You can find everything you need at weekend markets, from fresh fruit and veg to handmade jewellery and wares, throughout the Central Highlands and surrounds. Here are just a few.

Daylesford Railway Market – every Sunday

Golden Plains Farmers Market – first Saturday
Trentham Neighbourhood Centre Makers’ Market – first Saturday
Castlemaine Farmers Market – first Sunday

Kyneton Farmers Market – second Saturday
Ballan Farmers Market – second Saturday
Kyneton Rotary Community Market – second Saturday
Maldon Market – second Sunday
Clunes Farmers Market – second Sunday

Trentham Farmers and Makers markets – third Saturday
Glenlyon Farmers Market – third Saturday
Creswick Market – third Saturday
Leonards Hill Market – third Saturday
Talbot Farmers Market – third Sunday
Woodend Lions Market – third Sunday
Malmsbury Farmers Market – third Sunday
Castlemaine Farmers Market – third Sunday

Daylesford Farmers Market – fourth Saturday

Trentham Station Sunday Market – fourth Sunday
Castlemaine Artist Market – fourth Sunday

Want to advertise your market? It’s free. Just email news@tlnews.com.au

Theatre Royal, Castlemaine – Mia Dyson, Saturday, May 7

Off the back of the 17-year anniversary reissue of her ARIA award-winning 2005 album Parking Lots, Australian icon Mia Dyson was penned to perform a run of Australian dates this November.
Due to Covid restrictions, Mia has had to postpone all of her upcoming shows but is thrilled to return home in early 2022 to celebrate the milestone with Central Highlands fans.

“I’m sorry to say we had to reschedule the Parking Lots tour again. Everyone has been doing it tough during Covid, especially our beloved live music venues. I think this time, we really will get to play the Parking Lots album for you and celebrate the 15th (well…now 17th) anniversary of its release. I can’t wait to return to Australia to see you and play.”
In her two-decade long career, Mia Dyson has been nominated for five ARIA awards with Parking Lots taking out Best Blues and Roots Album in 2005. She was the inaugural recipient of Double J’s Artist Of The Year at the 2014 J Awards following the release of her Australian classic LP Idyllwild, and has had four albums up for AIR Awards with The Moment earning her a nomination for Song Of The Year at the 2013 APRA Awards. Mia Dyson’s extensive career has seen her support the likes of Stevie Nicks, Eric Clapton, Bonnie Raitt and Joe Cocker, and most recently touring extensively with her supergroup Dyson, Stringer & Cloher.
Heading back into the studio in 2020 to revisit five songs from the album, Mia’s Parking Lots (Revisited) EP sheds new light on a selection of her favourite cuts from the record. From the single Roll Me Out to the homage of motherly love on Rivers Wide, and the simple, captivating title track, the empowering Choose and crowd pleaser I Meant Something To You Once, the EP captures highlights of a great album, which still stands up pretty well 17 years on. Mia will be with her band, with material from her whole career sure to feature.

Got a gig? Email news@tlnews.com.au

YES, some people say 13 is a unlucky number but to the students and adults of Daylesford who have learnt new skills, teamwork, leadership and personal development, got a little bit fit, made some new friends and most of all are having great fun, 13 is just a number.

Daylesford Volleyball Association runs volleyball on Monday nights in mixed competitions with juniors from 6 pm, social from 7 pm and open division from 8pm. The association also enters junior and adult teams in a few weekend tournaments throughout Victoria and encourages students to try out for Victorian state junior teams. So far, 10 juniors have been selected in state teams over the last 13 years and played at the Australian Championships, to be held in Bendigo this year.

Daylesford Primary School acknowledges the huge benefit of volleyball to the community and places volleyball on their curriculum in the fourth term. This enables the association to conduct volleyball classes, run a lunchtime competition with students and teachers and then an all-day volleyball tournament at the ARC, umpired and coached by volleyball players from Daylesford College.

