Jonathan Pearl - Star Pearls Column

Dear friends,

You hear the word empowerment a lot these days. Empower yourself at the health club. Empower yourself with your choice of HMO. Empower yourself with a power nap!

In traditional astrology, power is the Sun. The Sun represents life, truth, will, authority, fame, action, regularity, order and the heart. We can learn about these qualities in ourselves by considering the Sun in our charts. What sign is it in? What planets accompany the Sun? In what house? What aspects are influencing its expression?

We can also learn about these qualities every day by observing the Sun. Astrology has long considered the 1st house to be the most powerful house in the chart. This is a curious thing, because if planets are in the 1st house then they are just below the horizon and we cannot see them! By the time we can actually see the Sun it is in the 12th house which ironically is more nebulous. So according to the astrological view, to experience the Sun at its most powerful we need to get up well before dawn.

Readers may recall that my New Year's resolution was to spend two weeks avoiding artificial light as much as I could. Well, I tried. For several nights I was able to stay away from both lights and computer; a few nights I could dim the lights but professional commitments meant time at the productivity box. And other evenings I had readings or time with friends which meant time in light bulb glare. And even during nights of darkness a walk in the Moonlight meant electric light was everywhere. Yet these two weeks was a very interesting experiment. Here is what happened.

Turning off the lights at sundown, just after 5:00 pm these days in California, meant several hours of evening darkness. During this time feelings were more distinct. I could more clearly hear inner promptings and directions, and easily tune in to deeper needs. I felt much less compelled towards action and accomplishment. And by 9:00 pm I was ready for bed.

I slept well, and remembered more dreams than usual. And I often awoke at 4:30 am the next day without an alarm. I am usually an early riser but not like this! Quiet contemplation with candles was profound. Inner truth and purpose came through more clearly than ever before. I didn't plan on such experiences simply by adjusting to a natural schedule, but this is what happened. And I'm pleased that this concurs with all the astrology texts of the last two thousand years that say that the 1st house is the most powerful.

So one astrological prescription for self empowerment is to go to bed early and get up in time for sunrise. From this perspective, all these people talking about empowerment can't really understand what this means without being awake and there when it happens, when the Sun gives birth to the world just before dawn.

I love this schedule, yet readily admit it is tough to maintain in contemporary city life. Getting up at 4:30 am meant lunch at 11 and dinner at 5. This is tough on social life. Yet I still recommend trying this yourself for a week just to see what happens, or even once a week to stay in touch with the natural cycle. This is especially so for anyone with Saturn (restriction) in Cancer (Moonlight) or Leo (Sunlight). If you want more clarity into your own needs (Moon), dim the fake lights and expose yourself to her comforting beams. If you want to know your own power and truth (Sun), then get on his rhythm.

Spending time in darkness also made me respect the power of light. It may sound like a stretch to say GE cheapens life, but this was the experience. Arising at 4:30 and feeling for a match to light a candle instead of easily flicking on the light made me respect the gift of fire. And from this I respected all fire - my own passions, the fire in the belly, keeping the fire burning in relationships and the divine spark within us all.

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Venus retrograde update - the goddess of love is still traveling backwards but will soon re-emerge from the underworld into the morning sky. While Venus Rx times are notorious for misplaced desire, real life sources say that when she connects to just the right spots on your chart - this year 1 Aquarius (and this by antiscia 28-29 Scorpio) and 16 Capricorn (13-14 Sagittarius) - then a change in love can be truly important and long lasting. Do you have a Venus retrograde story? This time around with Venus in Capricorn, sign of the long term plan, several people I know are hankering after real estate and overwork. We may not get clarity on how much this is affecting us until she turns direct in early February.

More columns and news:

If Venus has got you and your stars steamy, you might like my latest book review of The Astrology and Sex here.

If you are more interested in actual procreation, time your baby with astrology. Read up on methods here.

Want ideas for increasing vitality and pleasure during winter months? Check out the Capricorn remedies column here.

I'm a full time astrologer dedicated towards passing on the wisdom of this venerable tradition to help you live your life. Full readings are available on weekday afternoons and Wednesday evenings. For information on a life or update reading, please visit the Services page. Contact me for an appointment.

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Please help share the wisdom of the Moon - forward Star Pearls to your friends! Also posted to the website on Tuesdays here.

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Star*Watch
All times Pacific Standard Time. Visit www.alabe.com for the view of the chart for your current location, and www.astro.com will also give you positions. 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 Capricorn, entering Aquarius. The good news: Sun is leaving scarcity Capricorn! The bad news: Sun is entering Aquarius and opposing Saturn. While Sun in Aquarius does have qualities of sharing the spotlight with others and a focus on knowledge that benefits humanity, this is not Sun at its most confident. The Saturn opposition is already in play and making such matters worse. The best of Sun in Aquarius - wisdom and human connection. The trap - emphasizing the community and losing our own confidence and truth.

