Author Archives: Eric Francis Coppolino

About Eric Francis Coppolino

Lives in Kingston, friend of critters, etc.

Investigation with No Published Results: Tchiya Amet, on her Experience of Neil deGrasse Tyson

Use this link if you’re listening on an iOS or mobile device. Download MP3.

Dear Friend and Listener:

Tonight’s program is mostly devoted to an interview, with a woman named Tchiya Amet. Back in 1984, she was friends with Neil deGrasse Tyson in graduate school at the University of Texas at Austin.

I begin with an astrology introduction, which looks at the Sun’s passage through the Saturn-Pluto conjunction, and through the Pluto-Eris square, peaking between Wednesday and Sunday (in full force and effect now). Then I move on to the interview, which is played without interruption or editing.

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april7-2019

Sun Passes Through Pluto-Eris Square

We are now in a new era of astrology: the Pluto-Eris square. Maybe you’ve been following along. There was the Uranus-Pluto series of squares in the 2011-2012 era; there was the Uranus-Eris conjunction of 2016-2017; and now, the torch has been passed to Pluto square Eris — the rarest of all of these combinations.

And while this is happening, we are experiencing the Saturn-Pluto conjunction, the first 2020 aspect that will be exact on Jan. 12, 2020 — and which is working at close to full force right now. Note, I cover these events succinctly in the first half hour of tonight’s Planet Waves FM.

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An Unsealed Letter

Dear Friend and Reader:

You know things are weird when a top story in the news is how long a report might be. Not how long it is; how long it might be. Not what’s in the report. Not what is missing. Rather, the potential page count. This game of charades has been going on through a most unusual Mercury direct event, with the smallest, fastest planet forming a weeks-long conjunction to Neptune, the planet of deception and delusion.

Robert S. Mueller III. Photo via PBS.

This is a truly unusual pattern — and it’s the one we have surrounding the question, “Did Trump or anyone on his campaign conspire with the Russians to steal the 2016 election?” There is another question: “Is Trump a Russian asset?”

What perfect questions to ask with Mercury lingering around Neptune for weeks on end: a real cliffhanger. A special kind of Nancy Drew mystery.

That Mueller dropped the report right before Mercury direct is interesting, even exciting. I’ve noticed that the station direct has a signature of “the truth comes out.”

However, Mercury-Neptune contacts of this intensity — in a chart of an event — can also have the distinct message that someone is lying their ass off. These days, there are lots of lies to go around, and they are usually exposed, so the two concepts are compatible. This is, however, a rather tricksterish conjunction, and it’s likely that it will take some time for the truth not only to emerge but also to come into focus.

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Monday Morning Horoscope #169 for March 25, 2019

Aries

Aries (March 20-April 19) — You are making your mind up about something, though you may not know what it is yet. This is a deep and somewhat mysterious process that is difficult to name, though the decision may involve your commitment to a healing process that you’ve been concerned about for some time. It’s one of those lurking things that are difficult to get underneath, though you’re in a moment when you can do that. What seemed perfectly cryptic and intangible can emerge in a form that is tangible and understandable. This will not last forever; it’s a kind of temporary awakening that you can both access and use to make adjustments to your state of mind and your life patterns. It’s as if a portal into your deeper dimensions is opening up, and you have a rare opportunity to do inner work — and to make contact with a level of your being that’s evasive and elusive most of the time. Your timeframe is about 10 days. Your mission is to focus your awareness inwardly during that time. Do not concern yourself with results, only with where you direct your attention. Get your full Aries reading by Eric here.

Taurus

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — Pay careful attention when you’re out of the house in social situations. This also applies to any online or public presence that you have. Be sure to sniff the air, listen to the wind and check the tide chart before you go too far or do too much. Notice those little flags flying at the end of the dock — the ones that warn you about gale and gusts. And keep checking, because conditions are likely to change unexpectedly. Pay attention as well to the human environments that surround you, and take the temperature of where people are coming from, and notice if you want to take your jacket off or put it on when you’re around someone. You can’t really believe anything you hear outside of your own home, but you will pick up on some interesting scenarios, a few ridiculous claims and some significant wisdom mingled in among it. The thing you can do is follow your curiosity to some deep places, like the mermaid or merman that you are. This will be great fun as long as you don’t commit to anything in particular being true. Rather, listen and consider. Get your full Taurus reading by Eric here.

