I had an opportunity to preview a charming new film with an astrological theme called ’5 Star Day’. (Details about its release and a coupon discount at the end of this post!) A young man named Jake (Cam Gigandet) reads his horoscope on his birthday and is told that planets are lined up on his Midheaven and he’s going to have a fabulous 5 Star Day. What actually happens is definitely not a good day, by any stretch. And so, to disprove astrology he ventures back to his hometown to find other people who were born on his same birthday, same hospital, within a few minutes of each other, to find out if their day sucked too.

What a great premise! How often do we wonder about all the people born on the same day and exactly the same time in our city, or corrected for location we could look at everyone in the world born with a near identical chart. Are we all the same? Are we all losing our job on the same day, or falling in love? Statistically it can’t be possible, so how can astrology be accurate and helpful and not be reduced to the same predicted events for everyone.

As I watched 5 Star Day I wanted to reach through the screen and grab Jake to explain how it all works so he wouldn’t have to go through the cross country flight and the search that began with a door slammed in his face. But of course if I could have explained to him the nature of sun sign astrology and the way karma, fate and free will unfold we wouldn’t have had an entertaining indie comedy/romance to watch.

So, dear Jake and others who wonder, here’s the cosmic truth:

1. Sun sign astrology that you get in the newspapers and magazines is based on the Sun sign and the rising sign being the same. There is a level of validity to this approach, but it suggests general trends and influences, not like your own personal astrological reading where you have your actual rising sign degree and the current transits of planets are definitely in the right house, or area of your life. When Sun Sign astrology says planets are on your Midheaven that is really only strongly true if your Sun and Rising Sign are the same… you were born around sunrise. Planets on the Midheaven indicates energies that affect your reputation and how you are seen by the world. Normally this is positive, but not always, especially at first.

2. The influences of the planets are energetic; in fact what is happening in the sky is a symbolic picture of what is happening inside of each of us. Depending on our level of consciousness, own personal karma and the exact way these energies interact with our exact natal horoscope, these energetic influences might affect us psychologically, spiritually or emotionally — or they may indicate events we will experience so that we grow and evolve. There is no way through Sun sign astrology to predict everyone born on a certain day is going to have a great day, but we can predict the types of issues and concerns that may be triggered — a forecast of the astrological weather.

3. As they say, you generally have to break an egg to make an omelette. Often in order to experience the fabulousness of an astrological transit you first have to let go of what isn’t working in your life. And if you don’t let it go willingly, it will generally be ripped from you, like that tired old stuffed bear no one could stand to see another minute (ah the trauma!). We humans don’t like change much, even when the letting go of the bad will allow the space for our dreams and wishes to come true.

Each of the endearing characters in 5 Star Day wasn’t ready for their new and highest visions and dreams to manifest because they were hanging on to at least some aspect of their old lives. Bad jobs, terrible relationships … when we learn to transform or let go more willingly we tend not to suffer the unexpected pink slips of life. Astrology tells us when it’s time for a change; we get to choose how by our level of inner preparation and the choices we make.

It’s a matter of perspective. We usually have to get a bit of distance from the losses of our life to see how a wave of destruction swept away our shattered dreams and castles built on shifting sands — to make way for not only a 5 Star Day — but actually to create a 5 Star Life.

I love to support art that supports astrology and metaphysical topics. You can purchase this film direct from Breaking Glass Pictures by going to their website and using the promo code 5starastrology to get a $5 discount. Or you can go to iTunes and prepurchase for the February 7th release or rent the film through iTunes too!