, a sick man, and a corpse, and since he had been protected from the miseries of aging, sickness, and death, his charioteer had to explain what they were. Finally, Siddhartha saw a monk, and, impressed with the man's peaceful demeanor, he decided to go into the world to discover how the man could be so serene in the midst of such suffering.

Siddhartha secretly left the palace and became a wandering ascetic. He traveled south, where the centers of learning were, and studied meditation under the teachers Alara Kalama and Udraka Ramaputra. He soon mastered their systems, reaching high states of mystical realization, but was unsatisfied and went out again in search of nirvana, the highest level of enlightenment. For nearly six years, he undertook fasting and other austerities, but these techniques proved ineffectual and he abandoned them. After regaining his strength, he seated himself under a pipal tree at what is now Bodh Gaya in west-central India and promised not to rise until he had attained the supreme enlightenment. After fighting off Mara, an evil spirit who tempted him with worldly comforts and desires, Siddhartha reached enlightenment, becoming a Buddha at the age of 35.

The Gautama Buddha then traveled to the deer park near Benares, India, where he gave his first sermon and outlined the basic doctrines of Buddhism. According to Buddhism, there are "four noble truths": (1) existence is suffering; (2) this suffering is caused by human craving; (3) there is a cessation of the suffering, which is nirvana; and (4) nirvana can be achieved, in this or future lives, though the "eightfold path" of right views, right resolve, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration.

For the rest of his life, the Buddha taught and gathered disciples to his sangha, or community of monks. He died at age 80, telling his monks to continue working for their spiritual liberation by following his teachings. Buddhism eventually spread from India to Central and Southeast Asia, China, Korea, Japan, and, in the 20th century, to the West. Today, there are an estimated 350 million people in 100 nations who adhere to Buddhist beliefs and practices.

"The very dust under your feet responds more lovingly to our footsteps than to yours, because it is the ashes of our ancestors, and our bare feet are conscious of the sympathetic touch, for the soil is rich with the life of our kindred."
-- Chief Seattle, SUQUAMISH
If you respect something, it will respect you back. If your ancestors respected something, the future generations will be respected back. The Indian ancestors always showed great respect for the Earth. That's why the Earth is so respectful to Indians today. Every Indian naturally feels connectedness to the Earth. We know the Earth holds our ancestors. If we continue to respect Mother Earth, our children will benefit and so will our grand- children. Today, we should think about and pray for our Mother Earth.

Grandmother, let me have strong feelings for our Earth today.

ZODIACAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR TODAY

ARIES (March 21-April 19): For those with health issues, you go to an extreme measure to implement a remedy. At work, you make a strong effort to remove unpleasantness though you are liable to become unpleasant or offensive yourself.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You are torn between being generally helpful, with a large overview, versus becoming obsessed with comparatively unimportant trivia. You must be mindful about how important the object of your attention really is.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): You want to stabilize a potentially chaotic situation today and this could mean exercising your authority to the fullest extent that's practical. You're energetic and may not know when to stop.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): You're too concerned about winning and losing. Focus on doing your best and let the results happen as they may. You take competition far too seriously when you need to find humor in them instead.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): You're prone to be self-righteous today. Don't act superior because it's very likely you'd be humbled in short order. Endure protracted discussions as long as new valid points are being made.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): You're apt to think you have all the answers. It may be there are important features of a situation you never thought of. You need to be more imaginative, less fixated on one answer, more open to discussion with others.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You are challenged to put your energy into public or selfless service today against your natural inclination to serve yourself. You can quickly learn that selfishness is self-defeating.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Somebody else becomes the focus of your attention when the proper object is yourself, your actions and the quality of your thoughts. What someone else is doing is less important than deciding what you are going to do.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): You have trouble managing both career and love life. It may be best not to mix them, or to focus on just one of them. Be careful, however, because trying to get power underlies everything you do now.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Your sense of what's important is turned upside-down today. Listen to protests that you are doing something wrong. The people around you have a better perspective about what needs to be done.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Your family tends to be left out of your big-picture viewpoint today. Don't let your personal life fall apart as you endeavor to do good in the world. Reverse your perspective a bit.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): You're prone to see a narrow range of options today. Activate your curiosity; very different points of view should be entertained seriously now. You need to factor more possibilities into your thinking.

Happy Easter/Eostre Spring Party time to all!

