Dear friends,

This just in: Mercury, swift footed messenger of the gods and world system energy pulse of perception, thought and communication, is now cruising through her ultra-fave sign of accomplishment Virgo. We've got 2 weeks of organic shade grown espresso mind speed at our disposal. 15 more days of pure body and health improvements. We're willing to serve and actually be useful to ourselves and the world. We easily learn a new skills and enhance understandings of our essential disciplines. We're not talking Leo playtime hobbies like video games or beach volleyball; these must have real world Virgo results. How about learning more astrology?

Many people have asked me how to learn more of the science of the stars. This is a very good question. There are hundreds if not thousands of astrology books out there. Though most of them wind up selling for cheap at Amazon.com, where to start?

Let's first ask: Why learn? What are you expecting? In Virgo spirit let's categorize some basic differences in goals and approach.

The first level of astrology is for every groovy person of nuanced mind who wants to live a healthier, more productive, more enjoyable, more fulfilling, all round better, well timed life. You dear reader, are already on the way by reading this column. Yes you are!

This level of astrology is like learning to read the clock back when you were a little tyke. A little complex at first, but once you have it down, you'll wonder how you got along with out it. You don't have to learn to read charts. You don't have to buy dozens of astrology books. You don't even need software or to go see an astrologer. All you need is a little time learning the basics, an astrology calendar and 3 minutes a day. Like learning to read a clock has served you well for decades, understanding the nature of time and your role in it will last for the rest of your life. No matter what fads come and go, no matter which governments rise and fall, this knowledge can be useful for your entire life.

Before we get to the how-to of this, I'll briefly sketch out the next two levels, just to be complete.

The second level involves learning astrology like someone might read up on psychology or various social theories or spiritual teachings. Astrology is an intellectual discipline that helps you understand yourself, other people and the world in general, hopefully with wisdom as a result. If you are aiming for this level you could learn something of your own chart. You may read astrology magazines or books from time to time. You might get a yearly reading from a professional astrologer you like.

Although I must quickly point out that you don't have to learn any astrology to see an astrologer! If you'd like get a wise perspective on an issue or question or simply help plan out your year or coming decades for any reason - health, career, money, relationships, home, travel, learning, your spiritual path, deeper understanding of life - a good astrologer can help. But many people, myself included, get readings from professionals as part of the learning process.

The third level: you can't get enough of this stuff and obsessively read your Mountain Astrologer as soon as it comes in. You know who you are. You do charts of your friends for the fun of it. You might even go pro. Glad to have the company.

Back to the first level. How to learn enough astrology so that it will improve your day to day life? This is actually very easy, but the problem is that most books don't take this approach. Nearly every astrology book out there starts with the premise of understanding the birth chart. This is a valid perspective and it syncs with everyone's favorite topic ("But what about myyy chart?") but what I am suggesting is that there is a simpler way. There is a short cut to learning astrology that will actually be of benefit. Instead of seeking to understand the birth chart - which is quite complex and takes lots of study, not to mention dozens of astrology books - start by understanding the present moment.

The first step here is to watch the Moon changing signs and how this affects your life. You don't have to read books telling you what Moon in Libra is like, who was born with Moon in Libra, how Moon in Libra gets along with Moon in Scorpio, yada yada yada. Simply pay attention to what happens in your life when the Moon is in Libra. That's it.

Then watch when the Moon changes sign roughly two and a half days later into Scorpio. Watch how your emotional pull changes tide. What you want from life will change - see what this is. Moon in Scorpio gives us a different palette of feelings than Moon in Libra. Become familiar with these color sets. Do this for a month and you'll cover all twelve zodiac signs. Do it for a season and you'll *know* something of the signs and more importantly *what they mean for you.*

After you learn something of the signs, you can use the same process to learn about the planets. Instead of reading various books on Saturn, what Saturn in various signs mean, what the Saturn return is, on and on, you can simply observe what happens when the Moon joins or opposes Saturn in the sky. The Moon will conjunct Saturn once a month and will oppose Saturn roughly two weeks later. The conjunctions are easiest to notice, but since some of these happen in the wee hours or maybe during a busy day and you forgot to notice, the opposition will give you another chance. This way you'll understand what Saturn means for you at this stage in your life. You won't need a book to tell you.

The best part of learning this way is that if you'd like to go to the second level, you'll have real life, earned in the skin knowledge and experience of the signs and planets, and you'll get a lot more out of the books you do read.

To make this learning process easier I am going to do a couple of things with the column and this website. First, since not everyone has an astrology calendar, I'll start to put in the time of when the Moon changes sign and the exact time of notable conjunctions so you can pay attention.

In the coming weeks I'll also add a primer on the signs and planets to the Learning Astrology section of this site. This will cover the basics to help give you perspective on what you might be noticing in your life. Here are some themes you might see with Moon in various signs. So if you aren't already familiar with the zodiac, you can refer to the primer as you read below that the Moon is moving into Sagittarius. I'll let you know when I put this up.

