Aries (March 20-April 19) — It’s sad but true that the notion of a ‘career’ has been reduced to what you can make a lot of money at, really, really fast. However, while you may be famous for being a bit impatient, that’s not your racket. And planetary movement is offering you something much better: potential for the long-term success of something you genuinely believe in. Under this ethic, you will take this thing that you’re envisioning, and get it started in a small way. Then you’ll refine what you’re doing, and develop your concept, your working methods, your message and your presentation. Then, slowly, you build your reputation, based on the authentic value of what you’re creating; by which I mean the value to the people who encounter your work. Set aside all thoughts of passive income, going viral, making a big splash, or working at arm’s length from your clients. You will be directly involved, and work like a stonemason, fitting every piece of your success into the next.

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — Your life has seemed far more complex than it really is; things are not really so out of hand as you might believe. In fact, as one development after the next (Saturn changing signs, the Sun changing signs, and Mercury going direct) happens over the next few days, you’ll gradually discover that you’ve been keeping on top of things quite nicely. You have a few discoveries to make, particularly regarding shared finances or contractual matters, though that information will help you strengthen your position and put a partnership on more solid ground. Yet that’s just the beginning. Saturn entering an earth sign will help ground you. The overload of energy in Sagittarius the past few months has been slightly more than you thought you could stand, though you’ve held up well. Saturn’s move will help you focus your priorities. It will take some pressure off your most important relationships. You will figure out once again that you’re a stable, ethical person.

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — Your life has been like Penn Station at rush hour for the past couple of months. Everyone and everything has been going this way and that. It’s true that you like to keep busy, but this has taken ‘on the go’ to a whole new level. This week there will be several important shifts. Mercury stationing direct will help you work out a kink in communication, or some other misunderstanding, with a close partner. Saturn changing signs on Tuesday begins an extended phase of your life that will be defined by deepening commitment to your most important goals, particularly financial. In recent years, you’ve had a tense relationship to those who seem to hold power over you, though now that must come to an end. It will be your responsibility to manage your own affairs, to maintain your schedule, and to be your own authority. To the extent that people have any power over you, you must intervene and make sure that becomes a thing of the past.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — This week, among many important developments, Saturn enters your opposite sign Capricorn — your 7th solar house, or the zone of your solar chart that reveals information about your relationships — commencing a phase of your life that lasts to the end of 2020. While this might get less-than-happy predictions from other astrologers, Saturn is the planet associated with Capricorn; which gives it what the old astrologers called dignity. This represents a homecoming for you in your relationships. If things have been one way for a long time, or a very long time, Saturn will present opportunities; not just for progress, but also for you to stabilize your associations with others. More on that soon. As for this week: keep a careful eye and a steady, guiding hand on all work-related matters. Evaluate your priorities carefully, and be prepared to make changes as needed. Amidst all the moving and shaking, there is one very important project you must begin in earnest, or bring to fruition.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — Your solar chart is currently an orgy in an art studio in an airport being broadcast onto the internet with thousands of people watching the paint, passion and airplanes fly randomly, with nobody minding the control tower. By the end of the week, your solar chart looks like a calm but busy office, where everyone is productive, and where creative ideas are welcome and encouraged. The schedule becomes the most important structure, which keeps everything else organized. An aura of chaos will give way to calm order, and a priority being placed on wellbeing. You may not believe such a transformation is possible in just seven days. In truth it will take a little longer, though the groundwork — the revelations, the obvious necessity, and the most basic decisions — are likely to manifest in a very short time. There may be some turbulence in the process; though if you keep your priorities in order (mainly, your wellbeing and your productivity), that will not last long.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — Certain household or family situations that have proven difficult to resolve will unravel this week, and you’ll have much more information to work with. Some pressure comes off, difficult questions find insights if not answers, and it becomes clear that knowledge really is power. For you, personally, it will be helpful if you follow Saturn into your 5th house of art, pleasure and play, and do your thing. If you’re an artist, lock yourself into your studio and paint. If you’re a musician, tune up the thing and remember what it’s for. If you’re into wine, consider that a talent and try something interesting. Whatever you like to do the most, make that happen. Your responsibilities have taken front and center for many moons, and your little kid wants to come out and play. This will be both easier and more meaningful in the months and seasons ahead; and offering yourself to what you love will help you feel the love coming back in your direction. I know for many people, life has been so stressful that we can forget why we’re alive. It’s time to remember.

