Dear friends,
Jupiter, planet of good fortune and abundance, is now direct! After being
stalled since early February, we now have forward motion in money, blessings,
and everything that enriches life without effort. Gifts that just happen with
synchronicity, and we are grateful.
Many know about Mercury retrograde - the three week period when communications
go awry - but all planets except for the Sun and Moon also have their times of
backwards apparent motion through the sky. Since Jupiter is abundance, growth,
positive expansion and all good things in general, all of these areas were held
up for 4 months. This is true for everyone, not just people with Suns in
Sagittarius and Pisces. Just like we are all affected by Mercury retrograde, we
were all stalled with Jupiter moving backwards, and now we are all blessed with
it direct! What present did you get a present over the weekend?
If you really want to know how Jupiter moving forward will change your life,
best to know your own chart. What house is Jupiter in? This will see the most
action. What houses does Jupiter rule? These too. Are you in a Jupiter period or
year in your life? Lots of good things are now happening.
*
I have an idea for an astrology book. Instead of writing "The energy of Aries is
new adventures ... etc, the challenges of Aries are rushing ahead without
thinking ... etc", what it I wrote a story? A tale of loss and love, suffering
and heroism, tragedy and redemption. The fate of life, the aid of our guides,
and our way through difficulties to peace. I would weave the themes of the signs
into the plot. Best to go in order of the zodiac so people would understand the
intent. The first chapter would be Aries, and it would be a new adventure with a
young man. The next chapter would be Taurus, and it would be about resources and
women. The third chapter would be about Gemini and information. And so on. I
might not mention astrology at all! What do you think? Would it sell?
Fine idea, but it's been done. By Homer in his Odyssey, about 2700 years ago. I
kid you not. The Odyssey is without doubt an astrological tale, a story spun of
the zodiac. If the first human writing was a Moon calendar, and the first human
art a star map, is it so strange that one of the first stories is astrology too?
The Odyssey has exactly the structure of the signs: 24 chapters, starting with
Aries and going round twice. The symbolism is very rich, and a commentary could
be a book in itself, but here are the basics:
Aries chapter 1 - Odysseus after the fall of Troy has lost his way home, and his
wife and son long for him. With the consent of Zeus, Goddess Athena devises a
plan to see Odysseus home. Athena inspires the young man Telemachus, son of
Odysseus, to set off on a journey to find his father. He finds his courage and
stands up to the suitors who have been vying for Penelope's hand and eating up
his estate and fortune. The Aries adventure of the young man: find his father!
Taurus chapter 2 - Telemachus addresses the elders of Ithaca. "Suitors are
eating me out of house and home!" he declares. The elders reply: "You have your
own mother to blame - if she'd just marry someone new, they'd not hang around."
It's all about love and money - Taurus!
Gemini chapter 3 - Telemachus sets out on a short journey to catch news of his
father. King Nestor tells him the story of fighting alongside Odysseus at Troy,
and then tells young Telemachus to seek King Menelaus. So Telemachus makes two
journeys in search of information - Gemini!
Cancer chapter 4 - Telemachus reaches the court of Menelaus, the richest man in
the land. Planet Jupiter is exalted in Cancer, and the gracious king showers
presents upon the son of his esteemed comrade. The descriptions of this chapter
(and indeed many of them) could be right out of an astrology book. The feast is
described in great detail, and the bathing, and the beds - all Cancer. We also
get more on Penelope's own sad story, the suffering of limbo between love and
loss, hope that her husband is alive and the fear that she'll have to marry one
of these inept suitors after all.
Leo chapter 5 - At last we meet the real hero of the story, Odysseus himself.
Aries is the young man, but Leo is the King and the real heart of the plot. He
had been trapped on the island of Calypso, loving her by night but longing by
day for his lost home and wife. Goddess Athena tells him the way out: build a
raft and set for home. He does this but jealous Poseidon, the one who has been
causing all the trouble, sets a storm upon Odysseus and wrecks his raft.
Virgo chapter 6 - After much travail on the seas, Odysseus washes up on the
shores and is discovered by a young woman of the island, an un-wed daughter of
the king, a virgin. Homer makes much of this. Yes, I could not make this up. It
is this detail, the suggestion after suggestion, the zodiac hint after hint,
that makes me so sure Homer knew what he was doing. The young woman helps
Odysseus, cleans him up thoroughly, and devises a plan to set him before her
parents who would surely help.
Libra chapter 7 - Odysseus appears to gracious king and queen of Phaeacia.
Diplomacy, tact, the fine qualities of their domain - Libra.
Scorpio chapter 8 - Residents of the island prod Odysseus to join them in
athletic contests. Part of the festivities include storytelling, and Odysseus
weeps hearing his own sad tale. Homer knows the water signs feel more than
others, and it is written right in to the Odyssey. After this, the sports:
boxing, wrestling, jumping, running, the discus, all games of Mars, ruler of
Scorpio. Then more stories, including the tale of Ares and Aphrodite and jealous
Hephaestus - a Scorpionic drama of love, betrayal and revenge.
Sagittarius chapter 9 - Odysseus tells his own story, including the
confrontation with the one-eyed giant Cyclops. What is one Sagittarius downfall?
