Dear friends,

Two special announcements!

Tonight I begin a series of Monday evening mini-readings at Samovar Tea in San Francisco. I'll be there from 7:00 - 9:00 pm and doing readings of 15 minutes. If you have been getting this column and wondering about your chart, or you know some astrology but are curious how the traditional methods apply to you, or if you have friends who haven't yet made the leap - stop by! If you have been wondering about changes in your life, why things are the way they are, or just have something on your mind, try out real astrology! Chose your topic and we'll discuss your life from the perspective of the stars.

Samovar is a lovely teahouse with one of the best selections of tea available anywhere. Slow down, sip fine tea, ponder your life. Tea and astrology, a perfect combination. Tell your friends!

http://www.samovartea.com/


Next Tuesday 5/31 I'll be teaching Moon astrology for GAIA San Francisco's FREE open house! GAIA is like Learning Annex but way cooler. GAIA offers classes in subjects you really want to learn - prosperity, relating, and movement to name a few. Folks, learning to read an astrology calendar is worth all the horoscopes in print. The Moon is my specialty, and I doubt another *free* opportunity will happen again!

http://www.gaiasanfrancisco.com/

Open House on Tuesday 5/31, 7-10 pm
SpiralMuse Home of Well Being
3387-3389 22nd Street
San Francisco, CA 94110

*

Now on to astro-news. Did you notice the shift on Friday? In the afternoon the Sun entered Gemini and our orientation changed from the material to the intellectual, from safety to curiosity, from fixity to adaptability. The Sun changing signs doesn't just change the Sun - it affects how all planets operate. For example, Moon in Scorpio with the Sun in Taurus is very sensual and and passionate. With Sun in Gemini, the same Moon in Scorpio becomes more intellectually investigative - more penetrating on the level of mind than body. Since our source of light the Sun has changed, all the planets are in new color.

If you *did* notice the shift on Friday and over the weekend, this brings us to a very important point. There is no gray area between signs. On Friday morning the Sun was in Taurus. At 3:47 pm PDT the Sun entered Gemini. There is no limbo. A circle is 360 degrees and this divides into 12 signs of 30 degrees each. Not 25 some odd degrees and a transition period. If this is the case, why do many people think they are "on the cusp" and this is somehow between the two signs or a blend of the two?

I cannot blame people who think this way - there are entire books that devote chapters to this category of "on the cusp." This concept originated because newspaper sun-sign columns back in pre-internet days couldn't give online lookups. Since they wanted everyone to read the horoscopes, they took care of people who fell near the borderline which changes slightly from year to year. If you think you are "on the cusp," or if you have a friend who hasn't made up their mind, settle this today! Free chart lookups at www.astro.com . But forget about astrology reports from this site or any other! Why? Stay tuned next week.

Note to students of astrology - while there is no such thing as on the cusp of signs, there definitely are cusps of houses. This is an entirely different matter. You can have a planet that falls near the borderline of two houses, and even acts in both. But you cannot have a planet that acts on two adjacent signs!

*

So what's happening this week? Today is Full Moon in Sagittarius. Our spirits expand. Life is a grand wisdom adventure, and we love to tell others what we have learned. Beethoven, Einstein, and Neil Armstrong all had Moons in Sag, and we can clearly see the theme of expansion in their lives. Women with Moon in Sag include Dr Ruth Westheimer, Yoko Ono, and astrology's own myth queen Liz Greene. Each of these broke boundaries of their field wide open to explore new territory. With the expanding we also love expounding!

Starting Tuesday May 24 and through June 18, lady Venus will not only be curious in Gemini, but extra willing to explore new ideas. For the intellectually bent this may be reading, writing or talking beyond your usual. Stretch limits, explore new genres - you have freedom to go way out there. But Venus is also the lady of love, and this means fresh ways of having fun. Gemini is curious and loves to play - now we get to toss the rules. New toys anyone? New people? The technical term for her condition is 'out of bounds' - and many trailblazing artists have this in their charts. Singer Bjork, poet William Blake, painter Mary Cassatt, queen Catherine the Great are a few examples where we see Venus, goddess of beauty and love, going beyond boundaries.
 

Do *you* have an out-of-bounds planet in your chart? Find out by having a reading!

*

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 Gemini. 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 16 - 22 (new Moon is day 1). Full Moon in Sagittarius is on Monday 5/23, then we share our insights as the Moon wanes.

Monday 5/23 * Full Moon in Sagittarius. This is the day of the Buddha's enlightenment - a special good karma day! Our spirit expands beyond all limits. We love our life today, and everyone in it. Our minds are active with Sun in Gemini, but today through Wednesday our communication is more tender. With Venus trine Neptune early Tuesday, tonight we especially love music, art, movies and wine, even if over the past weekend these same things left us a little conflicted.

Tuesday 5/24 * Moon in Sagittarius. Both the Moon and Venus 'out of bounds' today (i couldn't make up this term - see http://tinyurl.com/8sh7c ). Our emotions and love, feelings and desires, are going beyond what we have felt before. A strong drive towards art and women in the afternoon - if you are feeling Mars aggressions channel energies into art! Some may feel keyed up late night.

Wednesday 5/25 * Moon in Sag, into Capricorn mid morning. Now we get serious. If we have intellectual projects going on, now we'll really take them to task. For the next four weeks, we have special interest in learning, writing, and communicating. If you have books to read, papers to write, courses to accomplish, presentations to perform, this is the time. This is true throughout Sun in Gemini, and especially so today.

Thursday 5/26 * Moon in Capricorn. Capricorn insists on being a bit serious and likes to accomplish. Today and tomorrow, we'll want to be recognized for our efforts. But beware thinking yourself out of your head.

Friday 5/27 * Moon in Capricorn, into Aquarius mid morning. Aquarius Moon gets along well with Sun in Gemini - our gab will have deeper meaning. This evening we especially love talking with women. With Venus out of bounds, we'll enjoy unusual art and new ways in romance. With your lover do something you've never done.

Saturday 5/28 * Moon in Aquarius, Mercury into Gemini. Information overload! For the next week, we have Sun, Venus and now Mercury all in the sign of the twins. The height of both curiosity and chatter. This is a holiday weekend, but we'll feel more comfortable accomplishing something these few days. Gemini always loves things in twos - bring two books on your weekend getaway!

Sunday 5/29 * Moon in Aquarius, into Pisces in the afternoon, Venus opposite Pluto in the wee hours. We'll feel the Venus-Pluto more on Saturday night - when we wake today, this aspect will be passing. Venus - Pluto: the best of this is intense passion, exploring uncharted territory in romance, breaking taboos in love. But if either party is not up for a dash of darkness, then the intensity of Pluto easily brings manipulation and power struggles in partnerships. Take care with love this weekend - this aspect may be deep but its not easy. In the afternoon with Moon in Pisces, head to the ocean to chill out.

Have a stellar week!

Peace and love,
Jonathan Pearl

If you don't want to know why you suddenly have 3 more books you want to read, and you want to talk talk talk all day long, just reply with a "No thanks" and you'll be off the list.

Wandering Stars - the planets

Mercury * in Taurus, into Gemini on May 28. 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 27. Mercury in Gemini is its home sign - our minds are adept, quick, curious, fast.

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 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 direct in Cancer through July 2005.