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — When you dare to love yourself or appreciate yourself, that’s crossing a boundary. We’re trained to live to one side of an invisible line laid down by our predecessors. This is supposed to represent a limit on your bliss, your success, your curiosity or your willingness to try. Mars joining Jupiter in your neighboring sign Scorpio is a reminder that it’s OK to want more, and to stretch and reach for it. Because we’re talking about Mars, you may feel out of character, or like you’re faking it. Don’t worry about that. Part of the adventure is learning how to feel real about going for what you want. For a Libra, consciously experimenting with going out of balance is the way that you learn to tap your inner fire. One thing you can trust is that your foundations are strong. They’re strong enough to build on, and strong enough to accommodate your desire to make changes. Practice not needing anyone’s approval or permission. Don’t file a flight plan; just fly.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — You’re on an inner quest, burning with the desire to discover yourself. This works two ways. Way one is that you go out of your way to seek and find. Way two is you raise your awareness level and notice what comes to you, or what’s already available in your environment. I suggest you depend more on Way 2, because there’s just so much right within reach, and much more coming. You just don’t need to try that hard, or exert any extra effort, other than paying attention to what’s within walking distance, right in the house, on your desk or in your notebook. There’s so much abundance in your life, particularly spiritual and creative but also of resources, that you will surprise yourself with what you discover. Much of the struggle of life can be resolved by engaging yourself with life. Questions about your finances can be resolved by getting into the flow of productivity: not just what you do, but what you make.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — Most of this week’s astrology is focused on your sign, and there’s quite a bit. Three interesting points: Saturn leaves Sagittarius after nearly three years, Mercury stations direct, and there’s a New Moon conjunct the Galactic Center. All of these symbols describe renewal, release, and expansion. It’s as if you’re being set free to experience a taste of your future. This will happen whether you plan it or not. It doesn’t matter where you are or what you’re doing; you will see evidence that your environment is changing. Notice who is around you. Notice the opportunities that emerge. Notice your impressions of the weather. Celebrate the most basic elements of your life and your surroundings. As Saturn changes signs, you may notice that a certain shaky, quaky feeling goes away and you discover that you’re made of more solid stuff than you previously thought. This will help you focus your plans and place emphasis on keeping your commitments, whether to yourself or to others.

Capricorn Birthdays 2018

How Will You Harness Saturn?

“I continue to believe that setting goals and boundaries combined with recognizing my limits, because I thought about how I could harness Saturn, has made this the most transformative time of my life. I felt a ton of Yes energy in your words, thank you!”

— Jennifer N.

Dear Friend and Reader:

Do you tend to think of Saturn as representing the parent who stands in your way and says “No”? You can avoid that disempowering feeling by making friends with Saturn. That is, by taking on the role of authority and responsibility in your own life so that you can enjoy the benefits, growth and even freedom Saturn can grant.

If you’re someone with a Capricorn Sun, rising sign or Moon, you have this opportunity on your doorstep: Saturn enters Capricorn on Dec. 19. Eric will be covering the opportunities, challenges and essential mission of Saturn in your sign for the next three years or so in your 2018 Capricorn Birthday Reading.

But that’s not all: Chiron moving into Aries and Uranus moving into your fellow earth sign Taurus will also bring important shifts to your inner landscape and to the world around you. Yet those are only the major planetary sign changes that are happening soon; Eric also homes in on the subtler astrology you’ll be navigating in the coming year.

“Your passion, deep care and love always shine through; and you have the gift of all great teachers, of making one feel that one is being personally addressed, respected and taken care of.”

— Liz Glanville

All of this is offered in a pro-quality audio-recording bundle: two segments of astrology (approximately 30 minutes each), and then a tarot reading for your year that will be ready a little later. When you pre-order your Capricorn reading, you secure the lowest price we offer: only $33 for the entire three-part reading. This price increases as we near publication, and then it increases again when it’s ready.

You get some of the clearest, most nuanced and jargon-free personal astrology available on the internet. Eric crafts these readings with the best of his life-coaching, cheerleading and problem-solving skills; the sensitivity of his therapy training; his uncanny knack to help you see challenges from a more empowering perspective; and with the kind of everyday, practical inspiration you can use immediately.

How will you harness Saturn to make the coming year one of your most dynamic to date?

Yours & truly,

Amanda Painter

P.S. The 2018 Capricorn Birthday Reading is distinctly different from the Capricorn written reading available in the upcoming Art of Becoming annual project. It covers your key astrology in a different format and emphasis, capitalizing on Eric’s more intuitive, improvisational skills. The Birthday Reading also makes a fantastic gift for a loved one!

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — Saturn entering your birth sign on Tuesday is the moment you’ve been waiting for, though that will be easier to discern once it’s happened. How this looks in the symbolism of astrology is that a hidden or missing aspect of yourself returns to you. Once you figure out that it’s back, you realize it always was there; and you can’t figure out how you missed it all this time. Saturn does have a way of pushing changes, though it also brings a sense of stability. The two work together: it helps to have a strong core when you want to rearrange your life. This will be in contrast to the kinds of changes you’ve experienced during the long, long spell that Pluto has been in your sign — that feeling of having your growth and evolution pushed onto you, and seeming to be out of your control. Saturn brings that back into balance. Rather than push ahead, though, you might spend some time cleaning up some of the debris from the demolition process of Pluto, and sort out what you want to keep and what you want to toss.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — Most contemporary astrologers use Uranus as the planet associated with Aquarius, without mentioning that the original planet, from the days of Aristotle, was Saturn. (If you understand Saturn, you will understand Aquarius and vice versa.) This week, Saturn changes signs, entering the other realm it’s responsible for, your neighboring sign Capricorn. Also called your 12th solar house, this angle of your chart is about your interior world, and Saturn’s entry here describes an extended phase of claiming your inner knowledge. There’s also something here about negotiating a new relationship with the fears of your ancestors, and their psychological baggage. Most of the spiritual challenges you face predate you by generations. Your life will be easier if you sort out what is theirs from what is yours; this would include most of your fears and your anxieties; any guilt you may experience; and a certain rigid quality that you just don’t need and don’t want. As with yoga, rock climbing or physical therapy, this will require you to stretch, and you will get the benefits of flexibility.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Events this week will remind you how much you’ve accomplished these past three years of Saturn moving across your solar 10th house: the one that’s about career, reputation, responsibility and success. You cannot really go wrong with Saturn in the 10th, though the combination of Saturn and Sagittarius is not necessarily easy. This was not about having the Midas touch but rather that of a carpenter, architect or engineer. You owe it to yourself to recall carefully what your life was about in 2014 and early 2015: what you were doing, how you were doing it, what goals you set for yourself and how you thought you might accomplish them. Notice the differences between how you related to your work way back then, and how you relate to it now. While these three years may not have been an easy run, you succeeded at making something that’s heavier than air fly through the air. And you’ve arrived at a new destination, and are standing on solid ground.