Feasting too much - still what we do during Sag time late November and December
here in the US - and this is what Odysseus faces in this chapter, a monster who
eats humans alive. After they escape, Odysseus can't stop himself from taunting
the monster - Sag also has a thing for going on when best to keep quiet - and
the crew nearly dies as a result.
Capricorn chapter 10 - Odysseus tells other parts of his journey: being delayed
by a storm, encounters with death from giants, and the island of Circe who turns
his crew into pigs. Fear and unwise ambition of Capricorn can do that to people.
Aquarius chapter 11 - Here Odysseus travels to the realm of the dead to seek the
answer he needs to placate the curse of Poseidon and return home. In Aquarius we
get hard-won wisdom, and we interact with our community. He meets the dead, and
hears many stories of his fallen friends. But finally Odysseus gets his answer
from the King of the dead - Saturn and Aquarius!
Pisces chapter 12 - Most modern astrology books list addictions as one of the
key downfalls of Pisces. And what does Odysseus face here? The bewitching sound
of the Sirens, a sound so sweet that anyone who hears it forgets everything
else. Wise Odysseus plugs the ears of his crewmen with wax, but allows himself
the pleasures of the sound - only by tying him up and trusting his friends to
tie more ropes the more he cried to be let loose.
Stay tuned next week for chapters 13 - 24 and the second round through the
zodiac! If you'd like to follow along, I'm delighted with the Penguin Classics
translation by Robert Fagles.
*
I'm at Samovar on Monday nights! Mini-readings from 7 - 9 pm. Come by with your
friends!
http://www.samovartea.com/
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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 Gemini. Our orientation is the curious game player, the thinker 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 (and Mercury here
too) 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 1 - 7 (new Moon is day 1). New Moon on Monday June 6. Our cycle
begins a gain.
Monday 6/6 * New Moon in Gemini. Our monthly rebirth is this afternoon. Moon,
our feeling; Mercury, our minds; and Venus our desires; are all outside the norm
now. We are feeling, thinking, and desiring in new ways. And with Moon in
Gemini, we want to talk about it all!
Tuesday 6/7 * Moon in Gemini, into Cancer in the evening, Mercury opposite Pluto
and Sun trine Neptune. Mercury opposite Pluto is good for research and getting
to the bottom of things, but our minds are beset by fears and darkness. Midday
is charged. We lighten things up with music, art, movies & alcohol.
Wednesday 6/8 * Moon in Cancer. We awaken to sweet dreams with your arms around
your lover. Lady Venus entered the sign of Cancer last Friday, and perhaps you
noticed more pleasure with women, in your home, or by cooking fine meals. With
the Moon in Cancer together with Venus, we will have extra pleasure by eating
well, in nesting and bathing, and nourishing our spirits by tending to feelings
within.
Thursday 6/9 * Moon in Cancer. A day for accomplishment, yet a somber afternoon
and evening. Note whatever fears and frustrations happen around 8:40 pm and even
a few hours before. This is our monthly meeting of the Moon with Saturn, and we
will contend with heaviness. We sleep with the relief of the load lightening,
our hearts and minds in harmony.
Friday 6/10 * Moon in Leo, Mercury square Mars, Venus square Jupiter. After the
emotions of the last few days, now we want to enjoy life, especially after noon
and into the weekend. Our desires and love feel huge, even too much, but we can
go with it. The only thing getting in the way of all this fun is communication
of aggression.
Saturday 6/11 * Moon in Leo, Mercury into Cancer, Mars into Aries. Two planets
into signs that begin things so life changes. Our minds are now in the domain of
feelings - we think to nurture ourselves and others. In the evening Mars enters
his home turf of Aries, the start of the zodiac. This is a rush of physical
energy, the sense of new adventures and beginnings. Saturday night we'll like
new art and ideas, techno music, and forward fashion. What turns us on?
Innovations of all kinds.
Sunday 6/12 * Moon in Leo, into Virgo in the evening, Venus trine Uranus. A
Sunday for ocean basking - if the weather is cloudy try a movie. Changes of plan
will delight, until the evening when we'll have the urge to clean up and get
something done.
Have a stellar week!
Peace and love,
Jonathan Pearl
If you don't want to know that a classic of Western literature is astrology in
disguise, just reply with a "No thanks" and you'll be off the list.
Wandering Stars - the planets
Mercury * in Gemini, entering Cancer. We are thinking, thinking, thinking and
talking, talking, talking. Information is flowing more quickly now than at any
other time in the year. Mercury in Gemini is its home sign - our minds are
adept, quick, curious, fast. Mercury in Gemini through June 10. Mercury in
Cancer means we think with our feels. We are intuitive, sensitive and more
psychic. We think of food, home, family, children, and everything we find inside
our own soul.
Venus * Venus into Cancer loves children, feelings, food and the natural world.
She is sensitive and creative here, an artistic lover, deeply aware, intuitive
and protective. Yet Saturn's here, so Venus chills, and she attracts older
things and people. Venus in Cancer through June 28.
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 11, then
entering Aries. Mars in Aries is the hero on a new quest, the raw physical power
of the warrior.
Jupiter * in Libra. Blessings in love and partnerships! Learning in realms of
art and beauty. Jupiter now direct, so abundance and blessings are coming our
way! 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.
For specific astrology insights just for you, please visit the
Services page.
* * * MAY ALL BE AUSPICIOUS * * *
