Christmas Forecast Results

The Weather Alternative's long-range forecast for December 23-26 was posted on November 23, 2008. The Great Plains and the East Coast were highlighted for important weather action. It read as follows:



Dec 23-26

Mercury’s sextile and trine to Uranus and Saturn, which are paired up over the Great Plains, will bring abruptly falling temperatures courtesy of a northwest wind. At the same time, Mars runs along the length of the East Coast as it aspects Mercury. This duo is known for exciting sudden bursts of whipping winds. This may materialize as the result of a low pressure area or front pushing eastward toward the coast.



Results

The Weather Channel map above for December 23rd shows a low pressure area over the Plains and windy conditions. They reported "Wintry weather is on the way once again for portions of the Central U.S. A storm system developing in the Central Plains will bring snow over the Upper Midwest, freezing rain...from eastern Kansas into the Ohio Valley, snow...along the southern Great Lakes tonight, with a wintry mix from eastern Kansas through...Missouri,...Illinois,... Indiana,...Ohio,...Michigan. Freezing rain...from eastern Oklahoma through Arkansas to western Tennessee... Winds will also become an issue as the area of low pressure deepens and moves eastward.

The second part of the forecast mentioned a low pressure area and/or front pushing toward the East Coast and generating whipping winds.

The Weather Channel map at right for December 25th shows the low pressure area over eastern Canada and a cold front along the length of the East Coast.

The National Weather Service posted wind warnings on December 23rd and 24th for New York State, Vermont, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Washington DC, West Virginia, Massachusetts, Maine, Georgia, and Virginia.

December 2008 Forecasts

Introduction to the Weather Alternative
How Long-Range Forecasts Are Made

Steps Towards Better Communication with Teens

--Think before I speak
--Listen without interrupting
--Avoid a judgmental tone of voice
--Speak calmly without raising my voice
--Ask questions that promote interesting conversation
--Talk to my teen the way I want my teen to talk to me

HOW TO TALK SO YOUR TEENAGER WILL LISTEN--By Paul W. Swets

Eclipse Activation Affects Weather On Both Coasts

Solar eclipses are known to have about a 3 year "life span." For long-range weather forecasting, this means that, within that 3 year or so period, outer planets can trigger the eclipse and the atmosphere will react according to the influence of the planets involved in the activation.





The Weather Alternative issued a forecast 3 months ago on September 23rd noting that the solar eclipse of March 18th, 2007 would be triggered on December 19th by the Last Quarter Moon. The forecast stated that "This may trigger a storm system or front over western Canada and pushing into the Pacific Northwest. After the 21st temperatures should increase over the mid-Atlantic states leading to storms."


The Accuweather map above, shows the storm hitting Canada and the Pacific Northwest. Accuweather calls it a major storm which will easily bring several inches of snow to Seattle by Sunday night and 1 to 2 feet of snow for the mountains.

Stormy conditions were also mentioned in the forecast for the mid-Atlantic area after the 21st. There will be no increase in temperatures before the storm, however. Accuweather is calling for three to six inches of snow to accumulate in southern New York state and northern Pennsylvania, especially in the higher elevations. The weather will deteriorate by Sunday morning (Dec 21). Then bitterly cold air will also pour in after the storm, leading up to the holiday.

The Weather Channel explains that "As one storm system weakens around the Great Lakes, another one will form off the Middle Atlantic Coast and will move northeastward and intensify as it makes quick time toward the Canadian Maritimes."

December 2008 Forecasts

Solar Eclipse Activation Fall 2008 Part 1

Introduction to the Weather Alternative

How Long-Range Forecasts Are Made

Saint Nick

Nicholas was born of wealthy parents in A.D. 280 in the village of Patara. At the time the area was Greek, and is now on the southern coast of Turkey. He lost his parents early to an epidemic, but not before they had instilled in him the gift of faith. Then Nicholas went to Myra and lived a life full of sacrifice and love and the spirit of Jesus. Nicholas became so Christlike that when the town needed a bishop, he was elected. He was imprisoned for his faith by Emperor Diocletian and released later by Emperor Constantine.

