Aries (March 20-April 19) — Venus in your birth sign is a reminder to aspire to what you want, rather than waiting for them to come to you. Yes, your charisma is at a peak, which will make you that much more appealing. Yet with so much activity in your sign this week, including Mercury retrograde ending, you must stay in the driver’s seat. Speaking of Mercury, be ready to change your mind if you get new information about something. Once you’ve confirmed a particular matter to be true or false, valid or not, apply that to all of your thinking and act in a way consistent with what you’ve learned. Writing your plans down, and finding the flaw in your scheme will save you time and energy as the week progresses. Make a game out of discovering you were wrong, and then take the opportunity to set things right.

Dear Friend of Planet Waves:

It’s your Taurus-loving astrologer here with something for your birthday. I’ve finished recording your 2017-2018 audio reading. By my standards, this is done early, recorded at New Moon time: my favorite time to do this particular reading. [Links to free audio samples are below.]

Helpful for Taurus Sun, Moon and rising, this is no ordinary astrology reading. I am one of the rare few astrologers who can read without your birth data. I use the same methods as for my horoscopes, though taking them to their full potential.

Taurus chart, drums and guitar. Photo by Eric.

I speak from the heart, and address the moment you’re in, tapping into all I’ve learned as an astrologer. It’s more than an hour long (with an additional session coming soon).

This reading covers the recent Venus retrograde, the conjunction to Chiron and the ingress of Venus into Aries: all describing how you can boldly discover and express yourself. This is in the context of your most intimate relationships, which are mirroring your thoughts and feelings.

Mars in Gemini describes the process of reconciling your innermost values and needs, with those of people you relate to. I end with a discussion of Saturn and the way that your professional ambitions are being energized by its long conjunction to the Galactic Core.

People wait for years for me to read their chart — something I no longer do. Yet for a small fraction of the cost, you get something that’s helpful, detailed, intimate and wholly trustworthy. It will keep providing new information through many playings. (Also, it works in all formats and on all players.)

Rather than say too much more, here’s a short sample of the reading, and here’s another. Click the link and the audio player will appear.

Your reading comes with two original pieces of music, one from the newer Vision Quest sessions, and one that I recorded last night.

Here’s how to take advantage of this beautiful work.

Thank you for your business, and for trusting me as your astrologer.

with love,

PS — Your purchase includes an extended written sign description for Taurus, as well as access to last year’s reading, so you can review the past. Last year’s reading will include much information that’s relevant today. Thanks again for ordering.

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — Many mysteries will unravel this week, giving you a newfound sense of confidence. Yes, your mind is still a somewhat cryptic thing at the moment, though your passion for self-discovery is serving you well. It’s true that under the current astrology, you could be getting flashes of anxiety or uncertainty, though these will respond well to a conscious decision-making process. If you start to feel like your life is out of control, respond by getting your priorities in order. Decide consciously what matters the most, and take care of that first and best. If something is clogging your schedule and you have that anxious feeling of wondering how you’ll get it all done, pick something and move it to next week. This process will show you that you’re really the one who is living your life.