Gemini

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — Your life continues to be a study in what you dream of, as contrasted to what you think is possible. In one direction things seem boundless, and in another, hemmed in. It’s vital that you pay attention to certain bottom-line elements of life, but even more important that you consider your ideals and your dreams. This is more than about balance. It’s about transcending your limitations. For that to work, you have to know what your limits are, or what you think they are. This is actually the line of demarcation of what you think is possible. As you gradually adjust (or suddenly revise) your ideas about what can be achieved, those seeming limits will appear to move, open or seem to be an illusion of the past. This may lead you to the question: what exactly stands between you and others? Is it something real, or is it some figment of your thoughts or beliefs? And if the latter, what purpose do they serve? It will help if you know your primary purpose for being in any relationship. You have one, whatever it is; and that is the angle to explore with that person, first. Get your full Gemini reading by Eric here.

Cancer

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — There are two unusually strong forces working in your life right now: one is a calling to focus your spiritual development, which really means your inner awareness; and the other one is to be out in the world, taking responsibility for your existence and achieving some of the great things you know you’re capable of. Everyone should be so fortunate to have these working at the same time, because they are the perfect complement to one another. The drive to build, or to change the world in any way, dearly needs to be informed by deeper layers of ethics and conscience, the ones that come right from your inner creative source. Spirit and wisdom need means of expression, and modes of action. I suggest you err on the side of telling more of your deeper truth rather than less. Don’t be so quick to filter out what you want and need to say. Creative leadership requires taking creative risks. So does being an artist, whose primary commitment is to stay awake and connected to your senses and to the world around you. Get your full Cancer reading by Eric here.

Leo

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — Every moment, you’re making the choice about how to live. You affirm your life plan with every word, every idea, every contact with another person. Your relationships are reborn every moment. You influence your experience through your presence: physical and verbal; sensory and emotional — all forms of engagement count, particularly under the current astrology. Slow down and take the time to be with people you care about. Make sure you have plenty of one-on-one time with those closest to you, and invest the energy necessary to listen deeply. You will find true freedom in doing so, and a new depth of mutual understanding. This is likely to change and evolve over the next two weeks; it’s not the kind of thing you can hold in your hand or keep in a jar, nor do you want to. The unpredictable and genuinely mysterious quality of the astrology during this time is a necessary element in the creative process — the great art studio known as your life. Get your full Leo reading by Eric here.

Virgo

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — There are aspects that say, “a significant meeting is on the horizon,” and you’re in one of them now: Mercury turning to direct motion in your 7th house of relationships, in Pisces, conjunct Neptune. Yet such a Mercury-Neptune contact also describes a mysterious and potentially invisible process. The best way to handle this is to think of it not in terms of what stands out within your environment, but rather, what is going on in the background. That means away from view, off to the side, behind the scenes — or generally, everywhere. Treat every encounter as meaningful enough to pay attention to. Notice how you feel around anyone you may meet. You’re likely to be picking up subtle vibes and sensory perceptions that will be easy enough to ignore, particularly if you get lost in someone’s charm or charisma. So keep your focus and remember who you are at all times. If you find yourself making an effort to stay above the surface of the water, keep going. But you don’t need to exert too much effort. Listen to your senses and maintain a dialog. Listen to what you hear, and to what you say. Get your full Virgo reading by Eric here.

Libra

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — You may be initiating or influencing events in ways you don’t understand, and far beyond your perception. Imagine that your words, your actions and your thoughts ripple through existence, affecting people far from you, many of whom you do not know. While that’s happening, someone appears to be throwing you a curve, compelling or demanding your attention. Don’t be so fast to respond to anything that may seem hot and heavy. Rather, invest a few days in allowing the facts to come out, giving yourself time to think, and getting a better idea of what’s really on the minds of people you’re invested in or working with. They have problems and situations you may not be aware of, and may not understand. Keep some perspective and some distance there, enough not to make those problems your own in any way. You will find yourself in a position to be supportive, though you must take care of yourself first. Amidst many other intriguing developments, Venus enters the health and wellbeing angle of your solar chart on Tuesday, and Mercury is about to station direct. Focus on yourself for a while — enough to make a difference. Get your full Libra reading by Eric here.

