Since last Friday, people are talking, reading and flirting more, yes? Over the weekend on MUNI I saw double the usual number of book reading passengers, and at the market people were striking up conversations left and right. The reason? After a 6 month stay in fenced-in Taurus, on Friday Mars entered Gemini, sign of the talkative twins.

For many people this will heat up and energize the mind. If you'd like an astrology book to read during the next 7 weeks, check out Rick Tarnas' Cosmos and Psyche. A founding director at San Francisco's own CIIS, Mr. Tarnas is known throughout the US as author of The Passion of the Western Mind, a best-selling and highly acclaimed work that has become standard reading in many college courses involving the history of philosophy and ideas. Since Mr. Tarnas has already earned considerable intellectual respect even from mainstream professors and universities, that he has published a major work devoted to astrology's role in shaping culture is Important with a capital I. This is especially true for anyone more seriously connected to astrology. I hope it heralds a time soon to arrive when the some of the millions of people reading Sun sign scopes will turn more to real astrology.

For a shorter yet equally profound astrology book of a thousand years prior, check out my latest review of The Judgments of Nativities here.

Back to the twins. In my own practice, Mars in Gemini often indicates someone active with words like editors and writers, and even people who duel in wits like lawyers. A quick scan of Astro-databank, the pre-eminent software collection of Western charts, showed a lot of athletes. This makes sense - Gemini is the sign of the arms and hands as well as curiosity, so energy here can play out in all kinds of sports. If books aren't your thing, then maybe basketball, racquet sports, even massage, anything involving movement through the hands, will be extra-activated in the next 7 weeks. While this isn't in the stereotype, Gemini (at least in the northern hemisphere) is a vigorous and energetic sign because in this sign the Sun grows to its peak of energy and light.

A warranted part of the stereotype is that planets in Gemini stir up a lot of flirting. The Indian symbol of the sign makes this clear - it isn't just twins sharing a sibling kind of love, but is instead the Couple. More specifically, a man with a club (ahem) and a woman with a lute. Ladies, expect to hear more random conversations from men. With Venus still in Capricorn it may be just words, but once Venus gets into fellow air sign Aquarius on March 5 these same story-lines and entr'acts will be more enticing.

On another level, with the Sun now in Pisces, the last sign of the zodiac, we are tuned to endings instead of beginnings. There is no better sign for letting go. For more on Pisces and ways to take advantage of this energy, read up on Pisces nourishment here.

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I'm taking vacation next week, so watch for the next Star Pearls on March 6. Days covered below. Sorry to miss last week due to flu.

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, currently available in March.

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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 also gives planet 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 Pisces. Sun in Pisces means we are living like fish, swimming and finding our way through the ocean, yet profoundly aware of our connections to others (the fish are joined by a cord). We are more emotional, compassionate and willing to go with the flow; but these same sensitivities mean awareness of suffering in this difficult modern world. This is one reason why planets in Pisces are notorious for sugar and alcohol addictions - people are trying to cope with too much pain. Find your spiritual solution instead - Sun in Pisces and Cancer are the two best months of the year for spiritual practice. Creativity benefits too; ideas just come to us. The most important things to do in Pisces are to take time to find our inner vision and let go of anything getting in the way of a fresh start when the Sun enters Aries at the spring equinox. The difficulty of Pisces - we are so emotional we cannot get much done.

Moon * days 22 - 28 with Last Quarter on Monday 2/20; then days 1 - 7 with New Moon in Pisces on Monday 2/27.   

Monday 2/20 * Moon in Scorpio, into Sagittarius 6:40 pm, Last Quarter Moon late night. We'll be feeling lots with Sun and Moon both in water signs, but with Mars freshly into Gemini we can also be more playful and intellectual. We can also research into ideas and plumb the depths of our mind. Moon in Sagittarius with Sun in Pisces is an easier version of the usually challenging quarters - harmonize by aligning our vision (Pisces) with our exploration (Sagittarius). 

Tuesday 2/21 * Moon in Sagittarius. Fresh start to Sun energy today through Thursday, so we may get wisps of spring. Moon in Sagittarius expands in one way or another - for some this is shopping (more clothes in the closet) for others learning (more books on the shelf). We want a variety of experiences in all things. A night for prophetic dreams as Sun approaches royal Formalhaut, the star of received knowledge.

Wednesday 2/22 * Moon in Sagittarius. Sun exactly on the royal star of Winter around 9:00 am; what knowledge are you receiving, what wisdom do you give? The Sun on each of the 4 royal stars is an invitation to a higher level of existence. This will be easier in the morning since afternoon and evening brings a Moon conjunction to make or break Pluto 6:05 pm.

Thursday 2/23 * Moon in Capricorn 12:15 am, Mercury sextile Venus. With Sun in creative Pisces and our minds (Mercury) hooking up with beauty (Venus), our mood towards accomplishment Capricorn will give us satisfaction in the work of art. True in almost every natal chart - a tight aspect between Mercury and Venus means an artist in one way or another. Here there is attraction to new spins on older forms. This time the aspect is extended and will influence this week and next.