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — A strange Mercury retrograde ends this week. What made it strange is that the messenger of the Gods (which happens to be your ruling planet) is aligned with the very rare Uranus-Eris conjunction. That conjunction is the sign of our times: of the chaos and confusion and unpredictability. And now you, symbolized by Mercury, align with the wave-making machine at the core of the collective psyche. What I’m getting at here is that you have a rare opportunity to know, firsthand, what’s actually happening in the world around you. Whether for the purpose of business, art, storytelling, inventing something, or having fun, you’re the person with your finger on the pulse. There may be a few surprises in store for you this week, though if you’re flexible and keep an open mind, the world is your oyster. Just one other thing: above all else, please be friendly and accommodating.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — You’re aligned with some rare astrology that could bring exciting news on the career front. The key to your success is your professionalism. That begins and ends with appearances, and covers quality work, timeliness and overall impeccability. If you’re the one who comes through when everyone else flakes out, you’ll be headed straight to the top. The important thing is to downplay all these things. Be the kind of talent who is a humble servant of the whole, who respects your superior officers, and who is always willing to go the extra mile or two. The astrology of this week points to an unexpected opportunity that comes your way, so stay on top of your schedule and make sure you don’t miss a single email or phone call. Check, double check and triple check — and if you’re expecting something that has not arrived, politely follow up.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — Not everything you believe is true, and that’s a beautiful thing. Be happy when a discovery proves you didn’t quite have the story right, because then you’ll have the information that you need. When investigating something, do the extra research. Dig back onto page five of the search results, read the forums, read the reviews and study the comments. In the spirit of investigative reporting, pick up business cards you see lying on the street, skim through newspapers and magazines and generally, cast a wide net for what you’re looking for: but be attentive to the smallest details. This effort will pay off with a timely discovery that gives you the advantage you need. If I were writing this horoscope in 1960, I might also say, “look for a letter from a pen pal abroad,” though in 2017 I’ll say, reach out to your friends in other countries. It’ll be more fun than going to the movies.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — You must be absolutely attentive to financial transactions this week, whether we’re talking about a swipe of your debit card to buy coffee or some important arrangements or decisions you make with close partners or loved ones. It would, actually, be better to put off any final decisions on genuinely important matters until next week, when Mercury retrograde has untangled itself. However, this week is perfect for fact-finding, goal-setting and generally getting yourself organized. The chances are that there’s absolutely no rush, and that any time pressure you’re feeling is merely an artifact of your overly active mind. Speaking of which, for the next while you would do well to engage in a program of taking a broad view of the world, of people and of yourself. Resist the temptation to judge, see the humor in everything and keep back from what’s not your business.

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — Venus now in your opposite sign has you in what I call “True Mirror” territory. Imagine you can look into a reflection that shows you a real image of yourself rather than a flipped mirror-image. You might say that the past two or three months of your life have, with each passing day, been trying to show you just that. The thing about the true reflection is that you will feel so much more at ease looking into it. You’ll see a face that’s both unfamiliar and yet more in harmony with who you are. These reflections will come in the form of people and events that serve to undermine any negativity you were carrying. This of all weeks, see the good in people, be flexible, and offer yourself to be helpful. Be the person who cuts others some slack, and round your bill for services down rather than up.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — This promises to be an interesting week at work, and will call forth your truly impressive psychological skills. If you can remember to be the keen observer that you are, and put a long delay in place before you react to anything emotionally, you’ll get to be the person with the solutions. That’s an excellent thing because there are others likely to perceive quite a few problems that, to you, are on the level of simple arithmetic. As part of your psychological approach, give others as much credit as possible. Don’t even worry about whether you’re seen as the one who resolved the schedule conflict, fixed the printer or brokered peace when everyone else wanted to argue. You have a bigger, wider and more relevant agenda, and that’s the thing to focus on. Part of that includes living in a wholly functional environment. Rare as it is, there is such a thing.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — There’s a creative solution to everything; creative means based on ideas rather than on labor. It means looking at every situation from at least three different angles, so that you can take a novel approach. At the moment, novel translates into efficiency: many problems that seem to be lingering around were already solved, or the solution is close at hand. One thing to be mindful of is the law of unintended consequences. Look at the results of any seeming solution in terms of the negative and the positive effects. The right solution has no unintended negative effects, and will expand to have a positive effect on related issues. Remember that even simple problems can have several correct answers, and you want the one that serves you the very best. All that said, if you consider yourself an artist of any stripe, this is a particularly rich week to do your most innovative work or have the big breakthrough. Stay focused and use your time well.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — There’s a way to be a positive influence on your family without getting all tangled up in their baldly neurotic tendencies. By that I mean that their self-defeating, time-wasting tendencies have nothing to do with you, though the benefit to the situation is that you’re getting an excellent inventory of everything that you don’t want to be, or become. Your appropriate role is to set a positive example of appropriateness and self-esteem. That specifically precludes getting too involved in the discussion, or having it in any way distract you from your affairs. Where a young person is involved, make sure you take a balanced approach. It’s possible that they’re a victim of circumstances and adults who cannot keep a grip. It’s also possible that they’re up to some mischief of their own. Hence, invest your energy in getting the facts — and deal with people one-on-one rather than in groups.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — You can be a lot brassier in your thinking process. Most of what passes for thought barely sheds enough light to cast a shadow, though your mind is boldly illuminated right now. You can see through the seeming complexity of things, into their essence. That doesn’t mean “seeing things simply” but more accurately, observing the affairs of the world in a way that emphasizes elegance and the interconnectedness of what seems to be separate. One trick to doing this is, when everyone else is fixated on the figure dancing before them, look off to the sides and into the background and study the environment. When everyone is staring at the stage, turn around and look at the audience. Most situations, problems and puzzles can be solved much more easily by making this kind of move, particularly since so few people have even heard of it, much less bother with it.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — This week, finances come back into focus. Make sure you stay ahead of your work, get enough sleep and keep a handle on your personal life, because you will want as few distractions as possible. You’ll have some obvious opportunities to improve your lot in life, or build your business, and then there will be some downright odd ones that come your way. Listen to every proposal carefully, and signal to people that you take them seriously. Two things that are non-debatable points are your talent and resourcefulness. You simply must have confidence in yourself, which means trusting that you can not just handle anything that comes your way, but also maximize the situation. In support of this, install a delay before you say yes to anything. You’re likely to forget some important point of compensation or benefit, and it’ll be much more difficult to renegotiate than it will be to get in during the first round.