Scorpio

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — Many people wonder if the whole sex thing is worth it, but you don’t wonder for long. Now is the time to immerse rather than to avoid, which does not need to involve anyone but yourself. It can, of course, and it may well. The new pattern that has taken shape in your solar chart is about unexpected developments, people arriving or departing without notice, and you being in a position to respond or react. And with many truly unusual events in Pisces, your solar 5th house of playful, creative and erotic experiences, this has rarely been more exciting. One issue is that many people have made up their mind about sex, or feel betrayed or let down by it — and would rather not get hurt again. If that is true for you, there’s a backstory; there may be lingering events and experiences that need attention. Now is the time to devote yourself to that. If you suddenly find yourself having more space in your life, use it well and wisely. Remember that however you get there, healing means a return to trust, pleasure and sharing. Get your full Scorpio reading by Eric here.

Sagittarius

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — Be careful not to let the seeming exigencies and urgencies of others sway your judgment, or tug at your emotional strings. You have your priorities, and you must think in terms of your bottom line. This is not your usual way of being; you’re more often reluctant to translate anything into dollars and cents, preferring other forms of worth or value. Yet this is not really a matter of money. The numbers point to values, to willingness, to honesty, and to the truth. So stick to your number, and don’t be so fast to state out loud what it is. Rather, let the discussion flow out in your direction; size up carefully what others are saying and what they are thinking. Be aware it could take you days to actually come around to what that is, so for this reason I recommend delay, delay, delay, while you observe, observe, observe. Think with the part of your mind that does not chatter, which may mean not thinking at all, so much as you can make that so. Dig in the dirt or play a drum. Get your full Sagittarius reading by Eric here.

Capricorn

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — You may have experienced some shock to your foundation or security base recently. But you must take it in stride and keep one foot swinging in front of the other, until you either get away from something you don’t like, or work your way toward something that you do. Life is full of surprises these days, and you probably have a few more to come. However, I suggest strongly that you not hang yourself up in hope. Sold as the most fantastic product in the world, it’s an inert substance. Rather, learn from what you observe. Notice what is really a thing of the past, and what is a present concern. That’s something that must be evaluated carefully, especially during these confused days. Mercury still moving retrograde for a few more days is a caution that you might be thinking too much in terms of the past and not enough about what is a present and active concern, potential or opportunity. In fact you may be thinking too much, when music would be a far more nourishing environment. You will feel less suspicious in a week. Get your full Capricorn reading by Eric here.

Aquarius

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — You may not be fully set in your agenda, but you have a good idea what you want and what you want (and need) to do. It’s just a matter of that information settling into the water in your soul, and letting it mix and mingle there for a while. You also appear to be processing some karma from the distant past, whether it’s family baggage or stuff you have in a storage locker. If it’s on the emotional level, be aware that it may have nothing to do with this lifetime or your generation. If you determine that you’re addressing something from the distant past, make sure you respond appropriately and treat it as such. There are times when you must look at a situation and take care of it directly. There are other times when it is fair to size something up carefully, and hand it back to whomever it belongs to. Do not assume that everything you’re confronted with is your responsibility to resolve. Make a conscious choice in the matter. Then take ownership of what is yours, and fully engage your plans. Get your full Aquarius reading by Eric here.