Great Spirit, today, I will respect your handiwork

ZODIACAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR TODAY

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Despite a lot of difficulties and unexpected reversals, you are optimistic that you will overcome them or that the results will turn out well. You are enthusiastic despite seeming adversity.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You're apt to be beset by vague fears. Set this aside if you can't pinpoint a cause for concern. If you can bring your intuition to consciousness, take responsibility for taking preventive action.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): You sense that you are in a struggle you can't win. You should change your perception of the situation. Try to be inclusive and helpful instead of antagonistic and jealous.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): You mood is closely connected to your state of health. It's important that you pay attention to nutritional needs now so your mind and emotions are capable of dealing with external disruptions.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): You're excited about new opportunities developing now. It may be hard to make others believe that such opportunities really exist but you can see them, however unlikely. Trust in your ability to turn the improbable into reality.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): You tend to feel lost without someone there to guide you. You need to clear you mind and wake up early in the day and to have had enough sleep overnight. Your anger is really frustration at yourself.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You tend to agree with everyone up front and this may be a mask for the fact you haven't made up your own mind. You need time to consider all the arguments and think about them critically. Decide what's right and what's wrong.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Money is a cause for anxiety today. Handle it very carefully. It's embarrassing to face the mistakes you've made but it's the only way to know where corrective measures must be taken.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): You don't have the freedom to do as you please today. Something is interfering and it gets under your skin. You must exercise patience and analyze situations carefully instead of merely reacting out of irritation.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You are trying to balance being responsible versus doing what you feel is right. The two are probably not the same. You were taught one way and you sense that this isn't suitable for current conditions.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): You're apt to lose yourself in your admiration for others, especially your children or loved ones. You need to focus on your unique gifts of the sort you admire so much in others.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Helping others feels like hurting your own interests and vice versa. You're challenged to be charitable in ways that are advantageous to everyone. It's not true that someone has to be the martyr.

Great Spirit, today, I pray for us to awaken to what we are doing

ARIES (March 21-April 19): You pay more attention to yourself than to others today. Vanity gets the better of you now when you actually need to be aware of how others are really perceiving and judging you.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You are apt to think of others' well-being before your own. Don't let this go to an extreme unless the cause is right. Generally, you want to promote justice for everyone and that includes yourself.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): You're prone to use others as means to your own goals. You are challenged to look past that and develop empathy and understanding. Your emotions need to be genuine, not put on as appearances.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): You emphasize what you want and are apt to overlook others' agendas. This can make you blind to subterfuge or to valid negotiating points that would make everyone happy.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): There is a tension between the easy path of faking knowledge and the harder path of actually being authoritative. The difference between appearance and actuality is profound and will show up quickly if put to the test.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): You are apt to alienate the very people you can ill afford to. Ensure that your behavior is measured and respectful. If you act too familiar, you're liable to transgress some boundary you don't know about.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You want to stand out in a crowd and perhaps you see no room for others to excel, only you. You're challenged to share opportunity and credit; that way you can enjoy the benefits of shared labor.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Feeling you have a lot to contribute, you're prone to push others aside. You're challenged to compete fairly, while still making the best case for yourself. You seek the best good for the greatest number, thus leaving someone out.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): You recognize that you need someone's backing, so you try to make a compelling case why you should be supported. You feel you are competing for attention and for favors. For many, a romance can develop, with difficulties.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You focus on big answers while neglecting the personal touch. You need to bring solutions down to the individual level, since this will motivate more people than a grand scheme would.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): You are too open in expressing your feelings today. You risk antagonizing or annoying people. Instead of wearing you heart on your sleeve, show enough of your feelings to make your point, without overburdening others.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): You have a low tolerance for difficulties today and are liable to retreat into seclusion whenever possible. This itself can create problems when facing up to obligations becomes mandatory.

Great Spirit, give me your power whenever my weakness shows so I can live by spiritual decisions

ARIES (March 21-April 19): You feel that service and compassionate acts are forced on you out of necessity rather than through genuine feelings. A sense of having to make sacrifices can make you resentful. Get control by deciding how to be helpful.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You're feeling brave and adventurous today. You dislike efforts to keep you safe, whether by individuals or institutions. You like risks of your choosing and rebel against the nanny-state mentality.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Genuine success in job or career should be your goal today. You are liable to feel a sense of weakness and uncertainty and this should motivate you to try harder and establish your usefulness and credibility at work.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): While intensely interested in what people have to say, you're apt to misunderstand the point of it. Question people sympathetically so you grasp the feelings they're really expressing, as well as their information.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): When it comes to your job and earning money, you take the initiative now. Many can take a promotion or other steps to increase power, authority and earning ability. You see a step up in strength.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Any success or attention encourages you to get more. You seem to be in a dynamic involving activity and passivity, and most situations you're in deal with the tensions between these two states.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You require quiet time for reflection and introspection. Your initial goal is to clarify what your practical goals for the day should be. Put away all distractions until this is done.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Your thinking processes are apt to be confused and impressionistic today. You need to get a grip and get your reasoning faculties active and your feelings under control.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Your feelings toward people are ambivalent today. The very ones who help you are also annoying. You need to encourage good behavior and thank people for their generosity. Reward what's good, ignore what's bad.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You take risks in order to further your education and understanding. You now entertain ideas that seem heretical or unorthodox. You follow leads that go counter to the prevailing wisdom, for what seems like good reason.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): You're single-minded when it comes to making a success of yourself today. You pay careful attention to smart investments as well as carry-through in performance. You keep the reputation clean and unsullied.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): You are reluctant to get started but this is due to unfounded fears and uncertainty. Take the first step to discover how easy it is. Limit your set of options so you don't feel overwhelmed by choices.