In the meantime if you'd like to read up on the signs and planets I highly recommend this excellent site:

http://www.skyscript.co.uk/

We learn the zodiac signs by watching the Moon because we get all twelve in a month; and we also know the fundamental orientation that is the Sun. Put the two together and you'll have a basic understanding that will serve you well. If you follow what happens in your life along with astrology for 3 minutes a day for a year, learn the planets and aspects along the way, for the rest of your life all you'll need is to glance at an astrology calendar and you'll know something of the essential characteristics of the nature of time. This is knowledge with a vast array of applications. From health, exercise and diet, to career and interactions with people on the job; from relationships to simple fun and play, from creativity to enhancing your spiritual path, you'll know what actions give the best results for that particular hour or day or time.
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Star*Watch
All times Pacific Daylight Time. See below for comments on other visible planets. The Sun and Moon together set the tone of the time. The Sun is our fundamental 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 and sometimes weeks before and after the aspect depending on the planets involved.

Sun * in Virgo. 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 and purify your body. The trap of Virgo - criticism and perfectionism!

Moon * days 3 - 9 (new Moon is day 1). We set off on new Virgo accomplishments. Our first quarter challenge on Sunday is of excess - our focus is on the details, but we'll be tested by ways we forget about the trees in favor of the forest.

Monday 9/5 * Moon in Libra. Moon in Libra puts us in partnership mood, but with the Sun and Mercury both in Virgo even our relationships have an improvement theme. As the day goes on our vitality ebbs and we pull the plug on relationships in minor ways. We may want to just chill, or the more energetic may connect with a past relationship or source of pleasure informed by the past. Very good evening for yoga, meditation and all spiritual disciplines.

Tuesday 9/6 * Moon in Libra. A high mood around 9:00 am is just the start of a most auspicious day. Venus last night and today near the most bountiful fixed star Spica. The message of this star is that if we plan well, if we plant with care, water, feed and weed, take care of all the steps, do the work, week in and week out - we get the bounty of the harvest. Tonight the goddess of love and pleasure is on the star of bounty, so it is harvest time for the hard workers. What are you reaping? What bounty do you see in your life, especially from women and beauty and art? Moon joins uplifting Jupiter at 3:15 pm; and the entire afternoon and evening is blessed by happiness and love, even into the night. Rosey sweet dreams indeed!

Wednesday 9/7 * Moon in Libra, into Scorpio at 11:10 am. We awake and we're a little less cerebral than the last couple of days; we want expansiveness and art along with our Virgo details and to-do list. Scorpio Moon in the service of Virgo purification means we're willing to see the dark and grime as long as we are on a cleansing path. Watch any ways we deny ourselves or others care or nourishment in the afternoon, especially 3 - 5 pm. Scorpio Moon means we are going deep emotionally; this is especially and intensely true as the evening goes on. To deal we lean towards music, movies and alcohol.

Thursday 9/8 * Moon in Scorpio, Mercury opposite Uranus. A mischievous duel between the tricksters of the zodiac - who can amaze you with new ideas first? Our mind Mercury, traditionally known as both thought and thief, faces off with trickster god Uranus, cosmic shaman of suddenly new potential. We have a live wire of sudden insight going right into our heads. Invite the muse, plug in and play, especially after 3:00 pm. Discard routine, throw out the rules and open the possibilities of your mind. At night our passions surge and the experimental mood of the day opens doors to all kinds of kink.

Friday 9/9 * Moon in Scorpio, into Sagittarius at 7:00 pm. After stewing in Scorpio emotions, we lighten up and look for a party with Moon in Sag. We expand our horizons by seeking something new. The physical take-it-easiness of the last few days will give way to livelier energy, especially after 7:30 pm and into the weekend. Tonight's good time: a fresh foreign restaurant and music at a new club. Last weekend of goddess of love Venus in partnership Libra!

Saturday 9/10 * Moon in Sagittarius. We want to go play, but our minds insist on getting something serious done. The fun tempts but we are so on intellectually that a few hours work is time well spent.

Sunday 9/11 * Moon in Sagittarius all day, into Capricorn close to midnight, Venus into Scorpio. Our Virgo focus on purification and accomplishment is tested by our emotional pull towards discarding the rules that structure our experience and forgetting about the details that need our care in favor of the More and the Over There. True wisdom will see both the Virgo trees and the Sagittarian forest and will know how to tend to both. Moon joins lord of underworld Pluto at 9:50 am; if you want to know what Pluto means, just watch your mood then. Lady of love Venus, elegantly attired in suave fashion of relationship Libra, changes garb into obsessed Scorpio - she's wearing leather and black and is hell bent on going after what she wants.

Have a stellar week!

Peace and love,
Jonathan Pearl

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Wandering Stars - the planets

Mercury * in Virgo. With Sun and Mercury in Virgo we get accomplishment, purification and improvement full head on. Our minds are ticking off the to-do list. Excellent time for learning anything that is of real benefit. This especially includes health, skills, service. The trap - critical mind. Mercury in Virgo through September 20.

Venus * in Libra, into Scorpio on September 11. Libra is one of the best signs for Venus. We desire partnership, equality and pleasure. And we get them because we are attuned. Venus now beyond the Dragon's Tail, so our past obsessions give way to fresh life in love. Venus in Libra August 16 through September 11. Venus into Scorpio means love obsessions, desires that insist on having our way, and steamy sex.

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 * * *

Copyright 2005 Jonathan Pearl, All Rights Reserved. No part of this site may be
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