The association also conducts PE classes at Daylesford College and helps select and train the school teams for the Eureka Division School Volleyball competition which is conducted at the ARC each year.
In the recent senior and intermediate divisions, three of the four teams from Daylesford won their divisions against teams from the Ballarat area. They will now go on to play at the Greater Western Region Championships in May. In previous years a girls team has finished third at the Victoria State Championships, pictured right, out of more than 400 schools and a boys team has finished fourth, pictured far right. A fantastic effort for a small shire like Hepburn.
New volleyball competition commences on Monday, May 2 at the ARC in Smith Street, Daylesford from 7pm for adults and senior students. Cost is $2 for students and $5 for adults. No experience is necessary, just the ability to make new friends and have fun. Contact Colin Priest on 0447 487 674.

Words & images: Colin Priest – Victorian state coach

Above, back row, Dean Homicki, Gary Thomas, Stewart Jonas, Martin Steinocker & Doug May, front row Andrew Cooper, Andrew Denis & Florian Holfinger

Centre, back row Colin Priest (coach) Sienna Milton, Lauren O’Brien, Sophie Elderfield, Ruby Hunt & Eve Britten, front row, Asha Loft, Jess Vanderberg & Kira Vanderberg

Below, back row, Charles Evans, Will Boskov, Oscar McLucas, Scott Kinnear, Colin Priest, front, Front Banjo Kinnear, Tom Cox, Adam Leonard & Ollie Rose

AS AUTUMN stretches out, Trentham spud farmers are starting to pull their potatoes out of the ground – just in time for The Great Trentham Spudfest on Saturday, May 7.
There’ll be freshly dug spuds for sale, food trucks offering taste sensations with a potato theme, gourmet produce and artisan craft stalls.
Make your way around town on a horse and cart ride, linger over Devonshire Teas or sashay away to an afternoon of live music.

For the families there’s mini golf, face painting and gourmet ice creams to name a few. Trentham also has some the fabulous stores and cafes of Market and High streets.
The very first Spudfest took place in 2008, which the UN had declared International Year of the Potato in recognition of the importance of the humble spud as a staple food for the world’s population.
Local resident and then president of the Trentham Rail and Tramway Association, Bob White, saw an opportunity to reinvigorate the town and started planning a spud-themed event.
“When I learned that 2008 was the International Year of the Potato, I thought it would be a great time to celebrate Trentham’s proud history of potato growing. At that time, Trentham was in the doldrums. The Cosmo Hotel had been extensively damaged by fire and was closed. I felt the town needed something to get it going again. The idea was to get as many organisations around the town to work together to create a festival in honour of the spud and inject some life back into the town.”
The first Spudfest took place in May 2008 and stretched over an entire weekend, punctuated by a potato dinner at the Mechanics Institute on the Saturday night.
This year’s event will be based at the old Trentham Railway Station and stretch up the charming, oak tree-lined Market Street.
It’s always a fantastic event and one not to be missed.
Link: www.trenthamspudfest.org.au
Above, Blackwood farmer John Dunn with a handful of spuds getting ready for Spudfest
Words: Contributed | Image: Kyle Barnes

Businesses and staff are invited to a workshop that aims to help create safe, welcoming and inclusive places for all.
The free session, which is being held online by Sunbury and Cobaw Community Health, is part of a series of events in the lead up to the International Day Against Homophobia Biphobia Interphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) on May 17.
The May 5 workshop will explore the meaning behind the LGBTIQA+ acronym, respectful language and useful terminology and why health services like Sunbury and Cobaw focus on LGBTIQA+ communities. Businesses are also being encouraged to show their solidarity by displaying the rainbow flag.
To get your rainbow flag or to participate in the Safe, Welcoming and Affirming Spaces workshop, call 5421 1666/ healthpromotion@scchc.org.au

People in the Macedon Ranges who identify as LGBTIQA+ are being offered the opportunity to come and try various active recreation opportunities or sports for free.
The sessions, which will be held during April and May include yoga, bushwalking, personal training, karate, boxing, combat group fitness, spin and dance-based virtual workout classes.
These sessions are being offered as part of the Rainbow-active project, led by Sunbury and Cobaw Community Health’s Country LGBTI Inclusion Program (CLIP), with support from Macedon Ranges Shire Council and the Healthy Heart of Victoria Project.
To book a session go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/rainbowactivecomeandtry or email healthpromotion@scchc.org.au for further information on the sessions or if your organisation is interested in taking part in the next Proud 2 Play training planned for later this month.

