Unfortunately for two of my sons, my sister and me, our birthdays closely follow Christmas, meaning that our special days traditionally meet a rather jaded response from family and friends weary of buying presents and having parties.

Undoubtedly this is why we’re such stoic types, a fact pointed out by the Capricorn-the-Goat coffee mug birthday-gifted to me by my daughter. As the mug declares:

“Capricorns are confident, wise, practical and strong willed. Although they sometimes succeed in becoming wealthy they be melancholy if their ambitions are not realised. They like to be in positions of authority although they should avoid pessimism and the tendency to criticise. Despite making good and faithful friends their ambitions can make them lonely.”

Well, that set me back on my pessimistic, lonely and melancholy heels. (Or hooves, rather.) The situation became even more lugubrious when the mug revealed all about the classic Capricorn’s makeup. For example, my Planet is Saturn; my Element is earth; my Stone is garnet; my Metal is lead; my Colour is grey or black; my Flower is hemlock.

Saturn? Lead? Grey? Hemlock? How’s that for a sombre and spartan line-up of astral attributes, you wispy, colourful, flibbertigibbet Aquarians? Hemlock is a poisonous plant whose liquid was used in ancient Greece to execute people, including Socrates. The mug went on: “Suitable careers – politician, lawyer or banker.”  That was really rubbing it in.

Anyway, when the family with their customary weariness asked what I wanted for my birthday this year, I just replied, with suitable leaden melancholy, “Nothing, thanks. Don’t worry, I’m fine.”

That seemed to suit everybody a bit too conveniently, so I added hastily, “Well, what about lottery tickets?” (See, still suitably melancholic and pessimistic but also faintly practical.)

Ever since I was 17 and my friend Johnny Thirsk won the lottery, had his name published in the Daily Mirror and bought himself a shiny new Ford Falcon when we were all borrowing parental cars or driving rust-buckets, I’ve dreamed of winning it.

When contacted as a prize-winner by the Lottery people, I would, however, depart from the accepted response of Australian lottery winners. I’m determined never to say, “This will not change me at all.”

But my favourite Australian lottery winner in 2015 was the fellow who won $16.6 million. When asked how he was going to celebrate, he said solemnly, “I’m going to buy myself some apples and bananas.”

Of course it would. How tiresome of you lucky buggers to always lie about this. You’ve just lucked into $50 million and you’ll still trudge into work every day at the Water and Sewerage Board?

While swimming laps or walking on the beach or lying in bed I often daydream how I would spend a really vast sum. Imaginatively and well.

I would not be declaring, as did the chap who won $20 million in OzLotto last August, “We are simple people who don’t go over the top and still won’t. We might buy a slightly more expensive bottle of red.” Oh, please.

Or follow the words of the man who won the Powerball $50 million in July: “We will remain the same grounded people as before. We will do some much needed home renovations.” Save us.

And smack me down if on winning $30 million in OzLotto, like one family did in December, I announce to the Press, “We’re just excited to be able to get the scratch on our son’s car fixed and buy some new T-shirts.”

Is their some abject-humility competition going on among local lottery winners? No one says happily, “I used to be poor and now I’m not. I’m very lucky and very rich. Drinks all round!. Whoopee!”

Everyone seems desperate to announce that “the win will definitely not change us.” Are they scared of jealous neighbours bitching about them? Why else would another major winner last year say he was going to spend his prize money on getting his lawn mower fixed. My advice for him: “You’re a multi-millionaire now. Go crazy — buy a new lawn mower.”

Another winning fellow showed how ecstatic he was by declaring his intention to buy a new washing machine.

But my favourite Australian lottery winner in 2015 was the fellow who won $16.6 million. When asked how he was going to celebrate, he said solemnly, “I’m going to buy myself some apples and bananas.”

On the subject of lotteries, a family friend has a farmer uncle famed for his tight-fistedness. Uncle Mick never forgets her birthday or Christmas presents. He always sends her a scratchie lottery ticket. But he scratches them first in case they’re winning ones.

And my 2016 birthday lottery tickets, one from each member of the family? How did they go? What do you think?

Robert Drewe’s latest book, The Beach, an Australian Passion, has just been published by the National Library of Australia and is available here: the-beach-an-australian-passion His other recent books The Local Wildlife and Swimming to the Moon are on sale here: penguin.com.au

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Christian Schloe – Surrealist Visions

From Kim Falconer’s 11th House Blog . . .

It’s the Dark Moon now until December 21st/22nd, SOLSTICE NEW MOON – the perfect time to reflect on the power and energy about to shift with the final New Moon of 2014. Dark moons are for rest, recuperation, meditation and quietude. Find a place, inner and outer, that represents peace to you and go there.