Moon * days 17 - 24 (new Moon is day 1). Last Quarter Moon in Scorpio on Sunday.

Monday 1/16 * Moon in Leo. Leo is the sign of self actualization and authentic experience. What is your true vision? With Mercury joining Rx Venus tomorrow morning, we can play in new love yet still be thinking of loves past.

Tuesday 1/17 * Moon in Virgo 1:50 am, Mercury conjunct Venus. While our minds go to past loves, old pleasures and arts with age, Moon in Virgo makes us produce. Sun in Capricorn and Moon in Virgo, both earth signs, means two days of getting real-world results from everything we do. We are tending to the details (Moon in Virgo) of our long term plan (Sun in Capricorn).

Wednesday 1/18 * Moon in Virgo, Mars square Neptune. Rough ocean dreams give way to a day of more positive action. For those learning the astrology calendar, here's a more advanced lesson: You'll see Moon trine Venus tonight. Usually Queen Moon holding hands with Lady Venus is positive, but tonight Moon isn't enjoying Venus' placement in Capricorn and Venus isn't fond of Moon's time in Virgo either! How might this trine play out? A friendly postponement of romantic pleasure because of work commitments is one possibility. Not acting on love because of fear of commitment or rejection is another.

Thursday 1/19 * Moon in Virgo, into Libra 2:50 pm, Sun into Aquarius 9:15 pm. Moon in Libra means relationship mood, but moving towards Dragon's Tail can stymie connection until tomorrow. Sun in Aquarius means the end of New Year's Resolutions as our accomplishment focus shifts towards change in structures, concern for humanity greater than oneself and wisdom. It also is the official start to Sun opposed Saturn so our fear meter will be ticking up day by day until exact on 1/27.

Friday 1/20 * Moon in Libra. We just experienced two days of double material Earth; now we have two days of double idea Air. We are exchanging concepts with friends and our wider community. Another reception lesson for astro calendar fans - this time the Moon square Venus (exact early Saturday so impacting Friday night) has a more positive outcome than the trine earlier this week. Why? Because Venus likes Libra! We get it on with past love or enjoy new love with old friends.

Saturday 1/21 * Moon in Libra. Moon in Libra is limbic need for relationship. People with Moon in Libra especially experience this, and we all have a dose with Moon in the relationship sign. The other thing I have found quite common with Moons in Libra? Chocolate!

Sunday 1/22 * Moon in Scorpio 2:30 am, Mercury into Aquarius. Sun in Aquarius means orientation on human connections; Moon in Scorpio digs in her heels and wants to be private. A tougher square between the lights which means rougher experience for us all. The positive side of today and tomorrow is Mercury in Aquarius, sure sign of a sparking wit and the potential for innovative solutions and genuine learning.

Have a stellar week!

Peace and love,
Jonathan Pearl

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Wandering Stars - the planets

Mercury * in Capricorn. Mercury in Capricorn is the mind of the hard worker. We plan and take our steps to greatness one by one. The traps - fear thinking & poverty mentality. Mercury in Capricorn through January 22, then entering Aquarius.

Venus * retrograde in Capricorn. We have pleasure in accomplishment and may be itching for long term markers like the investment account, land and marriage. With Venus Rx, there is a simple answer: wait.

*** Venus retrograde alert! *** Venus starts movement backwards on December 24. Just like Mercury Rx means don't buy new computers, Venus Rx means postpone those luxury purchases. With Venus in Aquarius, this means put off the luxury technology that you don't really need. When Venus re-enters in serious Capricorn, don't be in a rush to buy stocks or real estate either. And most important: don't get married! Short term trysts, as long as you can negotiate the consequences, can warm up winter. Venus direct on February 2 2006.

Mars * in Taurus. Now direct, so forward energy in all battles. We resume exercise and our pursuits of pleasures and material security are back into gear. Mars moving to square Saturn means we're willing to take on and fight the authorities that are getting in our way. Mars in Taurus until February 06.

Jupiter * in Scorpio. Jupiter in Scorpio blesses therapies, healing modalities, joint finance arrangements and amplifies our sexuality. Jupiter wants to do good, but in Scorpio functions by responding to others with some kind of attack. The energy: This might hurt, but it is for your own good and my own protection! Great regeneration and power is possible if we find the positive side of our deepest emotions. Jupiter here also benefits Aquarius (by antiscion) and sister water signs of Cancer and Pisces. Jupiter in Scorpio through November 2006.

Saturn * in Leo. Now retrograde, so developments in some long term structures in life are on hold. 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. Ruler Mars in Taurus is strong drive for material wealth.

Dragon's Tail * in Libra. Relationships seem troubled by unseen or past murkiness. Art explores the unseen. Ruler Venus Rx in Capricorn means a double emphasis on past relationships.

* * * MAY ALL BE AUSPICIOUS * * *