Aries (March 20-April 19) — You may not be sure what you believe. And that’s just fine — belief is a substitute for knowledge; it blocks awareness, and suppresses curiosity. Believe something and your mind goes into hibernation. You need rather to stay awake right now. You have a point of orientation, though, which is desire. You may be experiencing a psychedelic flow of plans, aspirations, ideas and concepts; there’s something, or someone, that you want. That’s the place to focus yourself inwardly. Your desire is more than a hope, a wish or a whim. It’s a potent focal point of your growth, something to be eminently honest with yourself about. That honesty is your teacher. This is not a matter of whether you get what you want. The real information comes through in how you feel about what you want. Note any guilt or other conflict, and then observe how you work with those feelings.

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — Mars has entered Scorpio, the zone of your chart that describes your relationships. Among the possible experiences are how strongly people feel about you, whether feelings of passion, desire, admiration or distaste. You cannot make other people change their emotional makeup, though you have to adapt to the psychic weather. How do you respond when someone expresses intense feelings for you? Are you comfortable with being wanted? Do you find it offensive or aggressive, even when it’s not intended that way? Another way to consider Mars is the world holding a mirror to you. For example, you may see how you respond reflected back at you as that same emotion. Take something as a compliment and it will seem complimentary. Take it as an insult and it will seem insulting. It’s vital that you understand the degree to which you mediate the nature of your reality. You are the interpreter. You give everything and everyone their meaning.

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — You’re likely to be feeling overwhelmed, with the world — and your world — going through more alterations than a dress shop during prom week. There would seem to be no way you can control your own life, much less the flow of events. Yet there is something else you can do, which is practice your self-awareness in the midst of so many changes. You can prioritize, which would rightly begin with focusing on the single most important item on your agenda. You can bring something valuable to all of your human interactions, and infuse with genuine respect every last contact with every single person you meet. As you do this, you will notice there’s a pattern to the flow of events. If you can maintain a positive attitude and go with the flow, the miracle of synchronicity will become a stronger presence. We live in extraordinarily chaotic times; and must use seemingly advanced, though in truth basic, spiritual methods to navigate our lives. Love is the answer, though when you offload all the baggage, that means a friendly spirit of trust.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Things must be really exciting at work — yet equally meaningful. Remember, and remember always: your work is about meaning, by which I mean the essence of your spiritual life can (and indeed must) be found in the work that you do. Work is not a separate thing for you, and if you’re looking forward to 5 pm when you can leave and resume your real life, you’re burning up your engine. In any event, you can at this moment find actual, even profound, meaning in your daily activities; and if you catch even a trace of that, you will have additional clues as to how to go deeper. Remember it’s not the activity that you do that counts, but rather the people you work with and, ultimately, whom you are serving with your precious mind, time and life force energy. Whatever you are doing, important information about your purpose and how to fulfill it is coming through right now, in a once-in-a-lifetime fashion.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — It would be helpful to notice, and to admit, the extent that your emotional life is grounded in your sexuality. This is neither inherently “good” nor “bad” but rather a fact of biology, which you can use and experience any way you like. At the moment it would seem like you’re working out some interesting, even exciting, creative and/or erotic kinks, though these things are not an abstraction. They’re not external or extrinsic to you; they are you. It would be truly helpful if you focus your energy on self-expression, and give yourself a vent for everything you’re experiencing inwardly. You need some excitement, you need some feeling of taking a risk, and you need to see some result of your creative power. You could have great fun on a paintball range, though you might choose something more sophisticated. For example, a notebook and oil crayons; though potentially only in shades of red, yellow and orange, to match the fiery nature of your astrology.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — Monitor family matters closely, though remember there’s only so much you can do — and events will run their course. If you pay attention and maintain communication with specific people you care the most about, you will find your opportunities to intervene — and do no harm. That’s what you’re looking for, though few consider this, or believe it exists. Yet if you run this idea through your mind continually, you will remember. At every opportunity to assist someone, consider the potential damage. If you determine that assisting someone will hurt neither the person you’re helping nor you, nor any third party, then you’re clear to offer assistance or respond to a request for help. There are many facts in whatever family or household scenario you’re experiencing that have yet to come to light. So it’s better if you reserve judgment and, instead, be a detached observer. Naturally this is easier said than done, especially if you’re directly involved; but it’s not impossible.

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — Money is almost always a factor of motivation. Commerce comes second; one’s drive comes first. You have the drive, though at the moment, commerce is a little wonky, as is anything you might express in language. Therefore, make your plans, and plan your schemes, and then give things a few weeks to settle down before enacting them. Between now and then, you will still need to participate in the human race. The way to do that the most smoothly is to keep all of your messages positive. Compliment people for what they do well, and skip any shade of criticism. Then, don’t be surprised if people take a compliment personally (i.e., they think it’s an insult), though at least you cannot be really accused of saying something negative. Suspend all forms of sarcasm. Leave that to the professionals on Comedy Central. All of this said: over the next week or so, you may encounter the occasional excellent, short-term, immediate or low-risk business opportunity. Just read everything carefully, and beware of supposedly easy money.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — Mars has finally entered your sign. That must feel good. Suddenly you’re no longer wandering around in a sense of anxious potential but rather are able to take some action toward your goals. However, there’s something of a mash-up happening in Sagittarius, your sign of financial affairs (including what may be the most complex Mercury retrograde ever); and, given that, the first thing to do is to know where you stand. That means know your bank balances, know what bill is due on what day and, as Peter Gabriel said, know your plastic from your cash. For now, it would be wise to indulge in things that don’t cost much money, and there are plenty. Mars in Scorpio is passionate and curious, qualities that you can embody. You don’t need to precede an erotic experience with an expensive date. You don’t need to travel to China for fun, when there’s plenty within 50 or five miles of your door. (I don’t mean to sound like your great aunt, but the $5 or $10 cup of coffee is just plain ridiculous.)

