In understanding the symbolism of a lunar eclipse, think of it this way. Because the Full Moon disappears, it's a New Moon at the exact moment of the Full Moon. It's as though a month of experience is packed into two hours of real time. In computer terms, it's a full restart of the system. That this eclipse happens at the Pagan high holiday (Sabbat) Beltane is both unusual and auspicious. Hours later, Jupiter stations to direct motion in Virgo, ending a retrograde that began January 3. And the effects of the recent Mercury retrograde are still working themselves out.

This is a chart that comes with a flashing yellow warning: slippery when wet. Neptune, the planet of fog and dreams, is an influential player. Scorpio can pump up the emotions. And the Full Moon is a bit wiggy in any event. Drive with your lights on, test your traction and take it slow on the curves. In a dream such as this, one small gesture means a lot. Tomorrow I'll be saying more about the effects and meaning of this eclipse.

Jonathan is away. Eric Francis writes your daily forecasts this week. To find out more about Eric Francis's unique blend of astrology, investigative journalism and personal narrative, you can visit his fascinating website at www.planetwaves.net.
Eric writes: We live in a time of unprecedented astronomical discovery. Did you know that there are nearly a quarter-million known bodies orbiting our Sun? So much for the 'nine planets'! As some readers may know, I've made a speciality of investigating small worlds. Some have names; some are called odd things like 1992 QB1. Today's forecasts look at the Scorpio total lunar eclipse, factoring in the symbolism of some of the smaller worlds. As the Daily Mirror was the first mainstream English publication to feature an article on Chiron (by me, last autumn during the Harmonic Concordance), I'm going to name as many names as possible. My hope is not to break tradition but rather to enrich it, and lure you into the awesome world of the asteroids, centaur planets and the worlds beyond Pluto. Whereas the major planets paint in broad strokes and commonly seen colours, the minor planets fill in the details, make intricate rhythms and sing harmony in the chorus of life.

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Eric writes: The Mars Effect
"There is no dark side of the moon really, matter of fact it's all dark." from Eclipse by Pink Floyd (Dark Side Of the Moon)

It will take some time for the muck to settle after last night's total lunar eclipse shook things up so effectively. Such intense activity in Scorpio dredges up everything people don't want to see, feel or think about. But Scorpio is also famous for saying you don't have a choice in the matter. As challenging as life may be, and as elusive as 'truth' may seem, planetary factors are developing fast and furious over the next three days and the situation, whatever situation, will be developing rapidly and with surprising turns. This is because Mars, the planet of energy, aggression and passion (and first ruling planet of Scorpio) is back in the news.

Much of the game of astrology is about juggling multiple influences and commitments simultaneously. The alternative is getting caught in the storm. The other and perhaps more important part of the game is playing it cool until the weather turns in your favour. So if you happened to not be so smooth around the time Mercury stationed last Friday, and if you happened to be furiously paddling upstream around the time of last night's lunar eclipse, it's not too late to set things right.

The moral? Less is better. Stay off the brakes; stay off the gas pedal. When Mars changes signs on Friday, it does so with gusto, plunging into the sensitive water sign of Cancer. Hot, fiery Mars used to have oceans. It has a strong attraction for water. This will cool off the action, ground us in the emotions, and slow down the intense mental activity of the past two months (and in particular a hot two weeks) of Mars in Gemini. Await this event before making major commitments or changing course suddenly. Mars has an agenda of its own. Cancer is a peculiar sign. It is at once the sign of emotions and human warmth and nurturing. And it's the sign of the mass public, affecting millions of souls. To the extent that you can, pause the show. Stand back. Let events develop. There's more to the picture than meets the mind. And it's a very big picture, too. Don't get lost in the details. In fact, make some tea, and look out the window.

