Jonathan Pearl - Star Pearls Column

Dear friends,

Millions of people read their horoscopes and get a daily smidgen of astrology, but beyond this the science of the stars is not that popular in the West. Are astrologers interviewed for their opinion in the mainstream media? Not usually. Are there astrologers in the universities? Only in hiding. Is astrology taught to the public? Only here and there by individuals and just a few schools in the US and Britain. What will it take to go beyond Sun sign snippets into respected discourse?

In the 60s and 70s, astrology revived in America as part of the overall interest in mind exploration, psychology, Eastern spirituality, and inner development. Though astrology is both Eastern and Western, the symbols and language of astrology made it an easy match for much of the hippie culture.

Interest in astrology continued in the 80s. Though not completely accepted in the mainstream - Nancy got flak for taking advice from pro Joan Quigley - there were a lot of astrologers and people paying for their services. In the Me decade, what better way to spend money than to hire someone to talk all about everyone's favorite topic?

We'd expect further advances in astrology in the 90s as software made the process of running charts easier than ever. Though Sun signs have permeated a significant portion of public consciousness, astrology has not really developed in a significant way in the 90s or in this decade either. For accuracy's sake, I am referring to astrology in public consciousness. Learning astrology has certainly changed with all the information and discussions on the internet.

How will astrology advance in the 21st century?

Though psychological astrology is quite rich and a fruitful correlation to anyone on an inner journey, this is not the direction of our culture. People are too busy to introspect.

And many people don't find it necessary to pay someone to talk about themselves. Though many astrologers can validate one's existence and illuminate the meanings and patterns of life like few other disciplines can, most people these days aren't interested. Tell me something I don't know.

With everyone busier than ever, astrology is among the best tools for making the most of time. I think this is the direction astrology needs to take to go beyond Sun-signs into more widespread appreciation and use.

Astrology above all is information, and we are in an information age. Astrology can provide clear, useful, deep, accurate information on all kinds of topics. Let's start with today. Today the Sun moves from Leo to Virgo. See if you notice the difference after 5:45 pm PDT and into tomorrow. Note: this is true for everyone! Regardless of your Sun sign, the living Sun of here and now is moving into Virgo. This affects all of us.

This is essential information. It means our orientation of life is leaving a sign of creative self-expression to one that loves to accomplish. The time for glamour is passing; now we can be extra productive. Sun in Leo is often extravagant; Sun in Virgo will keep an eye on the budget, diet and exercise routine. It is 'back to school' time for everyone: the two signs of Mercury, Gemini and Virgo, are among the best for learning and all intellectual endeavors. Gemini has the edge on pure learning; Virgo leads with improvement and real world results.

Virgo is the sign of purity. Anything that doesn't need to go into our bodies doesn't need to go in. Been thinking about eating less junk food or more organic to avoid pesticides? Now the time is ripe. It is also good to cut back on summer BBQs in favor of grains and greens, and to drink less alcohol in favor of pure water. I didn't say meat and wine are bad, far from it; but they are less fine in Virgo than they are in Leo. The sacred goddess of Virgo doesn't want blood to spill to sustain life, and tends towards a vegetarian diet more than any other. Virgo is an excellent time to quit or cut back on smoking, and ideal for a de-tox diet or fast.

Purity in body is mirrored in cleanliness of environment. The deserved stereotype of Virgo energy - Organize!

Use all this information to your advantage. If we want to be accurate, we'll look at all the planets. I didn't say this was simple, it's not. But thoroughness in any discipline involves willingness to sort our complexity. Let's look at a few more planets.

Mercury, messenger of the gods and especially important now with Sun in Virgo, is moving forward in Leo. We'll still be thinking a bit of Leo though our orientation has changed into Virgo. With Sun and Mercury both in Leo, we thought and acted to self-express and life a glorious life. Now with Sun in Virgo, we want to accomplish. So our thinking still will seek a bit of glory, but in the name of productivity. Mercury functions well when away from the Sun - pure research, intellectual endeavors, writing come easy.

Venus, goddess of pleasure and love, is in Libra with the Dragon's Tail and Jupiter. We are desiring relationships and equity in partnership, but until Venus passes the diluting point of the Tail on 8/29, there may be something amiss or just plain missing. After that, Venus meets Jupiter, one of the best days in all of astrology. Party of the year on my astrology fantasy island of Buena Yerba!

ps - Thanks to all who responded to the book review. More coming soon!

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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 planets involved.

Sun * in Leo, moving into Virgo. Read above. Time for partying is over, now back to school and work. We think and accomplish all day long. Get a handle on your to-do list. Organize your environment, purify the body. The trap of Virgo - critical mind!

Moon * days 19 - 25 (new Moon is day 1). Full Moon last week, so we are in the sharing phase until turning within at the 4th Quarter on Friday.

Monday 8/22 * Moon in Aries, Sun into Virgo this evening. With the Dragon's head in Aries, we have essential soul thirst whenever the Moon journeys through the first sign. Thirst for new expressions today while the Sun is in Leo, and for new accomplishments when the Sun enters Virgo tonight. Today the Sun passes the royal star of Summer, the heart of the lion. Royal stars elevate our lives, so note your activity - what direction are you headed? What does taking your life 'a step up' mean? Today will give you important clues. Tonight we enjoy going over the top but excesses are rewarded. Aries is a physical sign, so exercise helps sleep; a night for calming herbs before bed.