Sagittarius Astrology Reading by Eric Francis is Ready!

Dear Friend of Planet Waves:

This weekend, I completed the astrology portion of the Sagittarius reading. I wanted to make sure it was recorded before Mercury stationed retrograde in your sign, and before the Full Moon in your opposite sign.

We’re in an astonishing moment globally, challenging though it is — though, for Sagittarius, it’s particularly amazing. Saturn is set to leave your sign. Mercury will be retrograde for the next three weeks, highlighting the Saturn-Pholus-Galactic Core conjunction.

Eric Francis.

This is rock-and-roll astrology, and I’ve done a reading to match the vibrant, growth-oriented and downright beautiful quality of your charts.

We have two astrology sessions for you right now. In the first, I describe the process of Saturn in Sagittarius, and what Mercury retrograde is suggesting you do, in preparation for Saturn’s change of signs.

I also talk about why Sagittarius is an utterly unusual sign, containing two deep-space points that can serve as a direct connection to source. I also talk about the relationship of Chiron to Sagittarius, which describes how to harness this energy.

In the second section, I look forward: to the sign changes of Saturn, Chiron and Uranus, which take hold between now and your next birthday. These three sign changes take us beyond the Uranus square Pluto era (2011-2015) and into the next distinct phase of astrology — a short but powerful one that will peak in 2020 (the Saturn conjunct Pluto era).

This is fresh, alive astrology that’s easy to follow. I am at my best as a motivational speaker, wherein it’s my role to make your own potential compelling to you.

You can get the reading at the current order price of $44. In a month or so, your tarot reading will follow along.

The reading includes many resources, such as articles relevant to your astrology that will provide helpful backstory, and your 2017 written reading from The Book of Your Life.

(Yes, we are over-delivering here, though the moment calls for it.)

Get instant access now!

With love, your friendly neighborhood astrologer —

P.S. If you’ve never listened to one of my audio readings, you’re invited to check out last year’s Sagittarius reading as a gift. It’s a great way to review your last year during this Mercury retrograde phase, and prepare to make the most of your new reading.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — The astrology in your sign isn’t just the magic teacup ride. It’s not the double-loop roller coaster. It’s not the fun house or the tunnel of love. It’s the whole darned amusement park, in all sincerity, outstripping anything I’ve ever seen (and Sagittarius, for whatever reason, always puts on a fantastic show). However, two elements stand out. Venus is in your sign, which is providing you with resources, charm and a blessing from the goddess. And Saturn has just cleared its conjunction to the Galactic Core, and is about to enter Capricorn. This is the culmination of a major phase of your life. Mercury retrograde is calling you to review the last three years carefully, to consider what you’ve learned, and to spot anything unresolved and clear it up. Then, prepare to plunge forward into the unknown, that favorite haunt of Sagittarius. You were born for adventure. Your mind is big enough to wrap around the whole world and a good bit more. Stand your full height, and light your flaming arrow.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — I wish I could convey the sheer power, light, strangeness and mystery of all that’s happening in your chart (see Sagittarius for a description). All of this is occurring in your 12th solar house: the one that’s behind a scrim, almost where you cannot see it. But you can certainly feel it. Among the figures in your 12th is Saturn, the planet associated with Capricorn, and a good portion of the solar system, all at once. This might feel like being pregnant with quintuplets who have learned to play volleyball. However, the thing you’re going to give birth to is Saturn, which will penetrate the veil and emerge into your full awareness in just over a week. That’s another way of saying you will soon see all that was concealed. You will begin to experience all that was lurking in potential. You will begin a most remarkable three-year journey of coming to terms with yourself. Saturn, often mistaken for that which is stuck or inflexible, is one of the most dependable agents of change in all of astrology.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — Mars has now entered the leadership angle of your chart, joining Jupiter (the bringer of knowledge and expansion) and Vesta (the goddess of service and devotion). This is a calling. I don’t know whether you’re feeling it; or, if you are, whether you’re counting it as something real. It most certainly is. Your job is to bring an organizing principle to the swirling chaos of the world. Define one purpose, and let everything organize itself around that. Persuade with a blend of one-third emotional appeal and two-thirds psychology. Set the example of showing up every day, on time, all day. The very essence of Aquarius is being the sign of the people. Whether this is for friendly, socially progressive causes, or lock-step ideological purposes, is up to the person wielding the energy. Just remember, you’re depicted in the zodiac holding an urn of water. Right now, people are thirsty for ethics, for love and for sincere leadership.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — You may feel like you’re on a ride you cannot get off. Are you having fun? Are you being productive? Are you accomplishing interesting things? How are you getting along with people? Is respect a distinction of your life? Do you get along with people in leadership positions over you? Are you dependable? Go over these questions and you’ll have an assessment of how you’re doing with all this astonishing activity in Sagittarius, the success and accountability angle of your solar chart. Above all else, you must be your own master. You must be your own timekeeper. Your job is to set the quality standard of your work, and do your utmost to live up to it. You’ve come through a three-year program (almost the length of time to earn a Bachelor’s degree) of Saturn working its way across the top of your solar chart. This has bestowed you with the power of manifestation. You have indeed built something, a kind of life vehicle. Oh, the places you’ll go.