Pisces

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — You can trust what happens this week, even if you don’t think you can right now. Yes, there is an unpredictable energy in the sea around you, and the ocean is nothing to be taken for granted. Yet it is your home and your environment. It’s where you were born and where you live. Others around you may not be so adept at so much Pisces in the sky right now, as Mercury aligns with Neptune over the next week. Yet it represents a role reversal, and the potential for deep bonding with someone you value or want to be close to. Venus enters your sign on March 26, and is providing reassurance that you can trust your feelings and the flow of events. Take this process one moment at a time, rather than projecting into the future, or lingering around in the past. Stay right where you are, make eye contact, make voice contact, listen and share. This does not look like a situation where you go to someone, or pursue them in any way. It’s more about someone or something coming to you. This is also helpful astrology if you have any bonds or ties that you want to dissolve, even if this has proven challenging in the past. Get your full Pisces reading by Eric here.

march24-2019

How to Breathe Under Water

We’re about to experience one of the most unusual Mercury stations in a generation. On Thursday, Mercury turns to direct motion in an exact conjunction to Neptune. This takes place in Pisces; that is Mercury churning through a lot of water.

march24-2019

Chart for this week’s Monday Morning horoscope, depicting Mercury stationing direct in Pisces. Full-size image at this link.

The conjunction of Mercury and Neptune has been going on for many days, and will continue well into April. It is a defining feature of our moment along the river of night, and it seems to be asking more questions than it is providing answers.

This is difficult in a time when so many people are expressing a desire for resolution and to move on. But it’s been satisfaction with false answers and moving on from responsibilities that have led us to where we are today.

Many others spend their lives waiting for a moment that never arrives. There have to be alternatives to these approaches.

Neptune and Pisces tend to drop to the background; in the foreground we’ve been experiencing a dramatic conjunction of the Sun and Chiron in Aries, bringing in many other influences from the cardinal signs. I covered this in detail last week and the prior week.

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Monday Morning Horoscope #168 for March 18, 2019

Aries

Aries (March 20-April 19) — There’s something you don’t know, and you need to figure out what it is. The chances are, you’re looking right at it. There are a number of reasons that the situation might disguise itself or fade into the background where you may not notice it. For example, the implications of making a discovery might include something that you don’t want to know about or deal with, or the potential for such. However, that’s not really an option. By the time the Sun reaches your sign on the 20th, a veil will come up and you’ll see everything you were ‘missing’ previously. Before you get there, you might want to map out the territory, based on what you know or what you think might be true, founded on some evidence or data. Once the Sun enters your sign, events are likely to feel compressed and like there is no room for you to think or make rational decisions. Soon after, Mercury begins to go direct, and that will add to any confusion. So focus your mind and do your homework early. Get your full Aries reading by Eric here.

Taurus

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — You have some bold ideas, though it would be wise of you to present them as ordinary ones. Rather than hype innovation, demonstrate that you have a grasp on the fundamentals. Show you understand where any partners, colleagues or collaborators are coming from, and do not run ahead of them. It’s your job to learn and speak their language, not the other way around. This is an important adaptation with Uranus in your sign, and it will be helpful to you and others if you honor it. You may think you know more than you know; you may think an idea is better than it is. One measure of your knowledge is your ability to explain yourself to someone with little to none, and not skip relevant steps. One measure of assessing the quality of an idea is whether it solves practical problems, even just one. The “practicality test” will be your best friend. And especially during the forthcoming Mercury station, try to avoid solving problems that don’t exist. Get your full Taurus reading by Eric here.

Gemini

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — We’re still over a week away from Mercury stationing direct, though this is one you’re going to need to plan for. Mercury, a planet that (in the microcosm of astrology) signifies you, will be conjunct Neptune for 10 days, from late March into early April. I suggest that you take special precautions beginning now, particularly as you guide your professional activities. This is the time to apply all the most basic rules of Mercury retrograde, in a similar way that competent air or sea pilots follow stringent guidelines. Those include avoiding making any new commitments, signing contracts or making major purchases. There could be tempting opportunities. People may make offers or promises that seem enticing or too good to be true. You might be inclined to do the same. Under this astrology, it’s a near certainty that your plans will work out differently from what you intended, so making as few plans as possible will be helpful. But don’t just get blown around by the wind; pick a destination or modest goal and keep your focus. Get your full Gemini reading by Eric here.