Aries (March 20-April 19) — You must plan the week carefully, and be ready with Plan B. There’s no way you could foresee certain events, though if you’re conscious and well-prepared, you’ll not only be able to handle anything; you’ll be able to work certain unpredictable conditions to your advantage. If things get weird or too interesting for comfort, the thing to do is go into listening mode. You may be the one person who understands what someone in your household or circle of friends is going through, and the mere fact that you care enough to take the time and pay attention will be helpful to them. Certain factors are putting you under some pressure to speak your mind, though you must use caution and restraint. Under current conditions, you would be wise to wait a day or two before responding to anything even vaguely contentious or controversial.

You can now pre-order your 2017 Taurus birthday reading by Eric. Get your unmissable guide to your solar year ahead, including Jupiter in your house of relationships. This reading also makes a perfect and lasting gift for the Taurus you love.

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — If you’re inclined toward people-pleasing, you might take a step back and ask what you want rather than what someone else wants. This includes being cautious of trying to impress anyone or show them that you’re of some value in order to get their approval. You’re currently under bold influences that are guiding you to stand your ground and claim your own ideas and way of life. But you know how that can go: it’s easy to get to that point where it’s just less hassle to give into what someone else wants. If you find yourself negotiating for your own freedom, you would serve yourself well to ask why that is. What exactly to you need to claim, explain to others, or make a point of saying is your natural right? If you hear yourself doing that, just pause, collect your bearings and do what’s right for you.

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — You’ve reached a tipping point where things must go one way or the other, and you must now ask yourself whether you’re going to travel in the direction of the past or of the future. That may seem like a silly question, though at this stage, it’s an entirely valid one. Certain attachments to the past may be causing you to hesitate about important and overdue life decisions. Yet you know that there’s really only one way you can go, and that you’ve already chosen. So what’s the use of wondering what to do, when you can put your plan into action? You are in fact free of certain bonds and restrictions that were holding you down, particularly on the professional front. You’ve spent a lot of time doing what others said was right. Now it’s your turn to do what you know is right.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — You may be feeling some anxiety over a deeply personal matter, one where you know something is actually at stake. Not all fears come true, though sometimes they provide the service of getting you to slow down and be more thoughtful about your own affairs. Sometimes, it’s necessary to apply that same vigilance to the contents of your mind, and notice when you’re thinking fearful thoughts. They tend to have roots, though what’s often surprising is that they are connected to things we would never have expected. Through the week, and indeed for the next week, you’ll need to take matters slowly and stay in contact with what you’re feeling, and whether it’s realistic. Notice whether you’re feeling anger about something that happened in the past, or whether your thoughts really are about something that’s happening now. Be assured of one thing: whatever is on your mind, the truth will come out, and it will be both relevant and helpful.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — You’re the one with the winning strategy, and people are counting on you for that. The world is so confusing right now, it’s difficult to see a clear path forward. Yet you know that matters are not so cut and dried as people would like them to be. Your real talent is your ability to handle a bit of chaos and unpredictability, which really comes down to two things: know your planned goals and your proposed methods, then be willing to adapt and adjust to conditions as they develop. What starts off early in the week as one thing will be quite another by midweek and unrecognizable by the weekend. Therefore, your strategy must be one of constant evaluation and adaptation. Leo is said to be a ‘fixed’ sign, though you know you can summon flexibility, which is no doubt one of your greatest personal assets.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — It’s time to move beyond certain narrow goals and a brittle self-concept, and accept yourself for how creative and influential you are. Remember that most of your influence comes from doing something that’s getting rare these days: mastery over the facts and figures. On that note, you must use your mystical power to get a grip on the numbers before making any commitment in a contractual matter, joint financial issue or tax question. As you do this, you may start to notice that the basic data is changing, which is a sure sign you’re not quite at the bottom of things. Columns of figures should add up the same way whether you start from the top or the bottom. And certain people’s stories and versions of events should be consistent each time you hear them, or else something is amiss. Don’t rush working this out. Put your inquiry into slow, steady mode. Give it at least a week or more.

