Dear friends,

This week: Neptune, music and connections. Last week we had Sun conjunct Neptune. This week Mercury joins the King of Dreams early Tuesday, and Venus pays her visit on Valentine's day. What is Neptune all about?

Neptune gets a lot of press in modern astrology [1]. In traditional Western and Indian astrology, though, this planet s not considered. Neptune was discovered in 1846, and both astrology systems arose centuries before that. These days Neptune gets billed for both mystical experiences and addiction, empathy and deception, awakening and confusion. Huh? Yes, the writing on Neptune is confusing to say the least, and hope I'm not losing you all already. I'll take on some of these themes next week, but in this column want to highlight one part of Neptune we *know* it is good for: music.

Neptune connects to the insubstantial mythological level of reality - dreams, art and music all bring us to this space. You can't catch music - it floats in the air. But we can take the nebulous and make it concrete. Here are some real examples. Mozart had Sun and Mercury closely conjunct in Aquarius (7-8 degrees), both tightly opposite Neptune in Leo (9 degrees). I'd like to include such legends as Bach and Beethoven in this list, but they both have conflicting or unverified birth data. Here's a few more: Ricard Strauss of Thus Spoke Zarathustra fame had Mars at 10 Aries and Neptune at 8 Aries, both in his 10th house of career. Gustav Mahler, an important composer of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, has a very tight Jupiter trine Neptune.

The importance of Neptune continues into the present day: John Lennon has Uranus trine Neptune (1 degree orb), Jimi Hendrix has Mercury sextile Neptune (again 1 degree) and Bono of U2 has Moon conjunct Neptune.

While checking out these musicians I noticed something quite interesting. I looked to Ricard Strauss because back in school days I played French horn, and Strauss' 1st horn concerto was a classic of the horn solo repertoire which I practiced for years to be able to play. It was my favorite. Lo and behold Strauss' Ascendant, the most important point in the chart, is just 2 degrees away from mine. Of all classical musicians besides Beethoven and Mozart, these days I listen to Mahler the most. Turns out his Sun is just 2 degrees from my Asc and his Venus just 2 degrees from my Moon.

I say this not to lump myself in these greats - not at all! - just to point out an interesting affinity. I had no idea about their charts - just liked their music, long before coming to astrology anyway. This is just the way life works. If there is affinity of any kind - not only love relationships but families, friendships, work relationships, even into experiences of art and music and spiritual paths that resonate with us - there is probably a close connection in the astrology.

2 degrees to key points like the Ascendant, Moon and Venus are close enough. Long time readers know that these are the key points to check when comparing charts with romance in mind. We're not talking some stretch like their minor asteroid Arachne making a bi-quintile degree aspect to Pluto, just like it is for everyone else born in the same year.

The correspondences continue. Michael Tilson Thomas is the famous conductor of the SF Symphony. He has put this orchestra on the map in a world famous kind of way. His most ambitious recording project is a full set of all Mahler Symphonies. So, I wondered, is there a connection in their charts? Yes! It is highly likely (note to astrologers, using time in Astrodatabank but date widely confirmed on Internet sites) that their Moons are closely conjunct in Pisces. And MTT's Sun (his activity) is in exact square to Mahler's Neptune.

Here is the kicker: MTT's Part of Fortune, a key point of blessings, is exactly conjunct Saturn in San Francisco's City Chart in the City's 11th house. Saturn relates to classical music since most of the composers are long gone, the 11th house is friends, groups and good experiences. Viola! - MTT is compensated for blessing our community as he highlights a Saturnian (old) form of music in San Francisco.

How fascinating! Connections through time and place. What connections do you share? Now let's imagine an astrologically aware society. Imagine looking on Amazon not to find who else bought this cd, but what other artists have Venus at 18 Leo, for example. What a way to find people! A word to Match, friendfinder, Yahoo personals, etc - consider including real astrology in your next release. Now *this* would be the Aquarian age.

[1] Quick note: if you want more on Neptune, check the current Mountain Astrologer.

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Star*Watch
All times PDT.

Sun * in Aquarius. Aquarius is the energy of the collective. We put the spotlight on others. Aquarius is also about knowledge. Learn something new - and read up on astrology.

Moon * days 29 - 6 (new Moon is day 1). New Moon in Aquarius - what are you learning this month? 

Monday 2/7 * Moon in Aquarius, Moon conjunct Venus in the evening. Though today is the dark of the Moon, the energy is easier than Sunday night. Moon joining Venus is an evening for love in an Aquarian way - what are you learning with your partner? 

Tuesday 2/8 * New Moon at 20 Aquarius. Our cycle begins. We now have Sun, Moon, Mercury and Venus all in Aquarius - what are you learning? We're halfway to Spring!

Wednesday 2/9 * Moon into Pisces and Chinese New Year. Both Tibetan and Chinese calendars put the 1st day when the Moon's light begins to appear - that is the day *after* new Moon. Chinese, Tibetan or not, celebrate something from these either or both of these amazing cultures today.

Thursday 2/10 * Moon in Pisces, Mercury trine Jupiter. Although Jupiter is now retrograde, still a trine from Mercury means we know how to think big. We are naturally more optimistic and enjoy art and relationships. Since Pisces is the next sign of the Sun, we get a bit of a preview of what is coming up.

Friday 2/11 * Moon into Aries. What a change from Thursday. Thursday is lounge, dream, let ideas bubble up from the inside, see a movie or chill to music. Friday is double warrior energy. We will want to move our bodies. We might *have* to move our bodies! If we let time to percolate with the Moon in Pisces, we will know exactly what to do with this energy. Take note of this pattern, because it repeats on a grander scale with the Sun in Pisces coming up and then into Aries in Spring.

Saturday 2/12 * Moon in Aries. We have lots of energy during the day but don't push anything in the evening.

Sunday 2/13 * Moon in Taurus. How wonderful to have Moon in Taurus for V-day and even the night before. Taurus enjoys smells and other physical pleasures more than any other sign. Ylang-ylang. Chocolate body paint. Whatever turns you on.

Have a stellar week!

Peace and love,
Jonathan Pearl


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