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Eric writes: Next month, the world will experience an extremely rare astronomical event as Venus passes between Earth and the Sun, making the equivalent of an exact eclipse. Called a 'transit', the last time this occurred was Dec. 6, 1882. No living human has witnessed this event and no astrologer has felt its effects. But history is written, and because this event is so near, future history happening. The Venus transit is the astrological trump card of the year, and perhaps a defining event of our lifetime.

Some say astrology works by the Sun projecting the energies of the planets. Now, imagine Venus, the planet of love, sex, beauty and abundance, and the planet of women, passing exactly in front of the Sun like a lens, and pouring across the Earth the concentrated rays of the Goddess. The last time this happened, we saw the spontaneous creation of the "New Woman," who demanded careers and public roles. "Frequently unmarried, often living with other women, they were associated with educational and political reform, the medical and legal professions, journalism, the arts, and literature," writes the Reader's Companion to Women's History. In the States and New Zealand, this was the era when the Suffrage movements triumphed. And it was during under the reign of Britain's longest ruling monarch, Queen Victoria; in our own times, Queen Elizabeth II is serving one of the longest reigns in British history.

Though we may not see it today, this is an historic moment for women, and there are signs of progress. In parts of the Arab world, women are raising their voices in a way never before seen under Islam. In the States, lesbians and gays are winning the right to wed, a right from which men are benefiting as well. While the UK seems stuck at the moment as far as women's rights are concerned, we need to watch for developments.

This transit will get results that may reach far beyond what we commonly think of as social issues. In the world of the male right to make endless war, the Venus transit is deeply welcome news. I am seeing in the planets an omen for opening a long-overdue and rather urgently necessary sexual discussion. Venus is the planet of sex. This transit occurs in Gemini, the sign of ideas and communication. I'll take up that theme tomorrow.
SITE UPDATE: Read your weekly horoscope in Italian! Click here and don't forget to let us know what you think - Email [email protected] with subject heading: Italian horoscopes.
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Eric writes: Venus passes exactly between Earth and the Sun for the first time in more than a century on June 8, showering the world with the hot rays of the Goddess. Called a 'transit', this is an extremely rare astronomical event. What's unusual to astronomy has high impact in astrology. Looking at the front pages at the newsagent, I'm sure you'll agree we would benefit from the love and compassion that Venus can deliver. The forces of war, greed and conflict seem to be having their way with us, but there are signs the tide is turning. We can do our part to help it along. We live in a world where war is considered good and sex is considered bad. It's acceptable to exploit women's bodies at the same time we ban or run from discussion of pleasure. In this environment, pleasure becomes the 'moral' issue and violence is treated with a blasé attitude.

Many people see the hypocrisy in this but few see the obvious connection between suppressing sex and spurring aggression. Set your psychic radio to Gemini, where the Venus transit arrives, and where Venus is currently slow and powerful. Gemini governs language, communication and ideas. It's also the sign associated with the Tarot trump card, The Lovers. I propose a sexual revolution beginning with honest discussion of sex. Every revolution begins with words, and the new sexual revolution will begin when we can speak to one another about sex and pleasure in straight talk. Most of us lack the words to describe how we feel about erotic desires, much less the courage to ask for what we need. And most relationships are based as much on what is not said as they are on what is spoken openly.

I'm an advocate of sexual literacy. I suggest you go directly to the bookshop and begin your arduous homework. Reading about sex reminds us that sex is normal, and it really makes discussion easier. More than we need to stop lying about sex, we need to simply say what's on our minds. We need to be able to speak openly with friends, with lovers and, most important, with our kids. The world still has a policy of lying to children about sex, and it's a mean thing we do. Usually it happens because adults feel too insecure to speak to truthfully to their own children. Let's get over it! The stunning performance of Venus in Gemini will reward our honesty delightfully.
SITE UPDATE: Read your weekly horoscope in Italian! Click here and don't forget to let us know what you think - Email [email protected] with subject heading: Italian horoscopes.
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Meanwhile, here's the living legend, JOHN MICHELL, with the latest instalment of his fascinating series." Click here to read Creative Geometry: the twelve, the seven and the five.