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — This has been an emotionally sensitive few weeks for you, and you may still be feeling a little raw, uneasy or hesitant to move forward. That’s understandable enough, especially with Mercury still retrograde in your partnership angle. This is making it difficult for you to discern where anyone else is coming from, and you seem to be expecting important people in your life to change their minds about something and pull the rug out from under your plans. You might make things easier by making far fewer commitments, and sticking to people who have proven themselves to be reliable in the past, in both showing up emotionally and showing up at all. Listen carefully to what people say about their motives. They will reveal little details, and you need to be paying attention. That will make it easier to determine who’s interested in a real exchange, and who’s interested in taking advantage of you.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — Matters at work may be making you wonder which way is up, who is on what side and what the whole gig is really about. Yet the thing you must do is keep your cool. That will mean, for the moment, saying as little as possible, and doing as much fact-finding as possible. You don’t need to worry about final outcomes at the moment, since everything is in a constant state of transition. You can be sure that even those who claim to be the most confident are verging on clueless or unprepared for various shakeups that are coming their way. It’s not your job to warn anyone or to predict the future. It is definitely your job to be working with as much information as possible, and to make no important promises whatsoever until Mercury moves in your favor about one week from now.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — Saturn in your sign is providing you with an important stabilizing influence. You’re also getting the message that you must make a series of structural adjustments if you want to maintain your way of life. One of the most useful methods of maintaining stability is taking the initiative on making incremental changes as you need to make them, rather than putting them off. Note that you cannot really count on the commitments or promises of others at this time, since most people around you know far less than you do, even about some of the most obvious or most personal matters they’re confronting. Don’t be misled, and don’t worry about being a leader. Rather, lead yourself competently. Keep your headlights on, and if you find yourself in the middle of a fog, slow down, relax and aim your car down the middle of your lane.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — Whatever may be going on in your family or household, you run the risk of getting dragged into something that has nothing to do with you. Your people-pleasing (or daddy-pleasing) tendencies could get you into this, as could the political maneuverings of certain people who have a known reputation as operators. No matter how tempting it may be to add your two cents, stick up for someone or come to the rescue, you are not only free to step back entirely: you would be well-advised to do so. There would seem to be no halfway point here. Either you’re shorn of the whole situation, or you’ll be drawn all the way in. You have better things to do with your precious time and energy than play games with people who could be best described as rebels without a cause — or perhaps without a clue.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — One great benefit of being an Aquarian is your ability to apply your mind to solving a puzzle, problem or other challenge. Yet how you define the issue determines how you approach it and, therefore, whether you solve it. I suggest you put more energy into defining the problem than you put into coming up with the remedy. Once you know what you’re dealing with, what to do will be plainly obvious. If you act before you correctly define the problem, you could literally spend days running in circles before you figure out you were doing just that. Therefore, slow down the whole process, and keep as wide a perspective as possible. And remember, the key to being a genius is knowing when you don’t know.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Venus in your sign is still close to Chiron. This is making you not just sensitive to your pain and that of others, but also giving you a heightened awareness of some calling from deep inside yourself. It may feel like a cosmic longing of some kind, though the truth is this is about you, and your soul’s journey. One very important thing to be mindful of is that you be grounded in your home and your work. That includes food, rest and a feeling of wellbeing, so much as you can muster it. Once you have those bases covered, it’s a lot easier to be responsive to your innermost needs. You need a safe space to feel whatever it is you’re feeling, and you also need space and bandwidth to be responsive to the many practical matters that are vying for your attention at the moment. If you find yourself obsessing with plans and strategy, remember that there’s a larger plan, which will be revealed to you if you can relax your mind and take care of your body.

