Jonathan Pearl - Star Pearls Column

Dear friends,

Peering in to the great kaleidoscope of the zodiac, we see repeating parts but never the same whole image twice. This past Saturday night Mars went into Pisces where it will be for about 6 weeks. We may recall something of this energy - Mars spent several months in Pisces in the summer and fall of 2003 - but now the background is different. What is Mars in Pisces?

Mars the warrior hero, the spark and instigator, is in the great waters, sign of empathic connection and creativity. We hoist sails for our inner journey. We wish to explore the far and wide of consciousness and expression. The voyage calls. We are driven deep to the depths. The winds blow this way and that; sometimes peaceful, sometimes stormy. We will weather it all. When rough waters come, wisdom is knowing how to protect yourself and let the tempest pass.

There is a wide ranging emotional exploration and expression with Mars in Pisces. How do we communicate the complexities of all that we feel? Only through art.

Allen Ginsberg, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Anthony Hopkins, Glenn Close - all Mars in Pisces. Sun signs are easiest to spot, since that is where the light is; but we can see depth of passion and wide ranging emotions with these five. Mars is where we are driven. With Mars in Pisces, we are driven by the waters, wherever the tides take us. Perhaps, after a long time afloat on the waves, we turn inwards to find the jewels of the treasure that lies deeper, beneath the swirling waters of the surface.

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In a fractal drawing, we see a shape; we look closer, and the shape repeats, but with a slightly different spin. This is life, the very pattern of life! The Moon is in the sign of Pisces on Monday and Tuesday, as it is every 2.5 days of every month, but the background of all the other planets is different. Never the same astrology twice - and yet the pattern is so familiar.

Is the zodiac simply 12 signs of 30 degrees each? Yes, but there is more. The Greeks saw each sign also having 12 signs within that one sign. Just like zooming in on a fractal. In Greek astrology, everyone knew about this twelve-fold division called the duodecima, or duad for short. Firmicus Maternus, the author of the longest text of Greek astrology we have today, says 7 times: to understand the power of the planet, always check the duodecima! It is really true. Curious? If you missed my teleclass last week, it is available on tape for $12. Complete with handouts of example charts and links to art and poetry that demonstrate the power of this technique. I am giving a talk on another favorite technique of Maternus - Antiscia, the shadow point - on Wednesday 5/11. Details here:

http://www.youngastrologers.org/education.htm

Gavin Newsom next week!

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Star*Watch
All times PDT. See below for comments on other visible planets. The Sun and Moon together set the tone of the time. The Sun provides our orientation for the month; Moon signs and aspects influence the energy of the day, and tells us how we approach the truth of the Sun. Planet aspects influence the energies for several days (sometimes weeks) before and even after the aspect depending on the nature of the planets involved.

Sun * in Taurus. Slow down. Since nearly everyone is on the rush drug caffeine, I'll say it again. S l o w d o w n . Look at the wine, smell it, breathe, smell again. Swirl, smell. What myriad associations ? Now sip. Hundreds of flavor chemicals - how many can you taste? Let the juice of celebration tickle the tongue. It is in no hurry to slide down the throat. Ahh, now we know - what gives us pleasure, about our worth in the world. In Taurus we establish ourselves in physical pleasure, sensations of the body, smell and touch especially strong. Taurus motto: Follow your bliss, the money follows.

Moon * days 25 - 1 (new Moon is day 1). 4th quarter Moon - time to turn within, clear out, let go.

Monday 5/2 * Moon in Pisces. Moon meets Mars in Pisces this morning. Mars is physical and a bit rough; Pisces emotional and artistic. How to navigate? Music that explores the edges. Tales of the sea. A jog by the beach. Around 1:00 and into the next two days, our orientation of pleasure and safety that is Taurus wants both of these in relationships. Astrologers choice for art of the week (Venus sextile Saturn, Moon in Pisces): Hemingway's Old Man and the Sea.