Cancer

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — This week, the Sun moves into Aries (well, the Earth moves, but the Sun looks like it does). For you, that means visibility, and it means aspiration. However, to these ends (if you’re interested), I suggest you do less rather than more. Your astrology has considerable momentum, and the thing you need to do is keep your rudder in the water, and pay attention to conditions in the environment. There are times to take an offensive posture, meaning to go for it, and times to take a defensive posture, which means to be responsive. Now is the time to slow down and observe. You have most of the information you need to navigate through these waters, and being born under a water sign will help. What you need to get accustomed to is the principle of magnification: that the combination of the Sun, Chiron and other factors joining forces in Aries raises your profile considerably. Remember that, even if you think you’re laying low. It would be wise to make an extra investment in whatever you consider the spiritual aspects of your life through this time. Get your full Cancer reading by Eric here.

Leo

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — Two things are going on at the moment. One is that the Sun is about to enter your fellow fire sign Aries, and make a whole bunch of aspects to planets in Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn. While that is happening, Mercury will be making the most unusual station direct that I’ve ever seen, forming an approximately two-week conjunction to Neptune. All of this cautions against thinking you know anything much for certain. You are about to learn a lot; some will be from seemingly inner sources, and some will be from seemingly outer sources. Yet as it turns out, all knowledge and learning ultimately comes from within you, and that is the place to focus. Here’s one image I suggest you remember, as the Sun seems to make a lot of aspects: the Sun is in the center, and everything in our solar system is moving around it. This places you in a central position, and if you remember that, you will have considerable influence over your affairs. Keep your perspective, listen to the music, and watch everyone dance around you. Remember to tap your feet. Get your full Leo reading by Eric here.

Virgo

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — Remember that you’re in new territory on a number of different fronts. Be aware of the extent to which you strive to find yourself in others, through intimate relationships. If you can be aware of that, you can move through the territory of intimacy without getting lost in the other. However, since your ruling planet Mercury makes a two-week conjunction to Neptune (the potential for confusion galore), in your house of relationships, you will need to pay attention. You would be wise to get alcohol entirely out of your intimate life, if it has a role. Under this influence, you will be a different person on a single glass of wine. This could distort your perceptions, intensify your emotional reactions, or get you to say things you don’t mean. Other substances could have a similar effect, and the insidious part is you might not notice until you’re already being carried by the current. I suggest you be real with yourself that your relationships are about you. My mantra for that is, “It’s not about him/her/them, it’s about me.” Get your full Virgo reading by Eric here.

Libra

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — This could be one of those times when everything suddenly comes out in the wash, catches up with you or seems to come unraveled. You can avoid that by staying ahead of your truth, by which I mean backing off from that oh-so-modern kind of denial that seems necessary at our time in history. It’s usually the first two minutes of a sensitive topic that are difficult to talk about, if you don’t count the days, weeks, months or years leading up to them. Chiron and other factors in your opposite sign Aries make it inevitable that your most intimate relationships are reorienting. That suggests strongly that you need a point of orientation within yourself. You remember what this is: the many times you’ve come back to yourself, back to your inner sanctuary (which has always proven to be easier between relationships rather than during them). I suggest that you focus your inner orientation on two qualities: one, how you feel every day, and two, what you make every day. Notice how you feel; notice what you make; note the connections. Get your full Libra reading by Eric here.

Scorpio

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — You seem to be taking the long way around “figuring something out” when really, the whole matter is one of desire. What do you want? What does someone else close to you want? Who wants whom? How do you know? Imagine that’s the whole issue right there, spelled out. Who wants what? If you can admit that, you have some power. If you don’t, you have none. You want other people to be upfront about this as well, so encourage them. Use your influence to get everyone around you to make affirmative statements of their desire. I know that in some quarters and in some sub-cultures this might be like throwing a bomb, however, political correctness never saved a life. The person to focus on the most assertively is yourself: detect and evaporate any trace of denial you find in yourself. Forget trying to impress anyone with your purity; the notion that you are pure is laughable, and it’s not what you want to be. You want to be a blood-sweat-and-tears human. Get your full Scorpio reading by Eric here.