Aries (March 20-April 19) — The past few days have been an unpredictable adventure, though for some reason today you can focus your mind in a different way. Take some time and get your priorities in order: determine what comes first and why. What seemed so important yesterday may have lost some of its significance and urgency, and something you may not have considered is calling for your awareness. Pay special attention to a financial matter that’s been nagging you and that you may have been avoiding because it was too difficult to work out. A creative opportunity is about to present itself, though it will help if you’re in a positive state of mind and open to an innovative or unlikely solution. This will teach you something about negative expectations: they are rarely helpful. Where there’s a will, there’s a way.

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — You have found your confidence, as if an invisible wind has filled your sails. Notice how this can blow away your questions and concerns like so many feathers in the breeze. This is confidence that will come in handy over the next few days, as you address a question that’s been overshadowing your life for a while. Remember that you don’t need anyone’s permission to be who you are or to live the way you want to live. Indeed, such permission would be irrelevant even if someone handed it to you in a fancy wax-sealed envelope. You’re the one and only person in the universe who can offer yourself the time, space and motivation to live. The whole discussion you’re having with yourself is likely to center around this one theme. You belong to nobody but yourself.

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — It’s perplexing to many people that anyone might be emotionally connected to the work that they do. By that I mean so devoted that they work for its own sake, because they care about the task at hand and the people involved. Yet when you’re aligned with yourself, this fairly describes your life. You’re motivated by service, and you draw energy from a source that most people are only dimly aware of. This is the mark of true leadership, particularly on the ethical level. Recent astrology has shown you just what you’re committed to and why. It has nothing to do with money. It’s deeper and more important and much larger. You could say that you’re powered by an understanding on the spiritual level. Let it be known, and remind yourself, that your true impulse involves teaching and healing.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — You’re the best source of your own wisdom. You’re also your best representative, publicist and spokesperson — that is, if you care about accuracy and integrity, which you seem to do. Far from being a matter of overconfidence, this is about you presenting yourself to the world in a way that advances your own cause. You may indeed take positions that make you and others around you uncomfortable, because that’s the right thing to do. You know that your life is not a popularity contest. At this stage in your life, you can draw strength specifically from the need not to please anyone else. You don’t have to make a policy of pissing people off; you don’t need to be defiant; rather, if you orient on your personal will, and insist on an actual, honest conversation, you will discover your independence and your integrity.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — Set aside any concerns you may have about your professional reputation and make the decisions that you need to make. While this may be slightly more complicated than going out for ice cream, understand what that complexity really entails. First of all, there may be an actual question of ethics involved. What’s the right thing to do, as objectively as you can see it? This involves assessing the impact of your choices both on yourself and on others. There’s something deeper as well: whose thinking is influencing you? Whose unresolved baggage is clouding up your mind? You may think something is exclusively your issue, only to discover that one of your parents passed it on to you, thinking they were doing you a favor. If someone taught you to be afraid of your own shadow, maybe they didn’t deal with their own.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — You have no need to drag around the injuries of past relationships. It’s just that it’s so popular, there would hardly be a movie or TV program without it. Some days it seems like all of society is one enormous advertisement for betrayal, guilt and jealousy. It takes consistent mindfulness to overcome this problem, and to declare that you’re free to go your own way. Part of being mindful means keeping your mind open to who people are today, and offering them the truth of who you are today — and who you want to be. The recent Venus retrograde in your zone of love and partnerships indicates that you have entered new territory in your intimate life. The idea of an intimate relationship simmers down to allowing someone to feel who you are, and feeling who they are, which must be based on goodwill and trust. Let this be your foundation.