THE Central Highlands are familiar territory for Cecilia Macaulay. Her grandfather lived and farmed in East Trentham and her sister is in Kyneton.
She even spent time, about 15 years ago, working as a WWOOFer (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms) with Hepburn environmentalists, and now friends, David and Su Holmgren.
So, when Covid stopped the permaculture expert from her annual winter stays in Japan, she naturally found herself in Daylesford and is now offering courses out of Shizuka Ryokan.

It’s a long way from some of her past projects which include the design of a self-maintaining garden for Sir Richard Branson’s Caribbean island and consulting for Taronga Zoo’s 10-year plan but Cecilia is loving the local community and more than happy to share her knowledge.
“I moved to Daylesford because I wanted more Japanese culture and creative people around me and the feel of the community is really strong here. When I got this chance to do my workshops at Shizuka and also the chance to build them a Japanese herb garden, I thought ‘I am staying’.”
The Japanese connection started when she was a university student. She was in the library and approached by a shy Japanese man with a note, in her words an “otaku”, or which translates as nerd, who requested humbly if she would talk to him in English. She liked his earnestness and they conversed formally each week. He talked about many aspects of his homeland and “for some reason that lovely encounter created a desire for Japan”.
“It has been such a great relationship between me and Japan. I teach them permaculture and every year I get more and more in love with Japanese culture. It really is what my personality needed most. I am naturally creative and disorganised, I have energy to start things but not always to finish them, I love making stuff, but cleaning up, not so much. Japanese cultural practices have shown me a way to inspire myself into doing things in a way that works and connects me to other people. So I can have a team, and not annoy them with things like my unwashed dishes lying around, and we can make lovely projects happen.”
Cecilia says Japanese people are like everyone, they want to have a better life using inspiration, rather than discipline. “Permaculture is about making an eco-system around something so it can happen naturally. If you want to grow something in your garden, you work out its companion plants, what will repel pests, what will support it and then it will naturally give you its bounty without fighting. Setting yourself up to be the best of yourself.
“And I learnt early on there is no use in growing food if you can’t cook it because your kitchen is confusing or you didn’t harvest on time because you were too distracted. So my permaculture courses these days are not about gardens, because lots of other people teach that. My priority is helping people make their home life less complicated, and set up their environment to co-operate with them. I teach design principles such as how to reduce the amount of useless diversity – like too many kinds of Tupperware containers and missing lids – and increase the amount of useful diversity – like inviting different people to dinner and make a difference to your life. My real goal is to help people better connect to each other – because that is what its all about.”
Cecilia said she honed her craft while staying at the homes of generous, creative people who supported her as she travelled the country running her workshops. They often quietly struggled with clutter and overcommitment. She would use what she taught in her workshops to beautify the house with them as a thank-you gift. Her Zen your Space workshops at Shizuka are designed for creative or neuro-diverse people, her favourites.
“Shizuka Ryokan is a perfect Japanese guest house with tatami mats and you can see the genius of Japan and the simplicity in the building – refined over centuries. A lot of permaculture is borrowed from Japan. How to make a better life, how to get a lot out of a little and how to work with nature not against it.
“Japanese culture is very much about savouring what you’ve got and being in a relationship with everything you’ve got. And so is permaculture.”

Link: www.ceciliamacaulay.com.au

Words: Donna Kelly | Image: Contributed

FOR many of us who grew up watching iconic Australian television series Neighbours, news of its axing after nearly 38 years on our small screens is unthinkable.
From Scott and Charlene’s wedding (Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan) the show kick started the careers of many actors including Margot Robbie, Natalie Imbruglia, Holly Valance, Russell Crowe, Liam Hemsworth and former local Guy Pearce to name a few.
And for Daylesford resident and former Neighbours writer Philippa Burne, pictured watching the show with Lilly, news of its demise is bittersweet.