There have been many stories of his generosity and compassion: how he begged for food for the poor, and how he would give girls money so that they would have a dowry to get a husband. The story most often repeated was about how he would don a disguise and go out and give gifts to poor children. He gave away everything he had, and he died around 345. His body was later moved to Bari, Italy, where his remains are to this day.

But the story of Nicholas has spread around the world. Within a century of his death he was celebrated as a saint. There are more churches in the world named after St. Nicholas than any other person in the history of the church.

People have also done strange things to him. Poet Clement Moore gave him a red nose and eight tiny reindeer. And Thomas Nast, the illustrator, made him big and fat and gave him a red suit trimmed by fur. And others have given him names, like Santa Claus. But what’s important about St. Nicholas is that he had the mind of Christ. Because of his gentle, selfless love, he touched the whole world. And this same mind of Christ can be in us.—James Hewett

Warm Weather Wash Out

The Weather Alternative's long-range forecast for December 15-17 calling for warm temperatures and southerly air flows over the eastern Plains and Mississippi Valley was washed out by the recent frigid temperatures over the country's midsection.

On the 16th, there was somewhat of a warm up over the Gulf of Mexico but nothing of the magnitude I had expected over the eastern Plains and Mississippi Valley.

From an astrological standpoint, this is usually due to the fact that one of the key charts is superseded by another. For example, sometimes an eclipse chart will become activated by an outer planet and overrides the Solar Ingress chart. I've been unable to research this specific example due to problems with my software program.

The next Weather Alternative forecast for Dec 18-22, 2008 is shaping up, however. This forecast stated The Last Quarter Moon of Dec 19th opposes and squares this Solar Eclipse degree. This may trigger a storm system or front over western Canada and pushing into the Pacific Northwest.After the 21st temperatures should increase over the mid-Atlantic states leading to storms.


Accuweather reports that "Wednesday night (17th) and Thursday (18th), a storm will run along the arctic boundary, producing snow from Seattle to Pocatello, Idaho. Low elevations will get 1 to 3 inches of snow from this winter storm, while the high mountains can expect over a foot.

I'll continue to post the rest of the results as we get closer toward the 21st.

December 2008 Forecasts
Solar Eclipse Activation Fall 2008 Part 1
Introduction to the Weather Alternative
How Long-Range Forecasts Are Made

Christmas


It is not generally known that St. Francis of Assisi was responsible for that popular feature of the Christmas season--the manger scene. It came about because of his longing to make the great truths of the Spirit real to the ordinary person.


A candymaker in the state of Indiana in the USA wanted to make a candy that would represent God's Message to us, so he made the Christmas candy cane. In that simple shape, he incorporated several symbols for the birth, ministry, and death of Jesus Christ.

He began with a stick of pure white, hard candy--white to symbolize the virgin birth and the sinless nature of Jesus; and hard to symbolize the solid rock of faith and the firmness of the promises of God.

The candymaker made the candy in the form of a "J" to represent the precious Name of Jesus, Who came to Earth as our Savior. It could also represent the staff of the "Good Shepherd" with which He reaches down into the ditches of the world to lift out the fallen lambs.

Thinking that the candy looked somewhat plain, the candymaker stained it with four red stripes. He used three small stripes to show the stripes of the scourging Jesus received, by which we are healed. The single large red stripe was for the blood shed by Him on the cross so that we could have the promise of eternal life.

The candy became known as the candy cane--a familiar decoration seen at Christmas time, though few understand its intended symbolism. For us it can serve as a reminder of the wonder of Jesus coming down at Christmas and His great Love that remains the ultimate and dominant positive force in the universe today.