Tuesday 5/3 * Moon in Pisces. We are creative with Moon in Pisces, especially this morning with technology and computers. The last day in the zodiac cycle (along with the last day in the Moon cycle) is one of the best days for a letting go ritual. The burn isn't just for the Man in Black Rock City - with Mars in Pisces, have a fire on the beach.

Wednesday 5/4 * Moon in Pisces, into Aries mid morning. The later degrees of Pisces is one of the most forward thinking and visionary sections in the zodiac. Why? These points are in the constellation of the great winged horse Pegasus, who flies over obstacles that block others, and who sees it all with his bird's eye view. This morning we have extra opportunity for positive vision & creative problem solving. We are finding pleasure in old things and people. With our vision in mind, when the Moon lands into Aries about 11:30 am PDT, we'll know exactly where to charge.

Thursday 5/5 * Moon in Aries. Earlier this week Mercury quickened past the retrograde moving at full clip. This means all our business projects, communications and thoughts that were covering old news are now fully moving ahead. New ideas, new business, new thinking. Whatever it is, we want more - more knowledge, more mind stimulation. Moon in Aries gets us all moving, and this morning we are zooming ahead with our minds. And yet this mind moving is also squared by Saturn we have the frustration of delay. The old voice says no. Fantastic article, says the publisher - but no room this issue, you'll have to wait. Great idea, says the boss - but no budget this quarter, but yes to next.

Friday 5/6 * Moon in Aries, into Taurus in the evening. Sun and Moon both in Taurus means pleasure, sensation, even hedonism. Today though, pleasures are not so smooth. Our mind Mercury is squaring Saturn and we are subject to negative thinking. We want that trip, but can't afford it; we want that date, but he probably won't go for me. What's more Miss Venus, the Lady of Taurus, is on the menacing star of Algol - women and Venusians lose their heads. There are plenty ways to accomplish this - the most poetic is probably through the grape, Al-gol-hol. Algol and our alcohol are etymologically related - lighten up dark thoughts - have a drink and know this too will pass.

Saturday 5/7 * Dark of the Moon in Taurus. Dark of the moon means energy on the wane. Rest your body, and feed it - organic salad, spring onions, green garlic, baby carrots - root foods from the earth. Sweet flowers, baths, oil of ylang ylang. We are resting yet seeking less conservative in our tastes today and Sunday - foreign things, philosophy and religion attract.

Sunday 5/8 * New Moon in Taurus. A day for the rebirth of pleasure. The astrologers choice for May Day - not a holiday of labor but a day of love. Fun with May poles and circling flowers. And yet there is something serious or at least old about our pleasure pursuits this afternoon- read Neruda in the park; or the most famous Taurus writer of all, Shakespeare. The astrologers May Day goes into the night - Moon conjunct Venus in Taurus at 10:15 pm! Pleasures of the body and soul connect.

Have a stellar week!

Peace and love,
Jonathan Pearl

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Wandering Stars - the planets

Mercury * in Aries. Now direct and up to full speed. All communications and transactions are spring-boarded into high gear. Mercury in Aries through May 12.

Venus * in Taurus. Venus loves Taurus and here she has her greatest pleasure. Touch, smells, tastes, all sensations are ways to the Goddess. Pleasure requires safety, so leave anxieties at the door. Venus in Taurus through May 9.

Mars * in Pisces. The artist, the poet, the voyager whose destination is within. The drive to explore our depths, regardless of the weather. Sometimes a lot of drugs, all in the name of the journey. Mars in Pisces through June 6/11.

Jupiter * in Libra. Blessings in love and partnerships! Learning in realms of art and beauty. Jupiter turning retrograde, so we seek abundance through inner means. Outer riches get put on hold. Jupiter direct on June 5. Jupiter in Libra through October 2005.

Saturn * in Cancer. Structure and responsibility in the domain of our innermost feeling life and among our families and tribes. A positive vision of this energy: the sensitive yet authoritative parent. Saturn now direct in Cancer through July 2005.

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* * * MAY ALL BE AUSPICIOUS * * *