Philippa was responsible for killing Neighbours matriarch Madge Bishop. She died of pancreatic cancer on screen in 2001.
“I remember being at a party in Amsterdam and started talking to an avid Neighbours fan. When I mentioned my work and involvement in Madge’s death, she yelled at me telling me Madge was like a grandmother to her,” she said.
“The world has changed the way it gets its entertainment, but back then free to air TV was what we all watched and we all got involved with the characters and for many, watching a show like Neighbours helped people escape the world and be part of something.”
Philippa, who is also a published author and journalist, was part of the team which, 15 years ago, controversially wrote Neighbours’ first lesbian kiss into the show. It was a groundbreaking moment in 2004 for Lana and Sky (played by Bridget Neval and Stephanie McIntosh) and a moment Philippa is still proud of.
“So much time and energy goes into writing storylines, working out characters and in this instance there was a lot of concern with the lesbian kiss, particularly by the producers. We all worked hard to get it to happen.”
Philippa spent more than 10,000 hours of her career writing for Neighbours and over that time she was part of storylines that became Aussie folklore, but it was Madge’s death that stays with her till this day.
“People often say Neighbours is crap but over 37 years it has honed the skills of many in the local industry and has been the place for many to get the grounding they needed in the entertainment industry. And Neighbours has played such a major part in people’s lives that many feel connected to the characters and storylines.”
After a number of years developing storylines for Neighbours, Philippa took a position at Fremantle Media’s head office in London and became the ‘Fix It’ doctor for the media giant’s TV soaps across Europe.
Philippa had always travelled to Daylesford, be it on writing escapes or simply getting away from a hectic city schedule. When the opportunity came to buy a house in the small town in 2004, she seized it.
“Again, Neighbours played a major role in that. Having worked for Fremantle Media steadily I was in a position to buy a property and have that security. I eventually moved here full time just before the first Victorian lockdown and feel extremely fortunate,” she said.
“I was able to continue working remotely but was aware of many in the area who were out of work and businesses struggling to cope. Takeaway became more frequent simply because it was a small way I could support the businesses. I was very fortunate to keep working and extremely grateful.”
Philippa, a university lecturer in screenwriting at VCA, was able to continue classes online.
While Philippa had known a number of people in Daylesford, it wasn’t until she lived here permanently when strong connections with women were made.
“I became part of a local sewing group and the bond and friendships I developed with the women was incredibly special.”
It was those friendships that became a significant part of Philippa’s lockdown experience.
For many women in the entertainment industry, there are plenty of stories of unspeakable misogyny. Philippa could write a book on what she has seen, encountered and lived through but now is devoted to ensuring women in the industry don’t feel powerless.
Philippa also works with many aspiring screen writers around mental health issues and is a qualified mental health first aider. Mentoring, advocating for and supporting young women entering the cut throat world of the entertainment industry.
While Philippa continues to inspire young writers through lecturing, there was a stint in the public service and a History of Art degree that came before writing.
“It took me a while to get around to writing. I always knew I wanted to be a writer but school has a way of stifling creativity. It wasn’t until I was in my late 20’s that I studied editing and screenwriting at RMIT and wrote my first novel,” she said.
Her debut novel Fishnets was entered into The Australian/Vogel Literary Award and while she wasn’t shortlisted, her novel was picked up and published by Allen & Unwin publishers.
For Philippa, travelling the world working alongside some of the best scriptwriters, working in an industry ruthless and exhilarating at the same time didn’t compare to the moment when a young student came up to her and said her book changed her life.
“In the late 90’s Fishnets was used in schools and one school turned it into their school play. I would go into schools and talk about the book. After being at an extremely rough school, a young girl sneaked back after we had finished and told me my book had changed her life,” she said.
“The young girl said she finally felt someone understood what she was feeling and said she didn’t think anyone else felt the way she did. She was 15. While I am grateful for my career and the opportunities that I have been presented with, it is that moment that will stay with me forever.”
Words: Narelle Groenhout | Image: Kyle Barnes

A NEW forest battle is brewing, not even a year after the state government announced three new national parks, including linking the Wombat and Lerderderg state forests to create a new park of 44,000 hectares between Daylesford and Bacchus Marsh.