East and West Coast Predictions On Target

The wild weather affecting the East Coast with heavy rain from Virginia to New England as well as ice and snow in some locations is a direct fulfillment of The Weather Alternative's long-range forecast for December 10-13, 2008. The forecast issued on November 23rd read as follows:



More cold, and stormy conditions are indicated for the New England area as the Sun and Mars square Uranus, which now occupies the 68th degree of west longitude over Maine and eastern Canada. The Mars-Uranus square is particularly turbulent as it is known for exciting acute and energetic storm systems. The Full Moon on the 13th also squares Saturn, another cold and tempestuous influence. Saturn is over the 66th degree of west longitude through Nova Scotia.



Advisories, which include warnings for heavy rain over Nova Scotia, and significant amounts of snow over southeastern Quebec, are being issued by Canada's Weather Service.

The same forecast stated:

In direct contrast to the cold and stormy conditions over the eastern United States, the Venus-Jupiter parallel affecting the West Coast and Great Basin areas, should bring seasonally warm temperatures to the western U.S.

Yesterday, the Weather Channel reported that "Mostly dry and warm conditions are expected across the West." Today their report read "High temperatures will be near to above average for the season."

December 2008 Forecasts

Solar Eclipse Activation Fall 2008 Part 1

Introduction to the Weather Alternative

How Long-Range Forecasts Are Made

It's The Way You Say It

Once a king dreamed that all his teeth had fallen out. Immediately he sent for one of his soothsayers to interpret the meaning of the vision. With a sad countenance & mournful voice, the soothsayer told the monarch that the dream meant that all his relatives would die & that he would be left alone. This angered the king & he drove the servant from his presence.

Another was called & the king told him of the dream. At this, the wise man smiled, & replied, "Rejoice, O King; the dream means that you will live yet many years. In fact you will outlive all your relatives." This pleased the king a great deal, & in his joy he gave the interpreter a rich reward. The two men had said, in different ways, the same thing.

Eastern Coastal Storm and Western Forecast Results

Conventional forecasters are warning that the coldest air mass in several years for December will strike the eastern half of the U.S. behind a low pressure system over the Great Lakes area. The low will then transfer its energy to a coastal storm brewing off shore, which will brush southeastern New England while heavy snow spreads into eastern Maine. Strong northwest winds will add to the chill across New York and the Mid-Atlantic and then New England. (see Accuweather map at left)



The Weather Alternative long-range forecast for December 4-6, 2008 advised of a major storm system over the Northeast and New England areas. Cold and windy conditions were pointed out due to the Mercury-Uranus square.



In another long-range forecast posted on September 30, 2008, a potent storm was foreseen for the Pacific Northwest and California between November 29-December 4, 2008.

On December 1st, forecasters called for strong winds to spread across the Intermountain West and posted wind and snow-related warnings for Montana and Wyoming.

Then on December 2nd, a storm system moving out of the Pacific Northwest collided with another system over western Canada. The result was widespread snow across the Intermountain West. (see Accuweather map at right)

December 2008 Forecasts
Solar Eclipse Activation Fall 2008 Part 1
Introduction to the Weather Alternative
How Long-Range Forecasts Are Made

Children

I took a piece of plastic clay
And idly fashioned it one day;
And as my fingers pressed it still,
It moved & yielded at my will.

I came again when days were past,
The form I gave it still it bore,
And as my fingers pressed it still,
I could change that form no more.

I took a piece of living clay,
And gently formed it day by day,
And molded with my power & art,
A young child's soft & yielding heart.

I came again when days were gone;
It was a man I looked upon,
He still that early impress bore,
And I could change it never more.

It is good to remember that Washington was one of ten children, John Wesley of twenty-one children, Shakespeare one of eight, Sir Walter Scott one of eleven, Benjamin Franklin was the tenth, Lyman Beecher, father of Harriet Beecher-Stowe, was one of thirteen & the most puny baby of them all. Tennyson was one of twelve, & Catherine of Siena one of twenty-two.