Dear friends,

How was your weekend? Sparks flying, sudden electric craziness, wild adventures? We're talking Saturday night. We had energy of *anything is possible* and if you were prepared with this column or astro calendar, maybe you knew to help your favorite 'anything' actually happen. All the while driving slowly, thank you Astrology.

What was going on in the sky? On Sunday morning in the wee hours Mars joined with Uranus. So Saturday night we were bold and a bit thrilled to be out of control. Moon in Leo also helped our hearts feel full of joy. While Mars-Uranus in Pisces was great for dancing, emotional breakthroughs and sudden revelations of all kinds, it also meant angers and accidents might easily get out of hand. Best example in print: a bloody brawl after a girls rugby match on Saturday. A coach was even knocked unconscious. "I've never seen anything like that in all my years of coaching," he says. I'll bet!

http://tinyurl.com/7pdrx

This is why astrology has captivated open minded people for centuries all over the world. Modern scientists say: No, not possible for planets to influence life on Earth at all, just not possible. Um, open your eyes! Just see! Do you feel anything? Because if you did not feel the current in the air on Saturday night, you are not alive.

What is happening this week? On Tuesday Venus trines Jupiter, one of the most auspicious aspects of them all. Love and abundance, desire and positivity, pleasure and all that uplifts - Sweetness and Good cooperate with perfect harmony. Lady Venus walks arm in arm with her best pal prince Jupiter, strewing flower petals, giving her friend all the love in her heart and making Jupiter feel better than ever. Jupiter though currently retrograde contributes his natural positive qualities to Venus, and she glows with ways to be even more loving. All the onlookers, that's us folks, are dazzled by the royal couple, and life is good.

The very next day, Venus squares Uranus, and while the afterglow of the royal promenade still has everyone in peace and happiness, there will be some unexpected twist to the story. What story? Well your own, of course, but stories and myths of the ages are coming alive this week too. On Thursday Neptune goes retrograde, so all this week we get an extra dose of this planet, always the case with changes of direction. Neptune brings the insubstantial into the real - music, art, movies, image, design, drugs, alcohol, dreams, myths - all coming alive this week. With Venus trine Jupiter we'll expect a more positive manifestation of Neptune's change in direction, but beware this planet of fog makes the real unreal just as surely as the reverse. Unexpected vanishes, lies, betrayals, scandals and addictions are Neptune as well.

If I were advising a Hollywood exec on a movie release date, this Thursday would be a fine choice. It so happens that the next Star Wars, Revenge of the Sith, comes out just this very day. It is already getting rave reviews, and with astrology of the time, I will venture to say that Sith will go down as one of Lucas' best films, and may break records. It is that kind of week.

Do you want even more good news? Mercury is now in Taurus, sign of Venus, and Venus is in Gemini, sign of Mercury. Our minds and communication are much more loving. Have you noticed? This began last Thursday - everyone is gushing with praise and kind expressions. This kind of cooperation is known as mutual reception [1]. To honor and experience even more of this positive sky happening, residents of Yerba Buena are mixing lavender, oil of Mercury, with ylang ylang, oil of Venus, in their daily diffusions and baths. You can too with oils from Flower*Pearls, available here.

[1] Note to traditional students - this is actually a mutual generosity, since no aspect between the two. But still more kind words than usual, yes?

So, darling reader, what do all these general trends mean for you? This rightfully so is one of the most common responses to astrology. "What does this mean for me?" To answer this in general, just think about how the above applies to your life. But to answer specifically there is only one way: to look at your chart! Mars conjunct Uranus joined the meanings of Mars and Uranus in your own chart. Venus trine Jupiter depends on how you understand and experience Venus and Jupiter, and this is shown in your birth chart! It is the same with all aspects. Interpretations also depend upon your current period of life and qualities of the year.

*

Thanks for passing on this column to friends. If you are getting this column by forward and like what you read, just send an email to sign up. Emails for this list only.