Many of the people who fought for the new parks, gathered at Babbington Hill near Lyonville, in the Wombat State Forest, on Good Friday to express their outrage over what they say are excessive timber salvage operations, finally happening after last June’s massive storm.
VicForests, a state-owned business managing the harvest, sale and regrowing of sustainable timber from Victorian state forests on behalf of the state government, is carrying out the work in partnership with the Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation.
VicForests CEO Monique Dawson said the operation would treat windthrown debris, contributing to reducing fire risk and assisting in forest regeneration. The operation was limited to windthrown trees from the storm events, other than for hazardous trees felled for safety reasons.
“As part of those works, timber that can be utilised will be removed to provide timber to mills and firewood for community use. Our teams have also been hard at work assessing the damage to prioritise where works are needed most – and when.
“We are proud to support the Dja Dja Wurrung as the traditional land owners to restore their Country to health. VicForests is committed to working with all traditional land owners to provide technical skills and equipment to assist in caring for Country.”
Wombat Forestcare president Gayle Osborne said the forest community supported fire risk reduction but wanted an immediate halt to the current salvage operation and an investigation into how it could happen in a proposed national park.
“At Babbington Hill, about two acres has been cleared of all trees and vegetation to create a log landing and machine depot, tracks have carved through the coupe, and there is substantial damage by large machines to the sedgy riparian area. Large bark and debris heaps have been generated throughout the area,” she said.
“Without any consultation, VicForests have added 175 coupes (designated firewood collection areas) in the Wombat and Cobaw state forests to their Timber Utilisation Plan, with approximately 80 of these within the promised national park.
“The operation is complete overkill. Wombat Forestcare is supportive of appropriate reduction of the fire risk along roads and tracks.”
Ms Osborne queried whether VicForests had made the Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation aware “their operation would include clearing forest to create large log landings and machinery depots, constructing tracks and only removing the large logs that are not an immediate fire risk?”
Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation CEO Rodney Carter, below, said the organisation was often drawn into the struggles between environmentalist and natural resources views of the world.

“We would like to think we fit comfortably in the middle of that. We believe, and not arrogantly, we’ve got a right to do this.”
Mr Carter said the money from the operation would go to supporting programs, education, scholarships, health and wellbeing programs.
“We want to reinvest back into community but also back into Country.”
Mr Carter said the partnership happened when the state government was considering what would happen with the hundreds of tonnes of storm-damaged timber. The corporation was one of the first to get involved.
“We had the industry competency, certifications and a really good capability along with our approach and philosophy around forest gardening. We wanted to do forest-based activities based on our values, but we have never done anything on this sort of scale and lacked the capacity to do so. So that’s why we have gone with Vic- Forests. It’s the right thing to do and is needed. We hope that others share that vision with us.”

Words: Tony Sawrey | Main image: Sandy Scheltema

The rights of Victorian Aboriginal children and young people will continue to be protected and defended with the appointment of proud Yorta Yorta woman Meena Singh as Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People.
Minister for Child Protection Anthony Carbines welcomes Ms Singh, a highly experienced director, senior consultant and lawyer – bringing with her more than 20 years’ experience in the legal profession and human rights sector.
This breadth of experience includes serving as Legal Director of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People’s Rights unit at the Human Rights Law Centre and working with Djirra, a not-for-profit organisation that provides support to Aboriginal women who are experiencing or have experienced family violence.
In her new role as Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People, Ms Singh will work to further advance the rights and interests of Aboriginal children and young people in Victoria.
Ms Singh will carry forward the work of outgoing Commissioner Justin Mohamed, tackling the over-representation of Aboriginal children in the child protection and youth justice systems and prioritising connection to family, community, culture and Country – driving real change for Aboriginal children and young people.
Ms Singh will serve as Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People until 23 April 2027.

