By Stella Woods

RIP Steve "I want to put a ding in the universe" Jobs

I don't often write about individuals and I don't own a Mac, iPad, iPhone or even an iPod, but the passing of Apple's visionary co-founder, Steve Jobs has touched millions of people all over the world. I thought it fitting to pay tribute to this amazing human being.

"I was worth over $1,000,000 when I was 23, and over $10,000,000 when I was 24, and over $100,000,000 when I was 25, and it wasn't that important because I never did it for the money." Steve Jobs

His net worth might be $8.3 billion but Steve Jobs was a Pisces and it's rare to find a Piscean who's just in it for the money (or indeed just in it for themselves). Noted for their lack of boundaries, psychic and spiritual gifts, dreaminess, escapist nature and love of fantasy, Pisceans dream of heaven on earth and some of them, like Steve Jobs, manage to turn their dreams into reality.

Jobs was a typical Piscean. His early life included dropping out of college; a trip to an Indian ashram in search of enlightenment; becoming a Buddhist and experimentation with psychedelic drugs – he believed LSD opened the creative channels in the brain. His commitment to quality, style and beauty coupled with his unique visionary approach, birthed products that inspire universal love and devotion and his untimely death has turned him into a quasi-messiah. He's even been referred to as iGod!

"Bill Gates'd be a broader guy if he had dropped acid once or gone off to an ashram when he was younger." Steve Jobs - New York Times 1997

Steve's Pisces Sun is in the sixth house of his horoscope and he has a Virgo Ascendant, both placements symbolising selfless devotion, service and sacrifice. Virgo and Pisces are incredibly sensitive signs with a strong focus on physical, emotional and spiritual health and wellbeing. Steve ate a pescetarian diet and embraced alternative forms of healing. Like many Pisceans, his health was delicate. Virgo is one of the hardest working signs of the zodiac with a perfectionist streak and love of detail. Steve had a strong work ethic and was closely involved in every step of product development and design at Apple.

But apart from all this sensitive stuff, Steve Jobs was clearly an alpha male with a sharp tongue and a sharp mind. He has often been labelled a control freak and was known as a tough and sometimes fanatical boss. Retrograde Mercury in Aquarius ruling his Gemini Midheaven enabled him to revolutionise computer engineering by thinking outside the box. Moon and Mars in fire sign Aries gave him his incredible drive, competitive spirit, pioneering attitude and innovative streak. They also gave him an explosive temper and what some have described as an arrogant, overbearing personality.

Whatever you think of the man, he's a larger than life figure and leaves behind a considerable legacy. Apple's products are admired and appreciated by millions around the world who are not only mourning his passing, but mourning the products he never lived long enough to create. And with profits surging, Apple has shrugged off the recession and has $76 billion in ready cash - more than the US government.

But money was never Jobs's primary motivation...

"Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn't matter to me ... Going to bed at night saying we've done something wonderful... that's what matters to me." Steve Jobs - Wall Street Journal 1993

November Solar Eclipse

During a solar eclipse, the life giving Sun that lights our path joins briefly with the dark and mysterious Moon as the Moon blocks out the light of the Sun. In this moment of darkness, yin and yang energies combine afresh, beginning another cycle in the spiral of personal development.

On November 25th there is a partial solar eclipse at the new moon with the Sun and Moon at 3 degrees of Sagittarius forming a T square with Mars and Chiron. All eclipses indicate change; solar eclipses signify beginnings and usually manifest as events in the outer world. At solar eclipses we begin something new, make promises to ourselves, make commitments, plans and decisions, rise to the challenge, change, mature, travel at a faster pace, feel restless and excited and get in touch with our feelings. The Sagittarian energy inspires us to break through boundaries, reach for the skies and dream of possibilities, but the challenging angles to Mars and Chiron teach us that we need to proceed slowly, steadily and methodically if we want to make those dreams come true.

Eclipses move in cycles and so far we've had three eclipses in the Gemini-Sagittarius polarity, the first on 21st December last year and the second and third on 2nd and 16th June 2011. The first and third were the most powerful and required substantial adjustments. November/December is a great time for Geminis and Sagittarians to update their self-image and future plans.

This solar eclipse is a partial eclipse, meaning the Moon does not completely obscure the light of the Sun. One way of interpreting the symbolism is that neither the masculine energy of the Sun nor the feminine energy of the Moon dominates. Rather, the joining of the two forces could be described as integrative and unifying, a process of becoming whole, indicating that there is an opportunity to experience this sense of integration first hand, in our personal lives and on a global level.

Although the energies are most prominent for a week on either side of the eclipse (many feel a heightened sense of energy during this period), the influence on events continues over the next few months, until the time of the next solar eclipse.

When an eclipse falls on your birthday, you can count on an eventful year ahead. However, you do not have to be a Sagittarian to feel its effects. If it makes any contacts to a planet or personal point in your chart, your experience of the eclipse will be intensified.

Key Astrological Events – November

Mercury turns retrograde in Sagittarius on the 24th November, the day before the new moon and solar eclipse. This will only serve to heighten the intensity and relevance of the insights revealed between the new moon eclipse (in Sagittarius) on the 25th and the full moon eclipse (in Gemini) on the 11th December.

Think of the thrice yearly Mercury retrograde transit as a three week opportunity to get your life back on track and regain integrity. Pay particular attention to gut feelings, hunches and pieces of information that randomly come your way. Avoid starting new projects, but focus on completing or revising existing ones. Spend time day dreaming and meditating and see what comes up. If things go haywire, ask yourself: "What am I trying to learn?" "What is the hidden message behind this event?"

And as Mercury travels backwards through Sagittarius, ask yourself: "How can my inspiration and dreams create a better future?"

Moon Placements - November

Launch projects at the New Moon, bring them to completion in the period from just before the Full Moon to the Third Quarter phase and wind them down and reflect on developments in the week before the next New Moon. Important events such as parties, conferences and weddings are best held close to the Full Moon or when the Moon is in the same sign as your sun (star) sign

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Stella Woods is an astrology consultant and teacher based in St Kilda, Melbourne. Contact Stella for course details and private readings on 03 9534 5021 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit www.stellastarwoman.com to sign up for Stella's free AstroUpdate or read your Monthly Stars.