Friday 2/24 * Moon in Capricorn. Venus in Capricorn has brought love of work for many, so this afternoon will be overtime for some and romance for others. This is especially true since Thursday morning through Saturday night we'll be after love and money. Queen Moon meets up with Lady Venus at 4:20 pm. My advice: go in early & work hard, skip off at 4:00 to meet up with your lover. 

Saturday 2/25 * Moon in Aquarius 2:15 am. Planets in Aquarius stimulate the serious intellect, so if you are in the Bay Area and want to learn more astrology the best thing going is John Frawley's weekend workshop. Frawley is from the UK so this is a rare event not be missed; if you do, though, a recording will be available from Steve Pincus at 650-968-4513 (alas no website). The Moon faces off with Saturn around 11:25, so our mood will lighten afterwards. Today is good for a long book or other serious project.

Sunday 2/26 * Moon in Pisces 1:55 am. Though on an action level we'll be curious and seeking interaction, our mood will be more emotional. Dark of the Moon in Pisces is one of the best days of the year to let go. Meditate, walk on the beach, lounge in bed listening to opera, whatever way you surrender.

Taking vacation 2/27 so here's the next week!

Monday 2/27 * New Moon in Pisces 4:30 pm. If astrologers were advising the king, we'd make today a national holiday dedicated towards spiritual renewal. Some could donate their time to volunteer organizations, others would share art and music and others would spend the day meditating. Today we sense the both the endings (before New Moon) and new beginnings (4:00 and later) of all things, and our minds connect with love.

Tuesday 2/28 * Moon in Pisces, Mars sextile Saturn, Mercury sextile Venus, Mercury square Pluto. Lucky and unlucky us! Due to the particular timing of retrogrades this time around, Mercury again makes a sextile to Venus (we had one just last week). The aspect is tightly in play from about 2/19 to 3/3. This means our minds and communication (Mercury) are under the sway of beauty (this means all art) and love, so a fine time for love notes and words of all kinds. At the same time though, Mercury squares Pluto (this aspect repeats on the coming Saturday). This makes our minds intense, forceful and manipulative at worst, and willing to go the distance at best. Make the evening into a surprise. Soothing herbs or any other relaxing activity will help sleep.

Wednesday 3/1 * Moon in Aries 1:20 am, Sun conjunct Uranus early in the wee hours. Sun conjunct Uranus is good for sudden events and forward leaps but the live wire frazzle energy isn't restful. Moon in Aries will launch new things and gives us a preview of spring - it's coming!

Thursday 3/2 * Moon in Aries, Mercury retrograde. Uh oh. You thought Mercury in Pisces was already bad enough - forgetting the details, minds wandering here and there, thinking as if we've just had an umbrella drink on some tropical isle. Now it will be worse. Give your brain extra vacation time because if you don't take it, it will take you. It's not all bad, though, with Mercury on lady Venus' most favorite degree in the whole zodiac. This means we can think and write our way to love more easily.   

Friday 3/3 * Moon in Taurus 2:20 am. Sun in Pisces has a natural spiritual orientation, but Moon in Taurus wants material pleasures of love and money. Today we practice by connecting to the body and grounding to the Earth. Moon square Saturn at 11:20 am, so the morning may weigh us down.

Saturday 3/4 * Moon in Taurus, Jupiter retrograde, Mercury square Pluto. With Mercury challenged by the Lord of Leave All, we can edit, prune, say sayonara and get rid of this week. Jupiter turning backwards means we turn for inner riches and wisdom and put outer prosperity more on hold for the next few months.

Sunday 3/5 * Moon in Gemini 6:40 am, Venus into Aquarius. While many cheered Mars out of Taurus, I'll be hooraying Venus out of Capricorn, sign of overwork. Venus in Aquarius loves new solutions & friends and has her own ideas about romance. We'll also now start to get perspective on her retrograde of late December, January and February (what the !@# did I buy or get myself into?) Moon in Gemini gets our minds and arms and hands going, especially with warrior Mars now in the sign of flirting, tennis and the coupley twins. For every planet in Gemini, there is a dark and a light and playing with one means both.

Have a stellar week!

Peace and love,
Jonathan Pearl

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Wandering Stars - the planets

Mercury * in Pisces. Our mind is compassionate, intuitive and creative. We sense our connection with others and the all. We more easily recognize spiritual truth. And yet ... the details are dropped like an umbrella falling from your 4th frou-frou drink in the Bahamas. Go with the flow, but don't expect the same level of productivity. 

* * * ! Mercury Retrograde Alert ! * * *  ;

Is it that time already? Mercury retrogrades on March 2 and turns direct on March 25th. Get used to thinking the Pisces way, like fish swimming in the ocean.

Venus * direct in Capricorn. Our love is still oriented towards the past, but now things may actually start happening with desire and relationships. We have pleasure in accomplishments and may be itching for long term markers like the investment account, land and marriage. Venus in Capricorn through March 5, then into Aquarius. 

Mars * in Gemini. We are driven by thinking, curiosity, words and wit. Even our arms and hands have more motion. The good: we can read more, learn more and flirt up a storm. The bad: them's fightin' words and an inflamed mind. Gemini delivers both the light and the dark. Mars in Gemini through April 16.  

Jupiter * in Scorpio. Turning retrograde on March 4, so some prosperity on hold while we pursue inner wisdom and riches. 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 Gemini means an extra strong drive for learning!

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.