New Moon 0 Capricorn 06′
LA – Sunday – 5:35 pm
NY – Sunday – 8:35 pm
Lon – Monday – 1:35 am
Syd – Monday – 12:35 pm

New Moons are perfect for setting intentions, pre-paving desires and focusing our energy on what we want, but often we’re too busy to get in touch with how we really feel. As the dark moon deepens this week, we can look back over 2014, asking what came to be. What could use some tweaking? Is there any dead wood that wants pruning?

Aligning with the current Astro can help you find the answers now, before the New Moon, and turn that knowledge into powerful transformations.

Key elements in upcoming New Moon are:

1) Uranus direct – think back to March/April 2013. What was set into motion then? You have a chance to make major adjustment there now, and move forward in new ways.

2) The Uranus/Pluto square – It’s been in orb since 2010 but coming to its final exact alignment. What challenges have you faced? What strengths resulted?

3) Saturn leaving Scorpio to enter Sagittarius – What have you been working hard towards since late 2012? The fruits are about to ripen!

4) New Moon on the 0 degree Aries Point. What is it you want to be ‘known for’? Make sure that is part of the intentions you set on this auspicious New Moon.

Remember you get to decide how your respond to everything that comes your way. Be it old family dynamics, new romantic interest, brilliant creative dream or a job/living situ that has to change, you set the stage by how you think of it.

Click to Enlarge – New Moon Chart December 2014

Sign by Sign tips for the Capricorn New Moon

ARIES: This New Moon is a laser focus on your career, mission, profession. It’s not enough to just get by. You want to express your capabilities out into the world. Ask what it is you represent and be that every time you step outside your door. Career Action time! Make a move.

TAURUS: Think new horizons as the possibilities for expansion present themselves in the new year. The focus for you is on new experiences – going places you have never been before. Travel, meditate, learn, teach, wander beyond the beaten path. Expand your awareness now!

GEMINI: The New Moon activates your house of shared resources, collaboration and the desire to transformation. It helps if you let go of old ways of thinking about yourself and embracing the new. Include the art of receiving in this renaissance self. Abundance through joint endeavors.

CANCER: The New Moon rises in your 7th house of relationships and the intentions you set now will pave the way for your all of 2015. Hint: Begin with yourself. That’s the partnership that counts! Be there for yourself, and shower your life with LOVE, appreciation and reverence.

LEO: Time to address any health or healing areas. Everything you do in your day to day routine counts – exercise, nutrition and the thoughts you think! The key to manifesting the life of your dreams begins with the basics, with soap and water and the kitchen sink. Appreciate every little thing.

VIRGO: The focus for you is creative self-expression, your art, craft and recreation. What is it you love doing? More of that is in order! Your homework is to have the time of your life through play, creative practice, music, dance, theater, film . . . whatever lights you up. Romance doesn’t go astray either!

LIBRA: This New Moon is in your house of secret feelings and it’s going to awaken all kinds of magic in your life. Eyes open. Be ready! Any and everything you do to improve the home right now improves you too! De-clutter, and spruce up the Feng Shui. Dreams and synchronicities light the way!

SCORPIO: For you, the New Moon rises in your 3rd house of ‘mind’ and it’s your thoughts and how you direct them that are most empowered. This is where your communication skills come in to play. Use them! Focus on what you want most, speak it aloud, and watch dreams come into being.

SAGITTARIUS: The New Moon in Capricorn can make it easy to get distracted with pragmatic concerns. This isn’t ‘bad’ though if you look deeper at your ‘resources’ you’ll see your true wealth is your core values. Use them. Meanwhile, sort your finances, make a new plan, and expect abundance in 2015.

CAPRICORN: This is your personal New Moon so take a moment to reflect on how your life is progressing. What have you accomplished in 2014? What goals do you want to set in 2015? Care to raise your sights? The sky truly is the limit, so start blasting through those set-points now!

AQUARIUS: The New Moon rises out of the land of dreams and the chaos of the unconscious mind. It’s about letting go and allowing for what you want as opposed to trying to force things to ‘make it happen’. The more you relax, let go of control and allow your intuition to guide you, the better. No resistance!

PISCES: The Capricorn Moon lights up your house of friends and like-minded others. You are opening to new connections and also, perhaps, some friends are starting to drift away. Just go with the ebb and flow, releasing the urge to grasp and cling. 2015 brings leadership roles! Be ready!

Have a wonderful SOLSTICE NEW MOON!
Namaste all! xxxKim

About Kim Falconer

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