Aries (March 20-April 19) — It may be difficult to articulate what’s bothering you. Yet it’s more difficult dealing with the consequences of not speaking up, which are both short-term and long-term. So do what you can to put your thoughts in some form that others can understand, which will also mean putting them into a form that you understand. Note that once you do that, you’re responsible for what you know (and that, incidentally, is one of the main reasons people keep quiet). Though there are many possible ways to define the theme of what you’ve got on your mind — such as emotional, relational or sexual — the core issue would seem to be spiritual. What exactly does that mean? I would propose that involves your relationship to existence: that is, how you feel about your life, why you think you’re here on Earth, and the most basic and elemental values you possess. For example, are people or things more important? What is more powerful and why: love, or jealousy?

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — You will need to keep your agreements flexible, and evaluate them frequently. This is different from the usual way of the world: rigid expectations, which are rarely thought about, and not grounded in reality. There’s little you can take for granted right now, and if you don’t make the mistake of doing so, you will be in much safer and more solid territory. The easiest way to run into trouble will be turning your back on your commitments, or shutting down communication (for whatever reason). If you stay open and available, you will discover that people are only too happy to help you and offer whatever support they can. It would be wise of you to return the favor, and keep the emotional energy moving; make sure everyone around you has what they need. Check in regularly, debunk all your assumptions, and keep the important issues right where you can see them.

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — What is your relationship to your sense of injury or to what you think of as your wounding? Is it something that you live with, something that you strive to heal, or something that drags you down? If you’re suddenly experiencing any turbulence in your life, or if old issues have surfaced, these are the questions to ask yourself. Injuries have many possible uses. They can motivate people to become healers, whether or not they attend to their problems. They can serve as a means to keep others at a distance. They can be used as weapons. They can serve as agents of change. I suggest you take the latter approach. It’s easy to use pain in ways that delay or derail progress. It is more difficult to connect yourself to your healing process and stick with it; not only until you get some results, but rather until it becomes a fixture of your identity and life purpose.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Focus on work, and keeping things going smoothly. Nip problems in the bud, before they grow larger. Then make sure you’re keeping on schedule, and maintaining your core priorities. As part of this, it will be essential to take care of your health and wellbeing. That may mean, over the next week to three weeks, less emphasis on play and romantic activities, and more on making sure that the basics are covered. For example: an evening in and an early night, so you get a good start on things in the morning, may be much more important than going out. Eat real food, and drink actual water. Keep your work and food-preparation spaces tidy. Make sure you have clean laundry. Make sure the people closest to you understand what you’re up to, and sidestep or avoid those who don’t feel a need to cooperate. If you mind the small stuff, you’ll keep a handle on the bigger things, and the minor points won’t escalate or go out of control.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — It’s essential that you calculate the physical risks you take during the next few days to a week, and that you err on the side of caution. It’s especially important that you play it safe wherever alcohol is concerned, and that you actually know and trust anyone you have sex with. Your chart is bubbling over with the potential for mistaken judgments. However, you can compensate for this by raising your awareness level and not letting anything impair your intelligence or power of observation. Do not let yourself be persuaded by people. Delay decisions if you feel pressured, particularly financial ones. Mercury retrograde just began today (Dec. 3), and it’s developing in an especially sensitive angle of your chart: a crossroads where your business and professional lives intersect. It’s not possible to say how much is on the line, though this is one of those rare instances when an abundance of caution in all matters, even seemingly minor ones, is appropriate.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — If you’re addressing family matters, don’t be fooled into thinking that it’s just about what people are saying and doing now. The origin you’re seeking is likely to be somewhere in your great-grandparents’ generation. This is not designed as an excuse to blame current circumstances on the past, but rather as a means of orienting yourself on a discernible cause, and identifying a functional solution. Recognize that people have been dealing with the same problems for eons, and that families in particular hand down emotional, genetic and karmic baggage. Then, the less conscious among us act out that material in various dramas, which seem to have neither end nor beginning. You might count who that serves: whose interests are protected, whose mental habits, whose alcohol abuse or inability to have some self-control. The important thing right now is that you concentrate your wits and on your commitment to growth, and not let yourself get dragged into what is not your issue.

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — Mars in your sign is urging you to take a diplomatic approach to whatever you do. This is your usual style, though your chart is particularly assertive these days, and you’re not in the mood to brook anyone’s nonsense. However, you would be well advised to find a way to do that without ever going blow for blow. Things could easily get out of hand, and even a minor disagreement could enlarge into something disproportional. Therefore, back away rather than engage, and be particularly cautious of anyone under the influence of alcohol. Note that you have two main channels of thought you can subscribe to: one is chaotic and contentious, and the other is calm and easygoing. The difference will be like that between a thunderstorm and sunshine. Take note that many people are looking for a fight at the moment, not knowing where to direct their angst and hostility. You are often a people-pleaser, though this is not the time to give them what they’re looking for.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — You need to do very little to have your life go well. The main thing you must do is stay out of your own way. Another way to say that is to feel good about yourself and who you are, despite the prevailing turmoil of the world. Thankfully, you don’t need to feed at the trough like so many people you observe. You’re also blessed in that you don’t need people in quite the way that others do; you have the ability to hang out alone and keep your own company, which you most likely prefer to the company of those who are inappropriate or unfriendly. Use or develop that skill now, if you need to. As a general rule, notice how you feel about yourself when you’re with someone else. If you start to dislike or distrust yourself, you’re in the wrong company. There’s one other point, which is to be careful with money, your possessions, your wallet, your keys and your phone. Keep your belongings close to you. Read any credit card slip (or anything else) that you sign.