Sagittarius

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — You can take a cautious approach, or a creative approach. Taking a creative approach usually means trying something you have not done before, which will carry you into some new and unfamiliar experiences. In theory, this is what you want, though it would seem you’re hesitating in some way. It’s likely to involve what you believe a relationship partner would think about you if you exceeded your own expectations, or even chose to shake up your personal world. However, this has nothing special to do with a partner; rather, it’s your own inner trip, dressed in the garb of a relationship. Said another way, what you’re really needing to address are your own ideas, which will come in the form of ideas that you think other people have about you. This is a little like a mode of dream analysis, where you recognize every facet of the dream (including inanimate objects) as an aspect of your voice. What you think people think is what you’re thinking. Get your full Sagittarius reading by Eric here.

Capricorn

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — The primary exercise of your life in these years is about developing clarity of thought. You have this in one sense of the word: you tend to think you know when something is true. Yet this is different from clarity, which is the ability to see a question or situation from several different viewpoints, and then identifying the specific distinctions. Be mindful if you find yourself certain that something is true — whatever it might be, whether deeply personal, something about the world, or an idea you’re developing. Learning how to be circumspect takes training and practice. It requires the cultivation of thought habits. For example, once you’ve identified a problem and solved it, start over and do that a second time, using a different approach. The positively urgent thing I suggest you do in the coming few weeks is make sure you leave detailed notes in the margin. Leave your arithmetic where you can see it, so that you can observe how you came to any given conclusion or certainty. Get your full Capricorn reading by Eric here.

Aquarius

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — This week, Venus in your sign forms a square to Mars in Taurus. This aspect presents a question: what do you want to express? Have you got something you need to get out of your system, to say, to do, or otherwise communicate? First, though, check inwardly for any motive involving anger, jealousy, guilt or fear. If you detect that’s what’s driving you, address that first. Address partly means understand, and mostly means finding an outlet for your energy that’s healthy and that won’t hurt anyone. If you’re inspired by some other impulse — love, creativity, curiosity, or friendly lust, to name a few — get some of that going. In our world, it’s usually more acceptable to stick to the rage/frustration side of the spectrum. All that pretty stuff on the love/creativity side of things tends to be fragile, not just in ‘the world’ but in consciousness. I know you have a lot on your mind, and you’re doing a good job keeping a positive attitude. Make sure you do some of what you’re really into. Get your full Aquarius reading by Eric here.

Pisces

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — One of the most unusual Mercury-goes-direct moments I’ve ever seen is now in progress, and is taking place in your sign. You’re probably aware Neptune is gradually making its way across Pisces — a gas giant that at times orbits more slowly than Pluto. Now Mercury, the fastest of all the planets, is moving retrograde into a conjunction with Neptune, and then stations direct on March 28. (I’ve detailed this in the article above.) The result is that a planet associated with your sign, and sometimes with you, will be in a long conjunction with the planet (Mercury) that rules your opposite sign, Virgo. This represents a point of contact — a dialog, a meeting, a revelation that unfolds slowly. It represents a transformation for you and possibly for a relationship, though you will need to pay attention. That means two things: making sure you and people close to you understand one another; and that you keep track of your money. You are in ‘don’t sign/don’t buy’ territory to the max. Get your full Pisces reading by Eric here.

Monday Morning Horoscope #167 for March 11, 2019

Aries

Aries (March 20-April 19) — You may feel like you have to take everything as slowly and as carefully as if you’re walking through a minefield. Actually your situation is not nearly so dangerous, and you have a considerable margin of safety — if you make sure to filter out anger as a motive for action. Anything else will do: desire, love, ambition, or altruism. Just not anger, which is likely to be false; that is, incorrect and/or based on something that is not true. A boatload of activity in your neighboring sign Pisces is taking place in a kind of blind spot, and you can assume there are some elements of your situation that you are not aware of. Be mindful of that, but also trust yourself to make the right decisions, especially if you make a conscious effort to take the needs and priorities of others into account. If anyone disagrees with you, see if you can turn their opinion into usable information or a helpful suggestion. Get your full Aries reading by Eric here.

