Astrological Cookery


By Judith Martin Straw

Scorpio (October 23 - November 22)
If you are a Scorpion who likes to cook, there’s probably nothing you won’t try. The exotic holds as much appeal as the familiar, and there’s nothing more fun than taking a recipe and giving it a good tweak. All out of cinnamon? Try some nutmeg or some allspice. Short on olive oil? Try some walnut oil. There is often an alternative available, and the chance to create something a bit different, or entirely different. Scorpios love to know it’s their choice.


This is also, not surprisingly, the Scorpio recipe for life. All roads lead to the future, so however you get there is up to you. Take the scenic route, get on the high road, speed down the freeway or meander the bike path, you know you’ll get there, so enjoy the trip. You are the character most likely to buy a cookbook written in a language you don’t read, and figure it out from looking at the pictures.

Now, as for the question of feeding yourself, you really do need to focus on balance. Gorging yourself on Chinese take out on a Friday night while polishing off a bottle of wine cannot be helped by fasting all day on Saturday and then eating macrobiotic on Sunday. Everyone needs a holiday every now and then, but no one needs to be so strict as penance. Why not order half as much take out, throw in an extra yoga class over the weekend, and invite some friends over for a pot luck party on Sunday? You’ll feel just as rewarded and not nearly as deprived. Scorpios tend to extremes, so the more often you steer towards the center, the better you will feel. It’s fine to visit the far fringes, but you’ll be happier with yourself (and your liver, and your waistline) if you don’t live there.

Another very important Scorpio belief is that food is for sharing. You’d probably rather split a bag of chips with a friend than sit down in a five star restaurant by yourself.

If good stuff is not shared, it’s just not good. Scorpio loves to be surrounded by friends, and those who remember to compliment the cook will invited back promptly.

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Scorpio Cookies!
The best way to stay healthy is to eat really delicious things that are good for you- Here’s a fine example-
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted, organic butter
1 cup organic brown sugar
1 large egg (organic is nice-)
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup unbleached flour
3/4 cup whole wheat pastry flour
2 cups oatmeal ( regular grind, not quick cook or steel cut)
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup grated carrot
1 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350. Cream together butter and sugar until light and tan. Add egg and vanilla. In another bowl, combine flours, oats, soda and salt. Add to butter mixture. When blended, add carrots and walnuts.
Drop by spoonfuls onto baking sheets ( shiny sheets are best, dark ones will overheat the bottom of the cookies-)

Bake for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and cool.

These keep well in an airtight container for about a month, or freeze for 3 months. They are great cookies to mail out- Freeze them first, then put them in a tight lidded cookie tin. If they arrive in a week, they’ll still be yummy.


General Forecast for October

This could be the beginning of an amazing adventure- possibly a political, social and spiritual sweep to get this house (and Senate?) in order. The Big Boogaloo here is the Mercury retrograde that lasts almost the whole month. By the time the little silver engine of communications turns direct again, we’ll be wondering how many pounds of potatoes to buy for the feast, and why did we invite all those people? When Mercury is going “backwards”, it’s time to finish up your unfinished business, clean the desk, take the car in for an oil check, and listen to the messages on your answering machine twice before deleting them. There could be another unexpected, even uninvited RSVP. Be as gracious as you can- what’s one more potato between friends?

Aries- Balance must be restored. Whatever is throwing you off your game needs to be put right, and promptly. Give yourself a deadline and stick to it, you’ll be amazed at how well it all works when it’s all in working order.

Taurus- There’s a scent of success here, although it might be just getting back to square one. Are you taking care of your health? Adding another mile to your workout or getting your prescription adjusted may be the victory that makes the rest of it possible. Give your body what it needs, and your mind and spirit will breathe easier, too.

Gemini- Like our friend Aries, it’s time to get back into balance. Since you are known for your inner contradictions, get both of your personalities to cut down, lay off or give it up, and you will all be glad you did.

Cancer-Ready for a little alone time? It’s hard to stop taking care of all those folks around you who need you, but remind them that you need you too. It’s time to curl up with a good book- maybe a good cookbook, and you can promise everyone a delicious reward for giving you some time to breathe.

Leo –It might be just a plateau on the upward climb, or you may have to be humble enough to admit that this is as far as you get on this particular mountain. Whatever you are working on seems to pause or falter. Only you can decide if it’s best to make camp or begin descent. There are other mountains worth climbing.

Virgo- Is this success abandoned? Or perhaps you are realizing that this is not what you had imagined success would feel like. A moment to consider what other lives you might like to live, and contemplate the possibilities.

Libra- You have the power to put your theories into practice. It’s time to walk the talk, and know that the plans you have been making are ready to put into play.

Scorpio- You will have a lot of fun with all those birthday celebrations, no doubt. But when you stay up to greet the dawn, notice how the cosmic light is shifting to give you a clearer picture of your own shadow. What you learn now may take you a long way.

Sagittarius- Good news, good friends, all the effort you’ve put in during the last few months is ready to pay off. What kind of harvest will you choose? There are some sweet things ripe for picking.

Capricorn- You’ll be happiest when the new ideas you are considering synch up with the projects you’ve been trying to move forward. Reading, research and revelation are all on your schedule until the year closes.

Aquarius- Whatever you did to deserve the good things coming your way, make sure you do it again. Your usual good luck turns outrageously good. As ever, you’ll be spreading it around like a good mood. Consider your options; this is the moment to think of long term goals.

Pisces- Where some need to bring themselves to balance, you just need to float towards it. Someone loving or just really lovely is headed into your life. Let yourself go with the current, and the tide will bring you in, right where you want to be.

Posted: Wed - November 1, 2006 at 11:51 AM          

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