Friday May 3rd 2002 - edited by Bernard Fitzwalter This week in Astro News: ~ Planet News ~ ~ AstroDiary ~ ~ Astrology & Fertility - Can you help with some research? ~ Planet News Mars and Saturn meet this weekend, setting off the final moves in whatever still has to happen between Saturn and Pluto, various unfinished business which has been bothering us all since last year. It won't be easy, but it has to be done, and we'll feel better afterwards. If you want to see them, look to where the sun went down, at about 9.30pm. You should see clear bright Venus. To its left, rather dimmer, are pinky-red Mars and steely-grey Saturn. Seeing all three together shows just how concentrated their energies are – but ironically, it also shows that things many not be so painful. Venus is by far the brightest, and her closeness to the others shows that her beneficial influence is very much in the mix. No matter what Mars and Saturn come up with, Venus will sweeten it. On Tuesday, Venus and Saturn are at their closest – this combination always produces something of lasting value. Perhaps not exactly what you hoped for – a consolation prize rather than the prime trophy. It's there to show us that good is to be found in everything, and its presence now is a sign that all will turn out well in the end. So, if Mars and Saturn are the surgery necessary to cure our problems, then Venus is the anaesthetic, the get-well wishes, and the friendly nurses who make the process bearable. AstroDiary Sunday, May 5: Exeter Astrology Group, Out Of Bounds Planets with Charlie Linton, Friends' Meeting House, Magdalen St, Exeter, 2.30pm, £2. May 13: Astrological Lodge of London (50 Gloucester Place, W1), 7pm, Music of the Spheres with Chris Korycinski; at 8.20pm, Members' class: Astronomy for Astrologers with Nick Kollerstrom. £5 (members £3). Please double-check with the organisation before attending any events listed here - we cannot accept any responsibility for events changed/cancelled. Are you holding an astrological event - especially one outside London!! - that you would like others to know about? Write to jon@cainer.com with subject heading: Astro Events with website links. Please note - we cannot promise to include ALL submissions but will do our best. Research into Astrology and Infertility by Pat Harris, MSc., D.F.Astrol.S. I would like to thank everyone who has responded to my earlier notices on Jonathan's website and who volunteered to take part in the research that I am conducting as part of my PhD in astrology and health psychology at Southampton University, UK. I now have quite a number of people taking part which will help me in conducting my study into factors that may or may not correlate with fertility treatment outcome. I should have a progress report out soon. However, I am still looking for women who are currently pregnant - not necessarily as a result of fertility treatment - and who would like to contact me about details of my research to see if they would like to take part. My email address is: pharris@interalpha.co.uk New Service is Top for the Charts The Astrological Association of Great Britain is proud to announce that you can now speak LIVE to an expert astrologer. For an instant in-depth telephone consultation about your full horoscope call 0845 120 1416 or +44 207 436 9101 (a confidential 30-minute reading costs £29.50, payable by credit card. Or cheque/postal order from UK.) Lines are open 9am-9pm GMT, Monday to Friday. A few weeks ago, the Astrological Association of Great Britain launched this new, live fixed-fee, telephone chart reading service. It has since proved big hit with callers from all over the world. AA President Roy Gillett told Astro News: "I am delighted with the warm response that we have had. Once, if you wanted a reading of your full birth chart, you would have to struggle to find a genuine, reputable astrologer. Then, you would have had to make an appointment and travel miles. Now, at last, there's a quick and easy way to get your questions answered by a real expert - from the comfort of your own home." Mirror reader Julie Roberts from Rochester was equally enthusiastic. "I rang last Tuesday and spoke to an astrologer called Maria. Within moments, she was telling me details about my childhood that she could not possibly have known... then she said some fascinating things about my future. If you missed any of Friday's Astronews articles, click on the Archive Thought for the Day link in the left hand frame.