Tuesday 8/23 * Moon in Aries, into Taurus in the evening. Sun and Moon both into Earth signs, both Fire just a day ago, changes our essential energy from radiant self-expression to material concerns: What $ am making and how? How am I taking care of this body? Our minds are driven, easily vexed - watch criticism and negative thoughts. In the evening the rush of Aries slows to comfy Taurus. Harmony between the lights tonight means cooperation between action and emotion and easy relations with men and women, both in the face of pleasuring our way through garden variety emotional challenges.

Wednesday 8/24 * Moon in Taurus. We awake and Moon moves towards Mars all day, exact around 8:30 pm. Mars in Taurus is drive to safety, fight for turf and pursuit of pleasure - see what you are going after today. Mars is in Taurus for 5 more months, so this theme will repeat. Use this information - Moon joining Mars is the best time for exercise! Balance healthy Virgo and pleasure Taurus - make your enjoyments good for body and soul. In paradise of northern CA, this is easy. After the Mars aspect passes, we are tuckered. Drop the not good enough or stress thoughts and head to bed.

Thursday 8/25 * Moon in Taurus. Amidst our Virgo accomplishment we get a peek at relationships today, Friday and into the weekend. What to make of love this month? Venus in Libra loves to partner and sees the love of her dreams just over the hill in the next castle, but the Dragon called Fear of Loss is in the way. Our desire energy is a bit muted - Virgo Sun focuses on productivity more than pleasure, and Venus with the Tail can dilute some juiciness. The salve? A Venus as happy as can be coming up, and in Autumn a strong focus on relationships. Watch all aggressions of the mind today; we'll be driven mentally but prone to fighting our fantasy projections.

Friday 8/26 * 4th Quarter Moon in Gemini, Mercury opposite Neptune. Sun in Virgo insists on real world accomplishment and ticking off the to-do list; Moon in Gemini wants to learn for learning's sake and enjoys chatting just to hear the sound of someone's voice. Balancing this is easier than most squares; talk to people about what you are getting done and how you are doing it. The best of Mercury opposite Neptune is visionary ideals, stunning design, an artist's mind where images flow from one to the next and all is connected. The worst: deceit & addiction.

Saturday 8/27 * Moon in Gemini. Happy morning. Have you noticed? Prosperity & abundance, teachers and learning - all on the rise. Jupiter past the Dragon's Tail on Monday 8/15. *Now* we get the blessings in partnerships we've been waiting for all year. One example: Hilary Clinton and John McCain both travel to Alaska and say global warming is for real. Now through October, *especially* later this month, we have the potential for similarly positive partnerships. Things that you thought couldn't happen can - our cosmic Santa after a long hiatus is back in action. Tonight dancing, music or movies are some ways to go with the Mars-Neptune square but the body jive with the beat?

Sunday 8/28 * Moon into Cancer, Mars square Neptune. Mars square Neptune in the wee hours, so we'll feel that more Saturday night than Sunday. With Saturn out of Cancer, there is rich enjoyment in cooking, quietly eating in with loved ones instead of loud nights out, baths and all liquid nourishment, time in nature, and simply time spent with oneself, attention on the inside. Be sure to take this soul nourishment time, because with Saturn now in Leo there is an basic challenge in the way we radiate to the world.

Have a stellar week!

Peace and love,
Jonathan Pearl

If you don't want to know why you are about to start ticking off your to-do list at double time, just reply with a "No thanks" and you'll be off the list.

Wandering Stars - the planets

Mercury * direct in Leo. Our minds are bold and confident, and we want some of the spotlight with our speech. We think of elegance and luxury. The best of Leo: it's a grand life! The trap - it's all about me. Mercury in Leo through September 4.

Venus * in Libra. One of the best signs for Venus. We desire partnership, equality and pleasure. But beware, Venus meets the Tail of the Dragon midway through Libra, and this can mean fear of loss in relationships just as much as we are focused on having them. Venus in Libra August 16 through September 11.

Mars * in Taurus. Strong drive for safety and pleasure. We're content to do without risks - we'd rather pad our bank accounts and spend extra time for sheer physical pleasure. Mars retrogrades here 10/1 - 12/9, so in Taurus until February 06.

Jupiter * in Libra. Blessings in love and partnerships! Learning in realms of art and beauty. Jupiter now direct and past the Dragon's Tail, so abundance and blessings are coming our way! Jupiter in Libra through October 2005.

Saturn * in Leo. Essential challenge to self expression. Color feels a bit much; we prefer black. The people revolt against the leaders. Anti-authoritarianism in many guises. A positive vision of this energy: we know the work we need to do and do it. Saturn in Leo September 2007.

Dragon's Head * in Aries. We gain by new adventures and physical vigor, yet are more prone to hostility.

Dragon's Tail * in Libra. We fear loss in relationships. Art explores the unseen.

* * * MAY ALL BE AUSPICIOUS * * *