Sagittarius Birthdays 2017-18:

Not What You Think: Your Personal Mercury Retrograde

Dear Friend and Reader:

I know what you’re wondering: how can Mercury retrograde not be what you think, when Mercury is, in fact, the planet representing the mind? What I mean is this: Mercury retrograde phases have a bad rap for being nothing but trouble; but used well, they can be incredibly useful phases of time for review and deep introspection.

So, you might say that if you have your Sun or rising sign in Sagittarius, then Mercury stationing retrograde in your sign on Sunday really isn’t about ‘what’ you think; it’s about how you think.

The weeks between Dec. 3 and Dec. 22 could actually be incredibly useful for getting to the bottom of certain beliefs and thought patterns you have, among other things.

What does it mean to start your solar year with Mercury stationing retrograde in your sign? Eric walks you through this and all of the biggest astrological events of the next 12 months in your 2017-18 Sagittarius Birthday Reading; the astrology segments have recently been published.

With Saturn, Chiron and Uranus all changing signs soon, you’ll find certain areas of your life changing in tone and emphasis. For example, what will it mean to have the planet of awareness and healing (Chiron) move into your house of play, creativity, adventurous risk, and sex for fun (Aries)?

Eric crafts these readings with the best of his life-coaching, cheerleading and problem-solving skills; the sensitivity of his therapy training; his uncanny knack to help you see challenges from a more empowering perspective; and with the kind of everyday, practical inspiration you can use immediately. You get some of the clearest, most nuanced and jargon-free personal astrology available on the internet.

Best of all, the two astrology segments (approximately 30 minutes each) and tarot reading that Eric records for you are completely different from the written Sagittarius reading that will be part of the 2018 annual edition. The Birthday Reading has a more jazz-like feeling, lending it to Eric’s knack for uncanny, spontaneous insights and nuance — and it’s recorded with the Sun in your sign.

Order the 2017-18 Sagittarius Birthday Reading and get instant access to the astrology segments. The price will increase further once the Tarot reading is published.

Yours & truly,

Amanda Painter

Planet Waves Astrology Editor

P.S. If you know someone with a Sagittarius Sun or rising sign who’s been having a rough time this year, consider giving them the 2017-18 Sagittarius Birthday Reading as a gift. We could all use a friendly cheerleader these days.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — Mercury is now retrograde in your sign, and this will be an unusually revealing, perhaps complex, week. For you, Mercury is the planet that represents both relationships and partners. Questions of attachment and commitment are likely to come to the surface. Discussions might verge on going out of control, and you would be well served to wait three or four days before engaging people on intense issues, or letting them engage you. You have a right to keep some distance, and you happen to have that skill as one born under your particular sign. Take the distance you need, gather information, and figure out where people are coming from. You may decide that certain individuals have a good point, and that others are being truly ridiculous. Within the sphere of your own life, you’re the judge of that. You must be, because nobody can do it for you. One other thought: you might consider avoiding alcohol for a few days, and the people who use it.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — Over the next few weeks, you get an opportunity to sort out a diversity of personal matters prior to Saturn entering your sign. You may feel a need to make important decisions as a result of that, though I’ve developed what I call the “Saturn rule” in the course of my long astrological practice: Let Saturn make the first move, then respond. For you, this means delaying any action until Saturn has entered your sign on Dec. 19; then add a couple more days for solstice and Mercury stationing direct; and then a few more days for Mercury to come out of storm phase, right around New Year’s Eve. This is a roundabout way of saying take your time, gather information, make decisions and give yourself a chance to revise them before putting them into action. A lot is about to change in your life, which in many ways means improve. But not if you rush matters, or make irreversible moves with incomplete information.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — You may have noticed the ease with which you can find yourself in the middle of utterly meaningless controversies. There’s a little storm brewing around your ruling planet Saturn, and it’s taking place in one of the most visible parts of your chart. Rather than go into hiding, I suggest you practice your mastery and learn how to handle yourself in public situations like a pro. Be mindful of all the misinformed weirdos scampering about, pretending to be experts in everything until they blow up the neighborhood. Keep calm, and make sure everything you say is put into language so clear that there’s absolutely no mistaking your meaning or your intent. Stay focused on your purpose. You have made many gains the past few years of your life, and now the age is about to turn. Other priorities will soon take over, though it’s important to preserve every last bit of what you’ve gained. Do so gently, intently, and mindfully.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Stay on top of professional plans this week. Pay attention to communications: emails, phone messages, your social media accounts and the ones you forgot about. While there’s seemingly some turbulence in the air, if you’re a skilled pilot and remain alert, you’ll be able to work with the movements and the changes. Therefore, it will help if you focus on what matters: what is timely, what’s the most important, and what directly relates to your reputation. A minimalist approach through the end of the year would be fully appropriate. Complete your outstanding commitments. Check in with people and make sure you’ve fulfilled your obligations and responsibilities. Tie up the loose ends that may remain from the many projects of the past year, and ensure the quality is up to your standards before you affix your signature and professional seal. Note that your higher-ups have problems of their own. Don’t add to them. Be impeccable.