Taurus

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — Mars and Uranus in your sign are giving you a burst of energy and excitement about life: the rare sense that something new is possible in the world. These are the two most energetic planets, and they’re inspiring you to get yourself moving. You can set aside your previous plans and do something interesting, giving preference to what you’ve never done before. I don’t know what that brings to mind for you, though with your ruling planet Venus transiting your 10th house of career and reputation, you’re in a position to co-create something helpful, with the collaboration of others. You would, however, be the one to take the lead, such as by proposing an idea for something you want to see happen. Your intuition is working well, with Mars harmoniously aligned with Neptune, and this will help any cooperative venture. Make sure beauty as well as practicality factor into your schemes. Outside of work, take the lead on making social plans. Get your full Taurus reading by Eric here.

Gemini

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — You may take an odd or circuitous route to reach your current goal. That suits you just fine, as it’s rare that you prefer to do things the normal or expected way. By taking your own path to get where you’re going, you learn more, you have more fun, and you encounter surprise developments. Let this work in various life situations, and also try it when you’re roaming around on the ground. Experiment with taking different ways of getting places. Turn off the GPS and let yourself get lost. The world at the moment is way too heavily invested in its false certainty, which does not foster creativity in any form. It’s even terrible for things like science and engineering. Therefore, allow yourself to be uncertain. When you encounter a mystery, establish a relationship with it, rather than trying to solve it. Use your imagination rather than your rational mind. Get your full Gemini reading by Eric here.

Cancer

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — You’re not a showy person by nature; you’re more private and retreating. Yet aspects this week and indeed for the foreseeable future will draw you out of your shell and into the world. You may be called upon to reveal things about yourself that you might never ordinarily express to anyone but an intimate partner. You will be doing this for two reasons: one, someone has to; and the other, you can. Of all the people you know, you can afford to be not just transparent but truly revealing. As you experiment with this, you may encounter the extent to which your friends and colleagues are verging on frantic in their need to conceal who they are, how they feel and what they want from life. This is likely to make you all the more eager to go against your own seeming nature and burst out of your bubble even if you make people squirm. They have too many secrets. You’re doing them a favor. Get your full Cancer reading by Eric here.

Leo

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — You may feel like you can conquer the world this week, and you probably can, but why work so hard? You can more effectively take on one valued goal and get it done in a beautiful way, with feeling. In recent weeks, your chart has taken on the sensation of exploration more than accomplishment. You can allow your curiosity to lead you into interesting places, rather than needing desire to drive you forward. Your ability to motivate yourself will come in handy when you discover something new that you want to do, though it does not need to be the main event. Meanwhile, there are elements of your world, intimate in their nature, that are calling for a certain delicateness of approach. These may involve arrangements or negotiations of a financial sort, the exchange of confidential information, or erotic pillow talk. Take those things gently, and proceed as if you’re moving under water, or in a zero-gravity environment. Get your full Leo reading by Eric here.

Virgo

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — You’re likely to be undergoing a review of your relationships now and for the next few weeks. This is a good thing, as looking back and evaluating personal experiences is rare enough to experience. So take the opportunity to consider what’s happened in your personal affairs, particularly going back about five years (though in some situations, much further). The central questions involve truth and veracity. Who has been real with you, and who has not? Whose word have you accepted as valid? Who demonstrated themselves worthy of your trust, and who did not? What secrets have you discovered from your distant past, and how have you been influenced by their coming to light? The information you’re seeking will come out in layers, rather than in a big burst. However, as Mercury begins to slow down again and station direct toward the end of the month, you’re likely to make an unusual discovery, and you will benefit from what is revealed. Get your full Virgo reading by Eric here.

Libra

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — You may set in motion events far beyond what you’re able to perceive. It would be wise to assume your words and actions have both impact and influence, and act accordingly. While you don’t have control, you can be aware that your intentions and impulses ripple out through the world (meaning various forms of social networks, as well as on the subtle levels), and commit to being a source of good vibes. You can also serve in the role of translator. Many people have not quite mastered the skill of saying what they mean or meaning what they say. This may be from lack of precision, lack of understanding, or intentional misrepresentation. Give people the benefit of the doubt, and when in doubt, ask them what they mean by their words. You can do so without any emotional charge at all; if you’re even meekly uncertain, or if someone’s words may be taken a few different ways, politely ask for clarification and see what comes back. Get your full Libra reading by Eric here.

