Your September Stars
Tuesday, August 31st, 2010 by Nui Cobalt
This month’s featured Virgo is Brian Constantine of Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab: master perfumers of the highest order who create the most unique and sophisticated scents, anywhere.
Brian is a quintessential Virgo, as described in loving detail by his lifelong friend and business partner, Elizabeth Barrial.
“Brian is my business partner. If I’m the heart and spirit of the company, he is certainly the head and hands. Brian leads the manufacturing and production half of Black Phoenix, and along with Jacquelynn (our general manager, also a Virgo), he is in charge of our manufacturing chain. He ensures the scents I create successfully reach our customers. Everything which is organized and sensible about Black Phoenix can be attributed to Brian’s efficiency, Mercurian quick-thinking, and organizational skills. Without him, we’d be ideas without form, and he is an invaluable part of Black Phoenix. His talent with scents is astounding as well, and his contributions to our catalogue have included many fragrances in the Ars Draconis series, as well as Blood Amber, Schwarzer Mond, and one of our Blue Moon interpretations.
I think the essence of Black Phoenix’s aesthetic is a marriage of Piscean, Virgoan, and Libran sensibilities. I think BPAL’s sense of irony, the company’s incredibly high standards of quality, and our dedication and loyalty to our customers are certainly some of BPAL’s Virgo qualities; I also think that much of our company’s aesthetic is touched by the passion and darkness often overlooked in the Virgo’s personality, and it manifests in our work. Virgos are usually pigeonholed as hypercritical, grumpy worrywarts who are obsessed with organizing their closets. The poetry of a Virgo’s soul is woefully underestimated, as is their ability to understand and express profound, sometimes terrible, realities of nature and the human condition. While many other signs in the zodiac are credited more often with producing great artists, Virgo also encompasses a tremendous number of staggering talents. Leo Tolstoy, Upton Sinclair, Leonard Cohen, Joe Perry, Nick Cave, Diamanda Galas, Elvis Costello, BB King, Chrissie Hynde, Peter Sellers, Jacques-Louis David, HG Wells, Ken Kesey, Goethe, DH Lawrence, and Roald Dahl are some great examples of the complexities and somber beauty of Virgo artistry. Almost every single Virgo I’ve ever known has had an amazing sense of humor, and I think this manifests through BPAL as well. We never take ourselves too seriously.”
Many thanks and much love to Elizabeth and to all the folks at Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab. …and now, for your Forest-scopes. Enjoy!
Aries
Don’t worry, you haven’t lost your balls; you’re just uncharacteristically laid back, these days. It won’t last long. After the 14th, you’ll be feeling like your old, impetuous self again, with a particularly keen appetite for the lascivious. And why not? These last couple of weeks have been so chock full of hearts and flowers … it’s high time to balance things out with some whips and chains.
Taurus
You’re perfectly poised on your royal throne to receive a veritable parade of adoring suitors from across the lands. But, before you go running credit checks, take a moment to see the bigger picture: who are they? What do they admire in you? Do you want that kind of attention? Building and growing a relationship is a central theme for you, this month. Re-assess your own methods before sorting the frogs from the princes/ses.
Gemini
Now that you’ve survived nearly two years of cosmic ass-kicking, do you finally have your black belt? If not, the Universe has plenty more whoop-ass where that came from. Early in the month, you feel overshadowed by other people’s massive egos. After the 11th however, you seem to have found your voice, again. Maybe you’ll finally figure out how to fight smarter, not harder.
Cancer
This month for you comes in like a lion and out like a total pussy. The first few days are electric: intense, emotional and all about you. After that, well … it’s kind of like being a former child star. No one seems to recognize your awesomeness, except you. Chin up, Crabby. You’ve got bigger things ahead of you than a guest spot on Dancing With the Stars.
Leo
Check your batteries, you seem to be low on power. When’s the last time you got some serious R and R? Being ultra-fabulous is hard work and you may think you’re invincible but, sometimes even you need to slow down. Spend a quiet weekend at home, cleaning out your closets or reorganizing your fan mail. You’ll be back to your customary level of ferocity by the 22nd.
Virgo
Happy Birthday to the only sign who can fix it, even if it ain’t broke! Mercury spends some extra time pacing back and forth through your domain, this month. That’s okay, he appreciates your extra-tidy homestead. Use this time to reinvent your superstructure: does your daily routine support your master plans for world domination? You could always use a few more sharks with frikkin’ lasers on their heads.
Libra
You’ve got Mars, Venus and Saturn all juicing up your sun sign for the better part of the month. Use this time to magnetize the right people for business, for love, for whatever you need as long as it’s a collective endeavor. Isolation will not serve you. Declare your needs, loudly and proudly. No one can help you if they don’t know what the fuck you want.
Scorpio
The sleeper must awaken! In other words, your secret strategies are finally ready to be unleashed upon the unsuspecting populace. The results may not look exactly like you thought they would but, nothing ever does. Release the need to know everything ahead of time. That‘s no fun. When Mars moves into your sun sign on the 14th you’ll notice your sexual tastes lean toward the dark and dirty. More so.
Sagittarius
You realize the guiding star of your life is transforming right before your very eyes. Does that mean you’ve been wrong to follow it all this time? No, not really. It just means the more you learn, the less you really know. Try to loosen up on those pre-conceived notions of yours. They’ve gone way out of style.
Capricorn
Fair is fair. Sometimes blind Justice wields a mighty, two-handed bastard sword. But, this time it’s more of a gentle, soft flogger. Your stoic, pragmatic mind is titillated, this month by a series of unexpectedly tender personal encounters. You might even have … wait for it … a feeling! Don’t panic. It will pass.
Aquarius
You’ve been cultivating an amazing capacity for patience. Thing is … that’s going to mean regular and repeated interactions with annoying assholes. Well? How else do you expect to get better at being patient? You find yourself at exactly the right place at the right time between the 10th and the 14th while those around you are tossed about in the maelstrom. Stay silent and still, lest you be dragged down with them.
Pisces
Jupiter, your traditional ruling planet, moves back into your sign on the evening of the 8th, giving the Old Philosopher a more gentle and benevolent quality than he‘s had since June. Then, worlds collide around the 18th as the mundane realm of daily life comes face to face with the lofty ideals toward which you strive. You have come to a crossroads. Choose wisely.
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