StarIQ.com's Cosmic Correspondent Kim Rogers-Gallagher has been invited to the planets' secret hangout. She's the first astrologer to enter this starry domain, and reports regularly on her findings there.

Cosmic Café 52:
Saturn Lectures, and the Planets Plan to Help Each Other Out

In the silent Café, Saturn continued his lecture. "I understand that no one is in the mood to work, but I have to insist that you do. Otherwise, while I'm trying to keep things together here, you'll all be doing your best to have fun, run around the planet on vacation," he said with a meaningful glance in Venus and Mars' direction, "and, in general, enjoy life. Unfortunately, there's more to life for these humans than just playtime, friends. There's responsibility, rules and discipline. And I expect you all to keep that in mind for the next few weeks. I can't keep the humans in line alone. I need your help. So don't think for one minute you're off duty, and I'll be left here holding the bag. It's not going to work that way."

The guilt in the room was tangible. Venus folded the corners of her cocktail napkin and refused to look at Saturn. Mars made a comical face at me, and as I struggled to keep my composure—after all, I'm a Sag, too, and I've never been good at holding back my laughter—Saturn went on.

"Basically, what I'm saying is that you'll all have to tow your own weight for the duration. We've got things to finish up here, and I'll need all of you to pull together to do that." I understood perfectly what he was talking about. He was about to spend his last few days in Taurus, a fixed earth sign, which, astrologically speaking, meant that it was time to bring all projects to a close. "You, Venus, and you, Mars, and you, Mercury, you're all going to have to push the humans to do things quickly—and that goes for Jupiter, too, who, of course," he scowled, "is too busy gallivanting around the planet to make this meeting."

The Café was silent, as the planets considered his words. I wondered what this would do to Venus and Mars' plans to take off for warmer climes the following evening. "That's it for now," Saturn said. "I don't want to have to speak to you all again." He turned and left the Café, and the atmosphere once again lighted up considerably after the door closed.

"Whew!" Mercury said. "Talk about a bummer, huh?"

"I'll say," said Venus. "He doesn't care that it's my birthday. He just wants to make sure everybody's working. Well, I'm tired of working! I'm not going to lift a finger until June (which, I realized, was when she entered hard-working Taurus) and that's that! To hell with him! He should loosen up a little." She turned to Mars, "Right, babe?"

Mars nodded, then glanced at Mercury. "Hey, pal, you want to deliver a few messages for me so I can take my baby away tomorrow night?"

Mercury nodded, and pulled out a notepad. "Sure, Mars. Anything I can do. Anything." It was easy to see that since they were both in fire signs, they had an automatic knack for cooperation.

The two retired to the back of the Café and huddled over a table, Mercury taking copious notes while Mars gave orders. It was a wonderful example of how easily a trine between two planets worked. With Mars, the god of assertion, in Sag, however, I had a feeling he might be overburdening Mercury in Aries. Sag, of course, is wonderfully good at pushing the envelope. I just knew he'd be asking Mercury to do all kinds of things that really weren't necessary.

Just then, Jupiter came in, bursting through the door, slamming it behind him, and almost toppling a table on the way. "Hey, gang!" he said, "What's shakin'?"

Venus was the first to greet him. She was in a sextile to The Big Guy, and obviously delighted to see him. "You just missed ol' Whatzisname," she said, "and he wasn't smilin'."

"Thank heaven for small favors," Jupiter said, hugging her. Then he turned to me, "So how'd you get stuck in the middle of all this, honey?"

Before I could answer, Mercury skated up to Jupiter, a long, long list in his hand. "Hey, Big Guy. I've really got my hands full here. Mars wants to take Venus for a little vacation, and Saturn made us all promise to get our homework done before anybody goes anywhere. Can you help me out?"

Jupiter glanced at the list, then shrugged his huge shoulders. "Sure, little buddy. I'll take this, and I'll take care of it, too. Don't you worry. I've got the time. You get out there and handle communication."

Mercury smiled gratefully, then skated out of the Café. Jupiter spied Mercury’s plate of pasta, still sitting on the table untouched. "Hey, isn't anybody gonna eat this?" he asked, reaching for a fork. "No? Sure would be a shame to see it go to waste."

I had to laugh. If anybody wouldn't let food go to waste, it was excessive Jupiter.

"Can you really take care of that whole list?" I asked.

In between gulps, Jupiter burped loudly and said, "Sure, babe. That's what I love about being in Gemini. I can do at least ten things at once. Why? You got somethin' you need done, too?"

"No," I said, shaking my head. "Just wondering how you were going to handle it."

"I dunno," he said, "but I will. I always do." Yep, optimism—maybe even over-optimism—Jupiter's specialty.

Little did I know that I'd be playing a major part in this adventure.

Next Week: The Sun and Mercury Enter Taurus