Aries (March 20-April 19) — This week’s aspects seem determined to teach you that you contain all potentials and possibilities. Look at the world; listen to what the people around you say; gaze at all the crisis and struggle, and all the great achievements and subtle beauty; and admit that you contain it all. That’s the essential ingredient to activating your personal chosen destiny. You are emphasizing one set of possibilities over all the others, though they are just as real. The choice to be a helpful person, to be friendly, to honor your conscience, to develop your gifts, skills and talents: these are decisions you make. Then you take them into the world by your actions. And what you’re considering now, what you’re harmonizing with, and what you’re deciding is true today will be the motives for what spur you to action not so far from now. You may not feel ready, though this is your process of becoming so.

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — There seems to be something standing between you and your ability to connect with someone. That’s likely to be an idea that you have: a preconception, something you think is so, despite what actually may be so. There’s a layer of reality beyond what you can perceive. If you ease back on the effort, and open your eyes, your mind, your ears and your heart and take it all in, you will experience a revelation. Behind any conversation — whether about relationships, sex, money, business or family — there is an underlying spiritual message that’s trying to come through. It’s simpler than you think, and it might sound trite to put into words, though you may want to do that. What matters is that you connect to that theme coming through from behind the scenes. When you feel or encounter this previously veiled level of truth, do what you can to stay in touch. It’s real all the time.

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — You don’t need to worry about a situation that is unfolding and appears to be beyond your control. Everything may not seem to be going fine, though actually it most probably is. Right now you’re feeling the pressure, the need to fulfill a commitment and a sense of limitation. You may be wondering why you got involved in the first place. However, take a step back, look at yourself and your circumstances more objectively, and let the scenario play out over the next few days. What may seem today like something stiff, stuffy and not terribly interesting could ignite into something that emits beautiful, necessary light and heat. What will happen in the process is that you adopt a mature point of view. You learn to relate to someone as an equal, even though you may not feel like you are. And you will get the experience of seeing how something entirely opposite what you perceive may lurk behind this illusion that we call and cling to as reality.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — This is always a busy time of year for you, and this year is no exception. Yet you have priorities now that you didn’t have a year ago, or were not so devoted to. And it’s these that you need to focus on. Start with what seems impossible and work your way backwards from there. There’s something you know you must accomplish, or must resolve; and that’s the thing to focus on. You probably won’t have much choice in the matter, though organize yourself so you can do it and feel good about it and let yourself get excited. The story would seem to go back about three years, and could be described in general terms as a revamping of some kind, or a reassessment, or a restructuring. If that felt like building the Great Pyramid, think of this as the week when you get to put the capstone on the thing. Then, quickly tidy up the construction area and see what you’ve created.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — These days, you live on that line between art and work. The task at hand is to eliminate the line. Bring the full force of your creativity into whatever work you do, and bring the ethics of service and a job well done into whatever you consider your art or talent development. Some of the most gifted and accomplished people you’ll encounter live in their studio, or allow their home to be taken over by their work. We might call that bad boundaries today, but usually it’s necessary to break the rules or social norms to get the job done. How much can someone really care about something where they punch out at 5 pm and don’t think about it again till they punch back in at 9 the next morning? We might ask, though, how you can take care of yourself properly when your mission is what counts 24/7. Fulfilling your dharma requires taking care of yourself. Focus on food and sunlight, and then try to get enough rest. You don’t need much else.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — You may feel a little lost, though don’t let that be an excuse for anything. It’s essential you follow your intuition, and learn to distinguish that from any form of worry, fear or external pressure. What is intuitive is the thing you know you don’t have to push back against. Feel carefully. This includes people: the ones who, you might say, intuitively belong in your life are the ones with whom you feel balanced and you don’t have to apply too much resistance or assertion. Take this approach with yourself as well. Imagine that you’re feeling your way through the dark. How would you proceed? Your hearing would open up, and you would listen more carefully. You would slow down and feel your way forward, doing your best to remember what you already know about your environment. You may feel like the lights are on, and you know what’s happening. Yet you need to use all your senses — particularly where a sensitive family or household matter is involved.

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — Do not go blow for blow. By that I mean de-escalate every conflict, consciously delay confrontation, and use diplomacy where you ordinarily might use force or manipulation. It’s up to you to find the common ground among the people in your environment; and you stand to gain plenty by doing so. Alternately, if you allow yourself to slip, make any erratic moves, or challenge the wrong person (who you won’t know in advance is such), you will pay for your error. The planets are set up in such a way as to suggest that you’re likely to make a series of unproductive moves before finding a successful strategy. You can just as easily put matters of planning first, which would preferably include a study of your environment and the people in it. Someone you’re dealing with has given you all the information you need, or will do so soon. That will include some clear signals how to handle them. However, as Mars continues to move through your sign, maintain your policy of extreme mindfulness well into early December.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — Handle financial matters with care and caution, which means slowing down your spending to match your cash flow, or maybe further. You’re on the verge of solving a persistent problem that’s been vexing you for a few years. The solution involves getting all parties involved, or who have an interest, on the same page. Everyone must play fair and do their part. Therefore, be bold about enlisting the cooperation of others. This is about more than asking for help once. It’s about enlisting support in a cohesive way; fostering communication; and staying present while people work through matters of commitment. That’s the thing to look for, though in this equation, your commitment is the individual most meaningful factor. You tend to charge forward and back off, if only because persistence is so difficult to maintain. Yet what you can learn now is how to apply focused, gentle, steady intention over an extended period of time. That, and keep the conversation going.