On Monday, May 9, head to the Daylesford Bowling Club for a Biggest Morning Tea event from 10.30am.

Organiser Carol Collins said everyone is welcome, with plenty of raffles and fabulous food. Entry is $15 and no bookings are necessary. The annual event raises money for the Cancer Council.
From left, Lois Voterakis, Joan Field, Margaret Coffey, Evelyn Young, Carol Marshall and Carol Collins Image: Kyle Barnes

Skeeta is an energetic 11-year-old foxy-cross who needs a new forever home.

Her elderly owner has had to go into an aged care home and can no longer look after her. A neighbour has been looking after Skeeta for a couple of months, hoping her owner would be able to return home, but cannot keep her.
If you can offer Skeeta a wonderful forever home please call Yvette Reading on 0408 459 522.

(Pick me, pick me, is run in memory of Rosie and Curly. We picked them.)

Astrology for April 25th to May 9th

All signs:

As the weather starts to change outside and we well and truly feel the autumnal shift, there is another shift taking place up in the sky above. A pile up of planets having been having a pool party in the sign of Pisces (try saying that 3 times fast) from the end of April. They then, slowly start to exit Pisces and shift into Aries from the beginning of May. For many, April has mostly felt like a time for daydreamy drifting, picturing what life could be, fantasizing about what you want for the future. Whereas the Aries vibes are more about the doing, getting stuck into projects that you have dreamt up through April and now you’ve got a fire in the belly to get going! Well, get going… as they say, “winter is coming”! There’s a solar eclipse taking place on May 1st that could really shake things up in certain areas in your life, ending and beginnings are signatures of eclipses when they come around. Keep reading to see how you might harness the power of planets. If you know your rising sign, start there first.

Aries:

The last week of April might see you desperate for a little alone time, even a romantic retreat might be on the cards. If you have an artistic side, this is the time you might be visited by the muses and have new projects that you want to explore or start. New opportunities to earn money might pop in for you with the eclipse, or it might be a new idea or concept that you come across to manage your money. Early May your powers of persuasion are elevated, and you ooze charm, this happens only once a year, use it wisely.

Taurus:

Happy Birthday Taurus Sun! It’s time to shine and feel love from friends and the people in your community, whatever defines that for you. April sees out a time when your schedule might have been jam packed with catchups and unifying times with others. The caution is not to get too swept away with the crowd and be mindful of misinformation. If you’ve been looking for a fresh start or opportunity to re-vamp your routine around your health or appearance, early May is a great time for that. A fabulous time to plant seeds of intention or inception for starting something new.

Gemini:

Lots going on for you at work right now, expansion or ideas might be overflowing, opportunities for collaboration could also be coming up for you. Even if you aren’t working in a traditional sense, there is still the opportunity for you to succeed or grow in the area that you are known for, what do people know you for/as? A caution around the start of May is not to get caught up in too much self-indulgence, you know what they say, a moment on lips and lifetime on the hips! The eclipse might see you gain the ability to tackle some long-standing mental blocks or patterns, or even have yourself a spiritual awakening.

Cancer:

Topics relating to higher education, publishing and long-distance travel might be in the spotlight for you nearing the end of April. Deepening and expanding these areas of your life

might be something that you want to consider, moving on an idea or a feeling that has been rattling around for a while can see you make great gains over the next few weeks. New friends or community groups might be tied into this, an awakening or breathing new life into old ideals might come into play. I love this for you, very co-operative kind of feel coming up, almost like a preparation phase for what is to come later in May.

