Jonathan Pearl - Star Pearls Column

Star Pearls 10*30*06

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Wandering Stars

Dear friends,

After ending chapter 7 with a night of sleep, Odysseus wakes and the King of Phaeacia leads him to the meeting grounds to see him off for home. Athena in disguise rouses the people with rumors - come see the warrior, looking like a god! Crowds turn out as the king orders a ship to prepare for sail, and he and the nobles have a parting feast in Odysseus' honor.

So what do you think about this first scene? Scorpio is known for secrets, but has anyone noticed more rumors flying since the Sun's entry into Scorpio last Monday? In some ways secrets and rumors go hand in hand - without secrets, no rumors.

A herald is called, and his first number is a tale of the Trojan War. Reminded of his own tale of woe, Odysseus silently weeps and hides his tears with his cape. Only the king notices.

We haven't seen any main character cry since Cancer chapter 4, the previous water sign. Homer makes things clear right at the beginning of these chapters - water signs feel more than the others. For clients and myself experiencing stronger emotions during Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces times it can be comforting to know that these are exactly when the great warriors King Menelaus (in Cancer) and Odysseus (in Scorpio) shed tears as well!

The king deftly gets the bard to stop by calling for contests - boxing, wrestling, jumping, running. The younger men of the island get on with the games. After the race, one of them challenges Odysseus: "Won't you try your hand at our contests?" Odysseus can't be bothered, he is just pining for home. The young man mocks him in return, "Oh, you're not a real man, just some profiteer stranded on the seas." At that, Odysseus hits right back, "you're a reckless fool ... the gods don't hand out all their gifts at once, not build and brains and flowing speech to all." In other words, you might have good looks but you're dumb as a post. After trading taunt for taunt, Odysseus picks up the heaviest discus and throws it further than all the rest. Odysseus laughs, then enjoys telling the crowd that he'll take on challengers in any contest except for the running, since 20 days at sea took the spring from his step.

I find this passage to be quite interesting. Odysseus was content to quietly sit out the games and only participated in response to an insult. When he does so, though, he does far better than if he had played with a different motivation. Homer is getting at something there.

First the section on games shows the athletic and competitive side of Scorpio. Let's not forget its a sign of Mars, and both Aries and Scorpio need some physical activity to express warrior energy. There is the back and forth of insults, but in the end the result is positive. The essence of Scorpio is this vigorous action in response. Sometimes this can be revenge and vindication after a slight, but on the positive side can be creative competition.

The symbol of the scorpion also makes this clear. The stinger is rarely used in an offensive attack (except when hunting for dinner), but in self-defense and counter-attack. The stinger literally comes 'at the end,' just like Odysseus heaves the discus only after provocation.

Think of an athlete who does much better training with a partner, not just because of the company and encouragement but because the partner stimulates the competitive spirit. This pushes the athlete to do better than he would otherwise. This is exactly what we see with Odysseus in this chapter, and people with Scorpio charts and everyone in Scorpio times like now can strive to create positive competitions such as this.

Next week we'll see how Homer writes in a tale of sexual intrigue, obsession and jealousy all continuing in Scorpio chapter 8!

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Sun * in Scorpio. Sun in a water sign puts our orientation on deep feelings and the power dynamics inherent in relationships. Whatever we want, we go for with more force; yet Scorpio knows not to play the first hand. Good for deep emotional work, yet easy to get stuck on feelings too. The best of Scorpio is creation through competition.

Moon * Moving towards full in Taurus on Sunday 11/5.

Monday 10/30 * Moon in Aquarius, Mercury conjunct Jupiter. Mercury is retrograde, so avoid temptation to splurge on that new computer or most else for that matter. On the positive side, we recall teachers from our past, former positive plans and abundance mind. With Jupiter finally past a many-month square to Saturn, we remember - oh yes, abundance!

Tuesday 10/31 * Moon in Pisces. With Sun and Moon both in water signs, expect a lot of feelings - if costuming isn't your thing then maybe a hot bath.

Wednesday 11/1 * Moon in Pisces, Mercury square Saturn 7:45 am, Venus trine Uranus 7:30 pm. These two aspects couldn't be further apart in tone. Mercury aspecting Saturn in the morning (and affecting Tuesday as well) makes our minds feel blocked, heavy, strained by pressures and tasks; and as this thankfully fades Venus trine Uranus shakes us loose with new possibilities, especially in love. If you've had a mind to contact an old friend or lover, with Mercury Rx now's one chance.

Thursday 11/2 * Moon in Aries. Aries goes for new things, and with Sun trine Uranus early tomorrow we'll easily get out of plans and routines into uncharted waters. The best of Uranus is openness to newness in all kinds of ways; the tough part is that same openness can be rather erratic.

Friday 11/3 * Moon in Aries. Tonight isn't the best night for parties (much better tomorrow), but what we do have is dogged persistence. In whatever ways the Sun and Venus trines to Uranus has lead to new insights and desires over the last few days, now we putting ideas into real action.

Saturday 11/4 * Moon in Taurus. Moon moving towards full in Taurus, sign of pleasure, with Sun in Scorpio, sign of sex - though temps are getting chilly this is one of the hottest nights of the year. Art and all kinds of ephemeral yet profound experiences are also a special highlight.

Sunday 11/5 * Full Moon in Taurus before sunrise. With ruler Venus in Scorpio, our way to Taurus safety may be more time in bed. As Homer makes clear (I'll write about this section next week), sexual intrigues and three-way situations come naturally to Scorpio!

Have a stellar week!

Peace and love,
Jonathan Pearl

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Wandering Stars - the planets

Mercury * in Scorpio. Mercury in Scorpio is a deeply penetrating mind. Whatever truth needs uncovering, whatever force of intellect we need to power through, Mercury in Scorpio can do it. Mercury in Scorpio is also very good for talk therapy.

*** Mercury Rx alert 10/28 - 11/17 ***

Venus * in Scorpio. The lover in Scorpio is attracted to deep intimacy, emotional honesty, loves a kind of healthy competition in relationships, and, yes, sex and more sex. The traps: jealous obsessions and upsetting 3rd parties in love. Venus in Scorpio from October 24 to November 17.

Mars * in Scorpio. Why is Mars the ruler of Scorpio? Because to get to the bottom of things, to deal with deepest emotions, to face the whole of life, all of these take courage. When you need guts warrior Mars is who you want to show up. Mars in Scorpio on the better side gives tremendous potency and staying power to all the Scorpio drives; yet on a bad day can mean entrenched battles in relationships, love obsessions that take over life, and being unyielding in our interactions which can easily cause trouble. Mars in Scorpio from October 23 to December 5.

Jupiter * in Scorpio. Now finally past the many month square to Saturn, so we get the positive side of Scorpio at last. 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. Developments in some long term structures in life are moving forward, but concrete Saturn moving into an opposition with destabilizing Neptune. This is a major aspect and will set the tone for everything else later this summer and on into 2007. Saturn in Leo through September 2007.

Dragon's Head * in Pisces. We advance towards peace, arts and spirituality, and partnerships are also a must. Without the sweet embrace of love, substitutes can be not just an occasional indulgence but a routine.

Dragon's Tail * in Virgo. As placements go, this is a bit tough. The Dragon's Tail is like the tai-chi master doing quiet movements but little else. How does this function in the sign of accomplishment through detail & perfection? We let go of ways we are unnecessarily restrictive. Hard work is a virtue, but unless guided by a Pisces wholeness will never bring us true peace.

* * * MAY ALL BE AUSPICIOUS * * *