Apr 12, 1633:
Galileo is convicted of heresy

On this day in 1633, chief inquisitor Father Vincenzo Maculano da Firenzuola, appointed by Pope Urban VIII, begins the inquisition of physicist and astronomer Galileo Galilei. Galileo was ordered to turn himself in to the Holy Office to begin trial for holding the belief that the Earth revolves around the Sun, which was deemed heretical by the Catholic Church. Standard practice demanded that the accused be imprisoned and secluded during the trial.

This was the second time that Galileo was in the hot seat for refusing to accept Church orthodoxy that the Earth was the immovable center of the universe: In 1616, he had been forbidden from holding or defending his beliefs. In the 1633 interrogation, Galileo denied that he "held" belief in the Copernican view but continued to write about the issue and evidence as a means of "discussion" rather than belief. The Church had decided the idea that the Sun moved around the Earth was an absolute fact of scripture that could not be disputed, despite the fact that scientists had known for centuries that the Earth was not the center of the universe.

This time, Galileo's technical argument didn't win the day. On June 22, 1633, the Church handed down the following order: "We pronounce, judge, and declare, that you, the said Galileo... have rendered yourself vehemently suspected by this Holy Office of heresy, that is, of having believed and held the doctrine (which is false and contrary to the Holy and Divine Scriptures) that the sun is the center of the world, and that it does not move from east to west, and that the earth does move, and is not the center of the world."

Along with the order came the following penalty: "We order that by a public edict the book of Dialogues of Galileo Galilei be prohibited, and We condemn thee to the prison of this Holy Office during Our will and pleasure; and as a salutary penance We enjoin on thee that for the space of three years thou shalt recite once a week the Seven Penitential Psalms."

Galileo agreed not to teach the heresy anymore and spent the rest of his life under house arrest. It took more than 300 years for the Church to admit that Galileo was right and to clear his name of heresy.

ZODIACAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR TODAY ARIES (March 21-April 19): You are a key player in a team but you're liable to misuse this fact to unfair advantage. If you're taking up time positioning yourself instead of participating, you're going about it all wrong. Let performance lead to great offers. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You're apt to apply the wrong paradigm to issues today. Consult with others and do research. You have to fit the right theory to account for the facts and extrapolate results. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Personal events are causing anxiety. Use the skills you've learned at work to come up with responsible solutions. You must be serious about your life now to make sure you're happy. CANCER (June 21-July 22): You like to set events in motion and assume they will stay on course. You're open to failure because you don't maintain what's begun. You see the big picture but ignore the all-important details. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): You are probably working inefficiently today. You need to focus on the quality of your work now, not the quantity. You get more out of excellence than out of mass production. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): You are impressed by short-term success but now you have to look past that to sustainability and social justice. If immediate profit or power is unethical, turn away from it. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You don't feel energetic or ambitious today. You're liable to let someone take care of you. Those who are ill or invalid have a valid reason but those who are able-bodied need to get going. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Ethical issues concern you today. There can be those who doubt your standards in this regard today. You have to answer over issues of compliance and good faith now. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): You must choose between work or romance today. You are so hard-driven that one must take dominance but trying both dilutes your attention and energy. Your intensity can put people off. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You're liable to go easy on a strict budget today. You must maintain fiscal discipline now because any laxity would become a full backslide. Resist avariciousness -- even simple cravings to possess something. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): You want to be helpful today but perhaps too much so. Your assistance is such that can create dependence. You need to stand back and let certain people struggle and become stronger for it. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): You have your finger in many pots but this means you can't give good attention to any of them. Restrict the amount of your activities and devote yourself to one or very few so they can get far better attention for growth.

Grandfather, today, let me see the beauty of the whole.

Apr 13, 1360:
Hail kills English troops

On so-called "Black Monday" in 1360, a hail storm kills an estimated 1,000 English soldiers in Chartres, France. The storm and the devastation it caused also played a part in the Hundred Years' War between England and France.

The Hundred Years' War began in 1337; by 1359, King Edward III of England was actively attempting to conquer France. In October, he took a massive force across the English Channel to Calais. The French refused to engage in direct fights and stayed behind protective walls throughout the winter, while Edward pillaged the countryside.

In April 1360, Edward's forces burned the Paris suburbs and began to move toward Chartres. While they were camped outside the town, a sudden storm materialized. Lightning struck, killing several people, and hailstones began pelting the soldiers, scattering the horses. One described it as "a foul day, full of myst and hayle, so that men dyed on horseback [sic]." Two of the English leaders were killed and panic set in among the troops, who had no shelter from the storm.

The heavy losses suffered by the English were seen by many as a sign from God. King Edward was convinced to negotiate peace with the French. On May 8, 1360, the Treaty of Bretigny was signed, marking the end of the first phase of the Hundred Years' War. Edward agreed to renounce all claims to the throne of France, though he was given control of land in the north of the country. Fighting resumed nine years later, when the king of France declared war, claiming Edward had not honored the treaty. The last phase of the Hundred Years' War did not end until 1453.

The largest hailstone recorded in modern times was found in Aurora, Nebraska. It was seven inches in diameter, about the size of a soccer ball. Hail typically falls at about 100 miles per hour.