Leo:

Gifts from others, inheritance, what you owe to others (like dept) and what other people owe you are highlighted for you in the month of April. Someone might offer you an opportunity that you didn’t think would come your way. Generosity from others and as well as what you can give to those in need play a role for you currently. I think of it like an opportunity to pay it forward, karma at it’s most basic. It seems everywhere you look, people are doing it tough, so perhaps if you find a little blessing given to you, find a way to bless someone else no matter how small. The May 1st eclipse might see some major shifts in your career path, the exciting new beginning that you might have been waiting for.

Virgo:

Dust off the John Paul Young, because love is in the air! Such a romantic time for you, or even just an uplifting time if you are without that special person in your world currently. The caution is not to get too swept away and lose your head. Changing or shifting paradigms, the pursuit of truth, exploring new ideas, a little bit of mysticism perhaps are themes that come to light for you this year. It could be that a person comes into your life this year that inspires you to chase these rabbits down their respective holes and see what sort of Wonderland you come across.

Libra:

Your daily routine might feel like more of a grind these days, like there are not enough hours in the day. Be mindful of not becoming the martyr in this time, try to set some boundaries so that you don’t overdo it. There is an opportunity throughout April to expand your health routine, incorporate something new to aid in the healing your body or just revamp your current wellness routine. In May and even into June sees a time when you want to embrace your uniqueness and let go of the expectations and opinions of others. Know you limits and have firm boundaries around what you can and cannot give to people.

Scorpio:

The ground is fertile and ready for planting in the month of April, it could be a literal situation of physical fertility, or it could be that your child is flourishing at something. If this doesn’t sound like your situation, it might be more about the birthing of new creative ideas, or artistic endeavour. If you have lost touch with some of the more joyous moments in life, reconnect, and indulge in some activities that fill your cup. The eclipse at the start of May might bring in swift changes in relationships for you, if you are in a relationship or partnership that isn’t working for you, if things have been on the rocks, this might signal a time of endings. If you’re single, this might indicate a time to seek something or someone new that you wouldn’t necessarily have gone for in the past.

Sagittarius:

The planetary configuration suggests that you might be doing a bit of zhuzhing around the house lately, or even trading up and getting into a bigger/nicer home. It’s springtime in the northern hemisphere so why not embrace it and give your place the Marie Kondo experience; if it doesn’t evoke joy, then you don’t need it. Maybe your family is expanding through marriage or birth. A new project that you put your hand to, might require some hard work or sacrifice, but you feel excited by this and are happy to jump in feet first and get going.

Capricorn:

Thoughts, ideas, and networking with others could be topics that are abundant for you at this time. You might be able to effortlessly get your point across, or just find that words flow in conversing with others. If there is a writing project on the books, a blog, or a speech, maybe just an important presentation to make at work, this is a great time to express yourself through words. Relations with siblings might be fun and joyous at the end of April or the option to take a short trip may arise. Creativity, joy, and pleasure abound with the eclipse on the 1st of May. Eclipses in the area of your astrology chart that governs children have been known to bring about unexpected pregnancy, forewarned is forearmed, proceed how you wish!

Aquarius:

Mind your spending! This might be a time when you have a penchant for spending more than you have. There could also be a scenario that sees more money coming in, or the ability to acquire more assets or resources. Don’t be tempted by lavish, extravagant items that don’t fit the current budget! Making smart, clever, well-thought-out decisions can help put you ahead, there could be real estate opportunities on the horizon. Renovations, extensions, buying or selling a home, or paying off your mortgage are all swirling around from the start of May. If these are things that you have been contemplating, the month of May could be the time to make your move.

Pisces:

Feeling inspired or the desire to start something new or even reinventing yourself could be motifs you’ve been experiencing of late. A new phase of your life might be blossoming, something as simple as updating your wardrobe might make you feel like a new version of yourself. You might have a new way of expressing yourself, a newfound confidence is making it possible for you to put yourself out there in a way that you haven’t been able to, especially in the past 12 months. Perhaps you have learned a new skill and you feel obliged to share it with the world, the singer Madonna was on to something with the simple phrase – express yourself.

Until next time, Jennifer Hart

If you want to know more about your personal astrology, head to my website to book an appointment at www.jhartastro.com