Author: Cynthia Hansen Zehm

Kong Hei Fatt Choy! Happy Chinese Lunar New Year of the Monkey* 4714 The Chinese Lunar New Year begins each year at sunset on the evening following the second New Moon after Winter Solstice, which almost always takes place in the zodiac sign of Aquarius. This...

Editor's note: It is with a mixture of sadness to lose this wonderful column and surprise at our good fortune to have had Cynthia's Alacazem on TIO, practically since the beginning. We understand that all things have their time, and can only say with gratitude:...

December 24 to 31, 2015  Visible planets: Morning: Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn   Evening: Mercury “Star light, star bright, first star I see tonight….I wish I may, I wish I might. Get the wish I wish tonight."                                                         “Peace on...

December 17 to 24, 2015 Visible planets: Morning: Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn   Evening: Mercury The Season of Light takes place each year when the nights are longest and darkness reigns. It’s a time to acknowledge the retreat of the Sun and celebrate its return on...

December 10 to 17, 2015  Visible planets: Morning: Venus, Mars, Jupiter         Evening: Mercury “Our Lady of Guadalupe, O mystical rose. Help all those who invoke thee…” Years ago, I was called upon by this angelic lady to be a messenger of her peace, love and protection. Traveling...

December 3 to 10, 2015 Visible planets: Morning: Venus, Mars  Evening: Saturn This week I wanted to write about the history of Santa Claus, from his Mediterranean origins as Saint Nicholas in the 3rd century A.D. to our 21st century now, but I find myself impelled...

November 26 to December 3, 2015  Visible planets: Morning: Venus, Mars, Jupiter  Evening: Saturn Here in America, Thanksgiving marks the traditional initiation of the holiday season. Of course, today we know the holidays really begin with Halloween. And so it is. Harvest festivals and celebrations of...

November 19 to 26, 2015  Visible planets: Morning: Venus, Mars, Jupiter  Evening: Saturn Once upon a time, in America, Thanksgiving marked the beginning of the holiday season. Of course, that was long, long ago. Today, ghosts and goblins, witches and pumpkins, devils and angels, broomsticks and...

November 12 to 19, 2015 Visible planets: Morning: Venus, Mars, Jupiter  Evening: Saturn As the Wheel of the Year turns in its shape-shifting seasons and changing cycles, we also transform. Magnificent autumn days are transcendent, we linger in the shimmering beauty of golden, blushing aspen or...