*

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, entering Gemini on Friday. Our orientation of pleasure and safety changes to the curious game player, the thinking and learner, the one who delights in wit. We'll want to talk, read, and write. We're bored with safety now - we'll get kicks from exploration, especially intellectual. Gather facts. Read and express. Enjoy the play of words. Here's the catch - in America we are *so* much in our heads and emails that Gemini can have too many rapid fire thoughts for its own good. Take a few moments each day to connect with breathing, let thoughts come and go, without running after them. This is the reverse of what Gemini wants to do - Gemini Sun (Venus here too, and Mercury soon to join in) will naturally play with thoughts all day and all night! Also, as light as Gemini can be, this is the sign of the twins and there is a dark side. Exploration means seeing both sides.

Moon * days 9 - 15 (new Moon is day 1). Energies build towards one of the most grand full Moons of the year. Buddha enlightenment full Moon in Sagittarius is on Monday 5/23.

Monday 5/16 * Moon in Leo, into Virgo mid morning. We had our fun on the weekend, now we've got to clean up a bit. With positive Venus trine Jupiter and Moon in productive Virgo, our tasks get accomplished with ease and joy. Virgo is known for criticism, but this is the week to learn: little gets done with negative judgment. A single heartfelt positive thought can accomplish what 1000 negative ideas never could.

Tuesday 5/17 * Moon in Virgo, Venus trine Jupiter. Delight in all ways you are improving the world. Yes you. Venus on royal star of Spring, Aldebaran, eye of the bull - a day for new ventures, new seeing, and all ways to step up to a royal life.

Wednesday 5/18 * Moon in Virgo, into Libra at night, Venus square Uranus. Sudden changes in affection - but it's not too bad given everything positive going on. Let's just say we'll be attracted to the unexpected.

Thursday 5/19 * Moon in Libra, Neptune retrograde. The movie and music night of the year. If Star Wars is not your thing, try asking what your partner likes with Moon in relationship Libra.

Friday 5/20 * Moon in Libra, Sun into Gemini. Both lights of the sky now in air signs. See how birds fly - always changing, always moving, up down left right! This is the movement of Air. Our minds are extra zappy. With Moon in Libra we'll be communicating to our partners with pleasure.

Saturday 5/21 * Moon into Scorpio. Scorpio is known for pumping up sex drives. What, you may ask, is happening with relationships with that Venus square Mars tomorrow? Most will say a square is challenge, and it is; but Mars is in Pisces, and so Venus is smitten with Mars, even if something about Mars is putting her out a bit. This is because Pisces is the sign Venus most loves above all, and planets in Pisces naturally get her strongest affections. So desires meet, perhaps through some struggle, but resolved through Piscean art and empathy.

Sunday 5/22 * Moon in Scorpio, Mercury square Neptune, Venus square Mars. Enjoy the spectacle, but don't hang too much on thinking. Women and Venusians are attracted to Mars and Martians, even if it is a bit of a stretch. He's not my usual type... but he's looking extra fine right now!

Have a stellar week!

Peace and love,
Jonathan Pearl

If you don't want to know about stars and oldest art and stories, just reply with a "No thanks" and you'll be off the list.

Wandering Stars - the planets

Mercury * in Taurus. Our minds focus on safety and pleasure. Though Mercury is actually moving quickly through this sign, there is a bit of a lag in our thoughts. Rapid fire minds may notice the pause. With Mercury in mutual reception with Venus (see above) use it to reformulate whatever you are thinking and saying to something even more loving. Mercury in Taurus through May 28.

Venus * in Gemini. Venus in Gemini loves talking, reading, writing, learning. Pleasures in the hands, and love comes in twos. Venus in Gemini through June 3. With Mercury, ruler of Gemini in Taurus, we're still thinking of pleasure and ways to make ourselves safe.

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 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.

For specific astrology insights just for you, please visit the Services page.