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — A partner may have taken you on a wild ride lately, leaving you to wonder which way is up. Yet how much of that seeming misadventure crept in through your own self-doubt and confusion? Assess that honestly, and be real with yourself about what you determine. In this world, everyone must mind their own boundaries and set their own agenda, lest someone else do it for them in a less helpful way. People are in love with their ideals, though recent experience has revealed that you need to be more realistic about your expectations, your needs and your desires. And you need to be realistic about who people are, what they offer you and why indeed they’re in your life at all. Far from requiring a cold assessment, this is something you would give yourself based entirely on compassion and the desire for peace of mind.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — The pressure seems to have let off of a relationship; in particular, what a partner was going through that may have had nothing to do with you. Yet this isn’t the time to blaze ahead blindly. Many factors, in astrology and in the world you live in, are calling on you to be conscious about your partnerships. The reason most people are afraid to do that is because they’re afraid of what they’ll find, or they’ve committed to something that they might question is really right for them. But you must be willing to put every human exchange in your life to this vital test of truth. Time is your most important resource, in part because it’s the main thing you use to teach yourself what’s right and what’s wrong. You don’t need to repeat or reinforce negative lessons of the past when you can embrace the actual potential of your future.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — You have a rare opening, most likely financial or professional, though as you approach an actual decision you may feel some fear or apprehension. That doesn’t make it the wrong thing for you. It’s natural enough to feel some anxiety around any big choice, especially if you have something to lose. So don’t just back off and go the other way without giving all sides a fair hearing. Lately you’ve had a tendency to be somewhat narrow or over-focused in your career ambitions. Especially in times of overwhelming change, such as we’re in right now, it’s necessary to hang loose and to feel the wind and the weather. To some real extent you must consider what’s the right thing to do every single day, even if that means continuing what you were doing yesterday. Leave yourself room to modify your plans, and to allow genius to slip in through seeming error.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — If you’re feeling a weakness or seeming flaw in your character, take a step back and evaluate things slowly and carefully. Perhaps it’s true that you’ve found your ‘Achilles heel’: that’s from the story of the Greek hero whose mother dipped him in the river Styx when he was a kid, thereby granting him special powers. Yet she held him by the foot, and his un-dipped heel became his vulnerability. Here’s another perspective: that vulnerability is where your true power comes from, as long as you use it that way consciously. One last detail from mythology: the river Styx is the one associated with forgetting past lives. The ‘undipped’ and vulnerable part of you is that which remembers something important from the past — perhaps the very distant past — and that’s information you need, and need to use, right now.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — You may feel as if you’re hiding something from yourself or from others. That’s unusual because lately you’ve been so transparent, erring on the side of making your personal truth known. Yet what, specifically, you might be hiding is fear. Many people are a lot more worried than they’re letting on, such as about the things it’s not polite to mention over drinks and hors d’oeuvres. However, your friends and acquaintances count on you to be a little weird in ways they’re afraid to be. What else is an Aquarian for? If you bring up the subject — any subject that truly concerns you, and which you might not normally casually mention — you might find that you have an interested audience, and people interested in an honest discussion. When that happens, you may find yourself feeling like you’re living on a different planet — a much better one.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Over the weekend, Venus stationed direct in your birth sign. It did so while making a conjunction to a slow-moving, spiritually oriented planet called Chiron, which has been in your sign since 2010 and will be leaving in less than a year. The past six weeks have been a lifetime-scale review of who you are, what you’re doing with your life, and how you feel about yourself. Though it may have been subtle, this has been a rare opportunity to cultivate self-awareness. Even if you list the events of the past two months (including a little extra margin of time), you will be amazed at not only how eventful each day has been, but how meaningful. You may have forgotten many of the developments, though they deserve to be remembered, because each of them holds a clue and a key to your future.

Aries (March 20-April 19) — This is the week to take stock of yourself. Your accounting process might range from an actual review of your bank and credit card balances, to an investigation of what you’ve learned so far this year. Life has been a whirlwind, especially for those born under your sign. Now, although time spins on, you have a moment to reflect. Pausing and looking back is not a luxury. There’s vital information that you actually need, which is likely to respond only to your active inquiry. So keep your mind on and your curiosity busy, and start doing things like sorting out the mail, investigating what’s found its way into your wallet, and making sure all your paperwork in the glove box is in order. Nobody else has an interest in these questions like you do — and you will indeed be interested in what you find.