Scorpio

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — If your amorous desires are off the scale of “normal,” you might consider going with the flow. The Kinsey Scale (one through seven, straight to gay) needs to go in about five more directions, such as monogamous to polyamorous, attached to not attached, not curious to very curious, and so on. Lately, your relationship patterns may be outside of what is typical for your peers: you may want things they don’t have an interest in, or be curious about taboo subjects. You may also be in a position to help another person work out what seems like a complex situation, and your ability to assist will be seeing it in some of its underlying simplicity. Remember that your main role is to hold space open, not to fix anyone. Holding space mainly means listening without judgment, and offering your support and encouragement. It’s best to minimize your personal involvement with people you’re assisting this way, though that’s not always possible. Be gentle and do what you feel is right. Get your full Scorpio reading by Eric here.

Sagittarius

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — Mercury retrograde may be making an emotional or domestic situation seem larger than it is. Try not to be reactive, and say as little as possible. Instead, let people express their views, and allow the facts to come out. Some might argue that the facts don’t matter; only their feelings matter, which may be true for them. Gradually, you may need to present one specific idea at a time, which begins to complete the picture and reveal what is going on. But you don’t want to be forceful about this, and you would be wise to let things run their course. This could take two to three more weeks, and a deeper level of reality may not begin to emerge until Mercury stations direct later this month. The most significant things you can track are your own feelings and responses, which you don’t have to share with anyone. Just know what they are; be observant of yourself and of others, and watch the river of your responses and feelings flow. Get your full Sagittarius reading by Eric here.

Capricorn

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — You’re often reluctant to express strong feelings or desires. You might not think so, though what you’re feeling on the inside does not usually match what you express on the outside. Is it worth putting all this energy into holding yourself down? Or do you prefer when others do all of the getting excited for you? Anyway, there would seem to be plenty you want to express. It might run the spectrum from sexual desire to anger; from some creative expression to wanting to go on an adventure. You’ll feel better if you get your emotions into physical form — get outside, get moving, get to the gym — though while these things will help, they won’t touch the deeper levels of your feelings. They will only get you a little closer. If you’re worried you might lose control of yourself, I suggest you skip that. You are surrounded by guardrails. You would be happier if you jumped one or two of them and went off-road for a while. Get your full Capricorn reading by Eric here.

Aquarius

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — Venus in your sign will be offering you some reassurance, even if you might be feeling nervous about your finances, or unsure of yourself. You have the personal resources to turn any situation around: the intelligence, charisma and experience to get the results you want. Do your thing and be the voice of cool, calm reason. Strive to get your results one person at a time rather than trying to convince a group of anything. Remember that you’re what people trust in any situation, rather than a product, an idea or an organization. Trust is established one to one, and it emerges first from you being in accord with yourself. So, ask yourself questions if you must, though don’t take your doubts too seriously. There are answers, swimming around down there somewhere, and they will be informative. Yet you’ll still be in the same position of trusting yourself, which extends a hand for others to trust you. Get your full Aquarius reading by Eric here.

Pisces

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Mercury is retrograde in your sign, and this is giving you an opportunity to unravel or undo a situation that is not working for you. Or rather, just let it happen. This is a better time to take a passive role than an active one. Observe slowly and carefully rather than coming to conclusions. There is plenty that you cannot see, including a point of benefit or assistance that is waiting in the wings. Let people and things come to you rather than you going to them; or if you’re the one who shows up, do so, and see what they have to offer. Ease back and allow, as much as you can. This will shift your orientation, and open you up to possibilities you would have missed otherwise. I suggest that observing and noticing what’s available be your primary occupation during Mercury retrograde. That, and tidying up promises you’ve made, and making sure you’ve fulfilled your end of any agreement. Get your full Pisces reading by Eric here.