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 she reports regularly on her findings there.

Cosmic Café Part One:
A Mysterious Invitation

I parked, and glanced at my invitation to meet the owners of the Cosmic Cafe, wondering again why I had received it. The windows of this new place on the corner of Stellar Avenue and Universal Drive glowed with colorful neon. The entire solar system had been recreated, each planet done up just right for its astrological “personality.”

The Moon in her full stage shone silver opposite the Sun, a brilliant gold orb. Mars, of course, was bright red—as was that famous spot on huge, striped Jupiter. The lovely lavender orb between tiny Mercury and the unmistakable Earth was certainly the lady Venus, and Saturn’s thin silver rings wound tightly around his body. Neptune’s soft pink personality dramatically contrasted with small but potent Pluto, a thin silver outline at the very edge of the window. They were all there. I took a moment to stand and enjoy it, and then I ventured in.

It was early evening, just barely dark. Much too early for anyone to be out having a drink, unless he or she had absolutely no respect for the hour—or was totally excessive. A large, cheerful voice answered my thoughts as the door closed behind me.

Uncle Jupiter

“Hey, it’s midnight in Switzerland, ain’t it?” I recognized the owner immediately as my own dear uncle—Jupiter, the King of the Gods—standing before me in all his rather hefty (and totally excessive) glory.

He was shaped like Pavarotti, but his voice belonged to an old-time New York gangster. He shoved out a large hand wearing a gaudy diamond pinky ring. “How you doin’, honey? You got the invite, huh? Good, good. Good to see ya. What are you drinkin’?”

I smiled, and reached past his hand to hug him. He was wearing far too much aftershave, and smelled of cigars, but it was my own Uncle Jupiter all right, the most generous, optimistic planet in the entire Universe. I was about to ask him why I had been “summoned” here, but he happily hugged me back—much too hard—and just about knocked the wind out of me. Before I had a chance to say anything, he escorted me to the bar.

“I’m glad you found us,” he said, then motioned to the bartender, a lovely woman in a pink, flowing gown who smiled at him affectionately. “Here’s our reporter-lady, gorgeous. Give her anything she wants—and don’t ever take her money, either—it’s no good here.”

Is it a dream or is it Neptune?

“Oh, I’m so glad you’ve come,” she said, in a voice that sounded like music. She reached across the bar and took my hand in hers, and I noticed there were tears in her eyes. I was so taken by the loveliness of her that I really couldn’t speak. She was absolutely perfect—the most beautiful creature I had ever seen. I wondered in passing if this wasn’t a dream, and then realized I was looking into the eyes of Neptune, the Goddess of sighs, nostalgia and illusions.

“Oh, but I’m forgetting myself,” she said, dabbing her eyes with the tip of her sleeve. “What can I get for you?”

I smiled into those wonderful sea-green eyes, and finally answered. “Oh, uh...a glass of white wine, I guess...Neptune.” She squeezed my hand, smiled, and her beautiful face somehow became even lovelier. “White wine it is, my dear...”

As I watched her reach and pour my wine, I thought how appropriate it was to find the Goddess of Altered States and Unselfish Service behind the bar of this amazing place. I turned to Jupiter, ready to ask why I had been “summoned” here, and found myself smiling at him instead. As he squeezed himself into the tall seat next to me, I realized what an honor I had been given by this powerful group, and decided to put my question on hold—for the moment, at least…”

To be continued.

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