Dear friends,
Out of your routine? Suddenly doing things backwards makes more sense. Newness
excites us out of comfort zones and old patterns. Yet the most old, most deep
and most troubling is getting our attention, especially today. This week is
about changes - sudden surprises, reversals, breakthroughs. We thank Uranus for
this, Saturn's devious cousin, the one whose hair looks different each time we
see her, the one who reinvents himself with a new manifesto every week.
Uranus turns retrograde on Tuesday, and all turnabouts are fair play. Imagine a
dance with everyone circling round a center. One dancer stops, changes and goes
out of the direction of the others - all our attention is now on this wayward
dancer, until we get used to the new pattern. This is retrograde - when a planet
changes direction we are geared toward that planet, the performer in the skies
going a different way.
But Uranus is not all that is changing. Mercury, planet of our minds, is now in
Cancer. We are thinking with our feelings. The intellectual projects of Gemini
are now not as important as what is for dinner. We turn from fiction to poetry,
from talking to music, from words to symbols, from language itself to perception
of inner sensations, invisible vibes and currents bubbling up from within.
This is no small change. With Venus here it is like we are halfway in Cancer
though the Sun is still in Gemini. The Sun joins them at the solstice for the
feeling-fest.
At the same time our minds (Mercury) and desires (Venus) are soft, feeling,
sensitive and tuned within, our warrior spirit is bold, fearless, impulsive,
quick to act, launching into new projects and situations with reckless abandon.
Mars entered his home sign of Aries on Saturday night - this potent rush of
energy is good for 6 weeks. How to reconcile Mars in Aries with all this Cancer?
We need both - our action is quick and vigorous, yet we are thinking and
desiring experiences that come only with the slow and the quiet. Exercise double
- and then treat yourself to a slow meal with the extra touches. Accomplish much
during the day - and unwind at night. A hamburger or marinated grilled steak
with fresh herb sauce? A beer or a Belgian? Cancer knows without thinking too
much what we really want - go with your gut. But we only enjoy our rest time
after action, for Mars in Aries heats up our systems into overdrive.
Yet if this Mars in Aries is a bit too potent, too impulsive, too raw, what then
do we do? Let's return to Homer's Odysseus - what does he have to say about
Aries? Last week I wrote of the basic plot of the first 12 chapters, where Homer
weaves the theme of each sign of the zodiac into his classic story. In the
second 12 Homer also takes us round the signs but with a curious twist. Our hero
Odysseus is no longer 'long suffering' but now 'crafty, subtle and wise.' What
does Odysseus do in the chapter 13, the 2nd time through Aries? Is he extra
bold, even quicker to act, even more fearless? No. He sleeps. He waits, plans,
and strategizes. Wily Homer writes a reversal of the signs into each chapter in
the second round. In the Taurus chapter, sign of amassing wealth, Odysseus tells
a story of losing all his plunder. The real tip-off is Leo. Is this when
Odysseus returns to claim the glory of his kingdom? Good guess, but wrong - he
disguises himself as a beggar. In Leo, sign of royalty, our hero becomes a
beggar.
So Homer is saying: if we really want to be a hero, then in Aries we must learn
to wait. We force ourselves to slow down. This is exactly the opposite of what
naturally happens with this sign. Right now we are rushing ahead with action.
This is a tall order, yes, but a brilliant insight from Homer. Would our King
George W (Leo rising, Leo Mercury) be a better leader if he spent some time with
the homeless? Probably. Balance best in all things. This is the wisdom of the
Odyssey, of the Greeks, and of life.
Homer has accomplished what no other astrologer could imagine in their wildest
dreams. Ptolemy, Firmicus Maternus, Abu Ali Al Khayat, Guido Bonatti, Morin de
Villefranche, William Lilly - this is a quick list of astrology classics. Have
you heard of them? No. And most astrologers haven't read them either. But Homer
is still required text for probably half of the educated people in the Western
world.