Sagittarius Birthdays 2017-18:

How Will You Apply What You’ve Learned?

Your reading has given direction and meaning on how to proceed, to learn and move forward in these difficult, unsettling times and at the same time, inspiring me to tap into limitless creative gifts. Thank you, Eric; from my heart to your heart.”

— Ann Cortese, B.S., M.P.S.

Dear Friend and Reader:

Undoubtedly you’ve experienced quite a process of maturation these last three years or so, as you’ve responded to the need to bring real discipline to each way in which you express yourself in the world. With all hell seeming to break loose lately, it’s possible this has been a painful or scary process for you.

Yet perhaps you’ve felt more solid within yourself than ever before — and if you haven’t, you still can.

In the coming months, the major force behind that growth process will shift: Saturn leaves your sign next month and enters Capricorn. You’ll get to take all the lessons you’ve recently learned and apply them in increasingly tangible ways to everything that matters most to you. This includes that most precious of all commodities in today’s world: your self-esteem.

Then, early next spring, Chiron — raiser of awareness and magnifier of healing potential — moves into your fellow fire sign Aries. Aries is your zone of play, creativity, adventurous risk, sex for fun and more.

Being someone with their Sun, rising sign or Moon in Sagittarius, you might feel like you have playful creativity already well covered. But what if it could be even better — more fun, less guilt or baggage, more fulfilling?

Eric will be exploring the moves of Saturn, Chiron and more (including Uranus entering Taurus) in your 2017-18 Sagittarius Birthday Reading.

Comprising two astrology segments of at least 30 minutes each plus a tarot reading for your year, you can pre-order it now for the lowest price we offer: only $33 for the whole thing. All portions of the reading are recorded in studio-quality audio, and can be downloaded to your favorite device so you can listen as many times as you like throughout the year.

Note that the price of the reading will increase as publication approaches, and then again after it’s been released. Planet Waves does not do Black Friday gimmicks, but we do reward you with the best price when you sign on early.

You get some of the clearest, most nuanced and jargon-free personal astrology available on the internet. Eric crafts these readings with the best of his life-coaching, cheerleading and problem-solving skills; the sensitivity of his therapy training; his uncanny knack to help you see challenges from a more empowering perspective; and with the kind of everyday, practical inspiration you can use immediately.

What more do you need to steer your life through the end of 2017 and into a new year?

Yours & truly,

Amanda Painter

Planet Waves Astrology Editor

P.S. Do you always forget your favorite Sagittarius friends’ birthdays due to holiday distractions? Give the gift of the 2017-18 Sagittarius Birthday Reading today, and the thought may count more than ever.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — As you know, Saturn is about to leave your birth sign, after sailing back and forth through it for the past three years. Saturn in one’s sign — conjunct one’s natal Sun, or moving through the rising sign — has been about the process of coming to terms with yourself. Sometimes this feels like a burden. Sometimes it’s about rising to the occasion. Other times it’s about coming back to what you want even if you keep getting drawn away by distractions or other commitments. Right now it would seem to be about a making a decision. You might feel that all you’ve done and been through the past few years comes down to this one thing, and it may involve how you handle a relationship. It may involve how a partner is responding to your need for more independence, or to your process of becoming self-actualized. Take it slowly. This situation is not as dense as it seems, and the appropriate actions or solutions to the riddle will be obvious.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — You may be feeling all kinds of agitated; for example, like there’s something urgent you must act on, but you don’t know what it is, so you cannot possibly know what to do. If you slow down and tune in to your interior world, what’s percolating around in your mind will be easier to identify. Yet this calls for inner awareness, which is extremely rare to find these days. It’s so rare, many people don’t even know it exists; others have a clue but are made nervous by the experience of turning toward themselves. However, you now have some incentive, if only to alleviate stress. But there’s a more significant reward available, which involves preparation for a phase of your life that’s in the process of beginning. It’s fair to say your most pressing concern involves the future, which in turn relates to bringing certain important matters to closure so that you have nothing holding you back. Just a little reflection will help you figure out what those are.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — You have more creative things to do with your energy than engage in controversies. To the extent that you want to challenge consciousness, or experiment with ideas, put out your most creative expressions rather than wrangling or wrestling with people. By all indications, you have some innovative things on your mind. You want change; you want progress; you want the world to be a better place. Heck, you’re an Aquarian; of course you do. Now you’re at a point where tangible choices you make and actions you take can indeed move some energy. Yet be aware that you are the person who must be open-minded, flexible and circumspect (which means looking at any situation from many different points of view). In the first instance and the last, making the world a better place is about changing and evolving your own thinking. And then maybe along the way, you can have an influence on other people who will benefit from your efforts.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Continue your process of consolidating your gains, and recognizing your own accomplishments. For three years, Saturn has been gradually making its way across your 10th house of achievement, reputation and accountability. Meditate on those three words, and how they relate to one another: achievement, reputation and accountability. Consider each one individually: where do you stand with them? How would you have answered at this time in 2014? There will probably be a pretty big difference. It’s been an eventful three years. What happens over the next few days will call into focus the ways in which your efforts have had actual results. You may even get a look at what those are: where your work or ideas have had an impact. I hear it said over and over again that young people want to make a difference. Yet to have that, it’s necessary to learn how to see progress for what it is. Sometimes it’s really, really obvious and you still miss the point.