Dear friends,

Seems like we haven't had this much hoopla about a movie since Star Wars III Revenge of the Sith in May 2005, the very last time Neptune, king of illusions, went retrograde! The station is exact today and effects will quickly fade, so if life has been more Hollywood than you'd like then you can look forward to soon feeling your feet on the ground. Quick note to Hollywood execs: time your next mega release near May 25 2007. This week things will come more back to normal as our minds take charge and seek out the facts. Enough with the bogus, now we want real information.

But that's not all. On Tuesday we have a square aspect between lover Venus and warrior Mars. Just about every other astrology commentator will say this means conflict between women and men. But not this one. Why? True the square aspect generally means planets are in elements that don't work so well together. But traditional astrology places more emphasis on the full interaction between the two planets, not just the look they give each other.

An image: just after breaking up with her old boyfriend, lover Venus is enjoying her new independence. Rushing to work she bumps into a guy carrying a bottle of wine. She is annoyed, but then looks up. Oh ... hello ... the man is smiling right at her. The wine he carries makes her think that meeting up on Friday - no, make that Tuesday - might be a fine idea.

Aspects bring planets together. Sure the type of aspect counts, but more important is the relationship between the signs. Friends might introduce you (trine) but if you don't like the person then it doesn't really matter does it? For example: Venus in Taurus trines Mars in Virgo, but Venus doesn't like Virgo and Mars doesn't like Taurus. So this means a friendly No thank you not even close, even though the aspect is a trine.

But if signs get along it doesn't matter how Venus meets Mars, which is what we have this week. Venus in Aries squares Mars in Cancer - Mars likes any planet in Aries, and Venus feels pretty good about Cancer too. The square will bring some difficulties - in this situation Venus thinks a bit more of herself than she does of Mars, so while she might be interested she certainly isn't going to commit. Yet the tradition would say that ultimately the bumps are smoothed over, so we could expect a 2nd date. I'm curious and want to put this doctrine called reception to the test - please watch your experiences (especially Monday and Tuesday) and share what you are willing.

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Smarts in the chart - can we tell the person is a genius and if so how? Check out my analysis of Leonardo's chart here.

Can all this star stuff be practical too? Yes! Here's my latest example of using astrology to answer the question: Shall I look for a new job or ask for another raise?

I'm a full time astrologer dedicated towards passing on the wisdom of this venerable tradition to help you live your life. 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 also gives planet positions. See below for comments on other visible planets. To follow planetary days and hours for your location (highly recommended!), download freeware from ChronosXP.

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 Gemini. We seek out new information as we live to learn, explore and communicate. With the free flow of ideas we are more adaptable and consider other points of view. The twins want dialog, interaction, wits and play. The trap of the twins - too many ideas. The Sun also has a special influence on Sundays, Wednesday nights and all Sun hours.

Moon * days 26 - 3 with New Moon in Gemini late Friday (early Saturday for east coasters). Follow Queen Moon as below; she also has a special influence on Mondays, Thursday nights and all Moon hours.  

Monday 5/22 * Moon in Aries, Neptune Rx. The la la of last week fades as our mind gets back to facts. Moon in Aries pulls us to new adventures, and with Venus meeting up with Mars tomorrow this means new love makes life feel like spring.

Tuesday 5/23 * Moon in Aries, Venus square Mars. Not nearly as bad as it sounds (see above). In fact sometimes squares do fit in a round hole and things work out just fine. Devote tonight to new pleasures, especially accompanied by wordplay or poetry.

Wednesday 5/24 * Moon into Taurus 9:00 am. Our rush slows with Moon in Taurus, and today we put emotional satisfactions on slight hold to focus on intellectual tasks. Our minds are quick, sharp, flying through the air.

Thursday 5/25 * Moon in Taurus, Venus trine Pluto. Lover Venus is getting quite a workout this week - first Mars, then Pluto just two days apart! With Pluto Rx this may be more of a state of mind than outer event, but still lover Venus is committing only to herself this week. We also sense the winding down of the Moon cycle - less physical energy and more accepting of things moving on.

Friday 5/26 * New Moon in Gemini late, Mercury square Uranus. Sometimes you are too smart for your own good - no one else gets it. A quiet Friday night to stay in and read.

Saturday 5/27 * Moon in Gemini, Sun sextile Saturn. We might not want to party but we will want to talk, especially with people older and (hopefully) wiser than ourselves.

Sunday 5/28 * Moon in Gemini, into Cancer 5:35 pm. With 3 planets in Gemini, sign of the the mind, we'll want intellectual stimulation even more than physical. Moon in Cancer for the evening will remind us that we have feelings too, yet from the Gemini perspective dinner without conversation is not really a meal.

Have a stellar week!

Peace and love,
Jonathan Pearl

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Wandering Stars - the planets

Mercury * in Gemini. Our minds move at absolute top speed through the most agile of signs. Ideas come so fast we can't even keep up so quick, write it down! Speed-readers and other geniuses will be born. Mercury in Gemini through June 3. Mercury influences Wednesdays, Saturday nights and all Mercury hours.

Venus * in Aries. Fresh energy into desire and love. I want what I want and I want it now! We go towards new pleasures and love motion and thrills and maybe muscles too. The downside - love takes two, and we don't think as much of the other with Venus in the sign of moi. Venus in Aries through through May 29. Venus influences Fridays, Monday nights and all Venus hours.

Mars * in Cancer. Men, embrace your inner Martha - cook, garden, light up the BBQ. After 7 weeks of extra thinking and curiosity, we are now driven by our feelings, nurturing, food and family but all in a Mars kind of way. Pass the hot sauce, cathart, move vigorously in or near water. After Mars passes its aspect with Venus, we will start getting the more difficult side of Mars in Cancer - anger on the inside, no peace. Mars in Cancer through June 3. Mars influences Tuesdays, Friday nights and all hours of Mars.

Jupiter * in Scorpio. Now retrograde, 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. Jupiter influences Thursdays, Sunday nights and all Jupiter hours.

Saturn * in Leo. Now direct, so developments in some long term structures in life get moving again. 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. Saturn influences Saturdays, Tuesday nights and all Saturn hours.

Dragon's Head * in Aries. We gain by new adventures and physical vigor, yet are more prone to hostility. Ruler Mars in Cancer means we advance by ways we take charge of emotions, protect family, improve the house, and learn to cook. 

Dragon's Tail * in Libra. Relationships seem troubled by unseen or past murkiness. Art explores the unseen. Ruler Venus in Pisces means past relationships are quite positive; Venus into Aries means these same past relationships will get a what's in it for me spin.