Real astrology may be having a genuine renaissance. Just two months after publication of The Fated Sky, perhaps the most comprehensive review of astrology's influence on Western culture ever written (my review here), comes the long awaited release of Cosmos and Psyche, written by Richard Tarnas.

Cosmos and Psyche is a grand read. Mr. Tarnas takes 4 outer planet cycles of aspects - Uranus/Pluto, Saturn/Pluto, Jupiter/Uranus and Uranus/Neptune - and comprehensively documents their influence on world affairs. Comprehensive is a bit of an understatement; Mr. Tarnas cites examples from philosophy and history of thought, his specialty; science, inventions, discoveries; politics and popular movements; literature, poetry, painting and other fine arts, music, dance, film; notable events of the time; and the individuals that made all this happen. While most of the examples are from the modern period of approximately 1500 to the present, Mr. Tarnas also goes back to ancient Greece and mentions medieval and Renaissance era thinkers as well.

If you consider yourself educated or aspire to be educated, you can read Cosmos and Psyche for this reason alone: Mr. Tarnas seems to know more about who thought what and when, their implications, and simply what happened than any other author I have read. This is why is best selling Passion of the Western Mind, a history of thought, has become required reading for many college students (and is next on my list). You could take the astrology completely out of Cosmos and Psyche and I'd still read it for a magnificent overview of Western culture.

Include the astrology, though, and this work is a masterpiece. Surely it will have its detractors (astrology threatens too many egos), but I cannot even begin to convey the scope of its thoroughness. This book is 500 pages of intelligent, eloquent prose. If you are used to email fragments and text messaging, this book is sure to work your brain muscles. Though rich in detail, the book is divided into many smaller sections of 3-20 pages so you can go at a comfortable pace. Read with an open mind, even a skeptic will at the very least have much to consider, and many readers might even change their mind about the nature of the world and themselves.

I give Cosmos and Psyche my utmost recommendation. Read it & tell your friends.

And yet as a traditional astrologer, I must include a final set of comments. Will the astrology muses let me say anything critical of such a splendid work, sure to benefit everyone connected to the science of the stars? I think so, since Mr. Tarnas subtly dismisses traditional astrology more than once. From Mr. Tarnas' perspective, astrology is archetypically predictive, not concretely predictive. This means the outer planets will involve certain primal forces that will manifest on a number of levels and many different ways, but it not possible or even wise to predict specific events (the kind of predictions that The Fated Sky documents).

I respect Mr. Tarnas immensely and he has done an incredible job of demonstrating the power of the outer planets, but even he admits he cannot tell the difference between the chart of a comedian (Charlie Chaplin) and a mass murderer (Adolf Hitler). Using modern methods, the chart of Hitler is rather baffling because it isn't really a standout. With traditional methods, though, we'd not only consider the possibility of a political leader responsible for mass deaths but expect it.

Bottom line: if you want to understand the forces affecting the generation of your birth and larger movement of time, study the outer planets. If you want to know what type of career might be best, when money is flowing and when it is tight, when a significant relationship might happen, when you might move, etc etc etc - call a traditional astrologer.

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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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Ideas to live more comfortably in ocean Pisces 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 8 - 14 with First Quarter on Monday 3/6.

Monday 3/6 * Moon in Gemini. Sun in Pisces takes the holistic view; Moon in Gemini revels in the details. We let our curious minds play with subjects that fit in the scheme of our larger vision. Today and most of tomorrow we are putting things in their place.

Tuesday 3/7 * Moon in Gemini, into Cancer at 2:40 pm. After a more emotionally charged morning, we settle into Cancer tenderness in the afternoon. The combination of Sun in Pisces and Moon in Cancer is compassionate, deeply feeling, even psychic, and one of the best duos for anything spiritual.

Wednesday 3/8 * Moon in Cancer. We sense the bonds of our relationships today and tomorrow. Thought not typical in the stereotype, the two Pisces fish are joined by a cord, symbolizing that deep connections are essential to this sign. With Sun trine Jupiter tomorrow, we can heal, revive, uplift and grow. 

Thursday 3/9 * Moon in Cancer, Sun trine Jupiter early. Sun trine Jupiter is a blessing in action. With Jupiter recently retrograde though, we are finding blessings more within instead of without. So this week we have gains in actions that improve our inner lives.  This time of both biggies Jupiter and Saturn retrograde (this year now through April 5) is often when outer events get put on hold and we lay groundwork instead.

Friday 3/10 * Moon in Leo 1:40 am, Venus opposite Saturn. Moon in Leo will want some attention, but Venus opposite Saturn, influencing the whole week, is exact late night. This will at the very least put a chill on love, and many will be feeling a lack of love and desirability and the sorrow of love that wasn't or isn't. A fine night for a Romeo & Juliet or any modern equivalent.

Saturday 3/11 * Moon in Leo, Mars square Uranus, Sun conjunct Mercury. With some loves ending this week due to Venus opposing Saturn, an impulsive Mars may just lead to a new flame pronto. Our minds have special insights today, but since Mercury is retrograde hold off on concrete long term plans.

Sunday 3/12 * Moon in Leo, into Virgo 2:25 pm. A bright Moon in Virgo means lots of energy for cleaning and detoxing. Spring equinox just around the corner!

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 ! * * *  

Mercury retrogrades on March 2 and turns direct on March 25th. Get used to thinking the Pisces way, like fish swimming in the ocean. The usual caveats: expect technological malfunction, avoid purchase of things you want to last more than 3 months, expect to hear from people out of your past, and know your mind is orienting backwards in time. Use it for what this is worth but don't make long term plans.

Venus * in Aquarius. Venus in Aquarius means innovative ways in romance like the couple married twenty years yet living in two different homes or the the woman willing to be a single mom. The traditional structures of Capricorn get revised. Venus in Aquarius also loves connecting with people, learning and knowledge that benefits humanity. Venus in Aquarius through April 5.

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 in Aquarius means our past is informed by new takes on knowledge.