The Odyssey is all about the zodiac. This is why it still resonates after 2700
years. We all experience this movement each month with the Moon through the
signs, and each year with the Sun through the signs. The Odyssey's tale of a
return home to peace is really a story of going twice around the signs, once
with suffering and once with wisdom. When you read Homer with a knowledge of the
zodiac, you see Homer is even more crafty than Odysseus himself. The author of
the Iliad, the story of the fall of Troy through the Trojan horse, the gift with
a surprise inside - wrote a second story with an even greater Trojan horse.
Anyone who has read the Odyssey has read one of the greatest astrology books
ever written - and they didn't even know it!
If you'd like to read the tale and see the zodiac come alive for yourself, 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 is our outer orientation for the
month; Moon signs and aspects are the energetic pulls of the day, and tell 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 8 - 14 (new Moon is day 1). Moon growing in light, Sun growing in
light - lots of energy.
Monday 6/13 * Moon in Virgo, Sun opposite Pluto. We want to accomplish and
organize, but our being feels stripped to the core. An identity crisis of I
Ching opportunity variety. If feeling wounded today, music soothes.
Tuesday 6/14 * Moon in Virgo, Uranus retrograde. April Fool's Day for
astrologers and everyone in the astro family. Do things in reverse - it will
make more sense. The price of sudden surprises is jangled nerves, so take extra
steps to soothe. Any grating in relationships today is eased by sensitive
communications. We don't think of passion with Moon in Virgo, but with Venus on
the brightest - that means hottest - star in the sky, we'll be warmed up
tonight. Prominence and power with women, art and all Venusians.
Wednesday 6/15 * Moon in Libra, Mercury square Jupiter. We are thinking big, and
the abundance of the universe loves our far out ideas. Moon in Libra means focus
on relationships and pleasures of company. Potent time for exercise (read: Mars
activated, must move) round 5 - 6 pm; later in the eve is a special time for
connection to teachers, wisdom and all round blessings.
Thursday 6/16 * Moon in Libra, Mercury trine Uranus. Sudden intuitions and
innovative ideas come easy. We want to go forward with our plans; yet our energy
loses steam as the day goes on. A night for the unseen - meditate and rest.
Friday 6/17 * Moon in Libra, into Scorpio mid afternoon. We awake confident, yet
a bit tired. We are eager to act, but run into walls. When Moon enters Scorpio
we'll be feeling our heat. Tonight is all about Mars - night of Mars, Moon in
sign of Mars, and Mars himself potent in Aries. What does this mean? Hot sauce,
whatever you like to smoke, straight whiskey, movement, don't think ~ just act,
and lots of sweat. Even our brain feels hot.
Saturday 6/18 * Moon in Scorpio. Our deep passions are explored with a sensitive
touch and an artistic mind. You won't see this in the astro calendars unless you
check positions, but Mercury is coming close to Venus. This means loving
thoughts, deeply creative art, desires that are felt and understood without
spelling it all out. Mercury on bright star Sirius last night and into this
morning - our minds have the power.
Sunday 6/19 * Moon in Scorpio, into Sagittarius in the evening. Sun on guide
star Polaris today. In our age all stars revolve around this one, the north
star. We are aware of future directions as we set our sights on our path. Moon
in Sag is good for exuberance in the evening.
Have a stellar week!
Peace and love,
Jonathan Pearl
If you don't want to know that you and all your classmates read astrology in
junior high and didn't even know it, just reply with a "No thanks" and you'll be
off the list.
Wandering Stars - the planets
Mercury * in Cancer. We think with our feelings. We are intuitive, sensitive and
more psychic. Our minds go to food, home, family, children, and everything we
find inside our own soul. Mercury in Cancer through June 27.
Venus * in Cancer. Lover Venus in mother 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 Aries. The hero on a new quest, the confident one who boldly acts, the
warrior with raw physical power. Mars in Aries is always strong, but now with
the North node is extra pumped. Mars in Aries through July 27.
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 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 * * *