Aries Birthdays 2017:

Discovery, Initiation, Beginning: A Reading for Your Year

“Venus retrograding into Pisces is the most beautiful image of inviting someone into your inner sanctuary. This is indeed an initiation: a point of beginning. The discovery that you make in this process will shape the course of your relationships, which means a lot when you consider that everything, and everyone, to whom you relate is a relationship.”

— Eric Francis Coppolino, speaking to Aries at the beginning of this year

Dear Friend and Reader:

What do you define as your “inner sanctuary”? Who do you feel called to invite there, and are you willing to meet yourself there now that Venus has moved from your sign into Pisces?

If you are curious about the integration of your inner and outer selves, I hope you’ll check out Eric’s 2017 Aries Birthday Reading, which he’ll be recording for you soon. The reading comprises two segments of astrology (at least 30 minutes each), plus a tarot reading for the year and extended written sign description.

But what you’ll truly find in this reading is inspiration, motivation, support and perspective — just what you need to make this year dynamic and to take advantage of the growth opportunities that come your way.

“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, I send you deep abiding gratitude for your penetrating insight and your deep caring concern, with which you carry out your mission for all of us!”

— Ann Cortese, B.S., M.P.S.

You can pre-order your 2017 Aries Birthday Reading here — suitable for Aries Sun, rising and Moon. Note that the price will increase when the reading publishes.

Wishing you another incredible trip around the Sun,

Amanda Painter

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — A constellation of rare events influencing you and your relationships takes place this week, which may spark up your curiosity about the distant past. In particular, you’re likely to make a series of discoveries centered around your emotional life that reveal why things were a certain way. While most people you know are content either to pave over the past or to dig in and camp out there, you can afford neither of those two seeming luxuries. What you need, though, you can afford: and that is peace of mind, based on resolving some lingering issues that have been gradually eroding your trust in yourself. This is because you’re still blaming yourself for events that, though you may have had a hand in them, were really the product of everyone involved, and also of the much wider environment. You were involved — but there was a heck of a lot more.

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — Mercury stations retrograde Monday, signaling a self-discovery that may change your life. Learning something about who you are, or who you no longer are, and then acting on it, is one of the most dependable ways to grow and evolve. I suggest, though, that you allow this discovery process to extend all the way through the end of Mercury retrograde, on May 3. Take things gradually, and do something rare for our era: when you learn something, put it into the context of the other knowledge you’re gaining. Keep your sense of context. Each day will bring new levels of understanding, and there’s something special happening with your life purposes and sense of mission. This has been a challenging aspect of your life the past few years, but your purpose is not an aspect of your life; it’s more like the thing itself. Feel carefully for what feels right, and what does not. Relevant information is on its way — from inside you.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — It’s been a wild and exciting ride for you professionally the past few months. And though you need a little R&R, the adventure is about to continue, as the Sun moves through the rather energized career and reputation angle of your chart. You may not feel like you can handle more responsibility, but just as the last few rounds have compelled you to reorganize and align your priorities, so too will events of the coming week. This really is the name of the tune: prioritization. Ask yourself what really matters, and break out the reasons why. Notice what you devote yourself to, without any special coaxing or prodding. There’s something here about slipping into what you really know you want to do, for all the right reasons. Listen to the ideas of people you respect, and count the possibility that their dissent is a form of affirmation.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — Take any delays in your professional plans as an opportunity to rethink what you’re doing. In these times, it’s essential that you not be stuck in old or outdated plans. If the planets are any indication, you’re craving work that comes with the human touch. Speaking of, you might set aside any intense activity in the professional realm and invest your time and energy into private matters. Close partners, especially anyone with whom you may share a bedroom, will appreciate your devotion to the most sensitive matters of relationship. Make yourself available, and express in words that you’re open to conversations that have been eluding the relationship. Here’s a suggestion — make sure you’re 100% sober; even a glass of wine can distort your emotions; and it’s better to discuss sex anywhere but in bed (such as the kitchen table, or the living room).

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — Relationship matters come into focus this week. While you may have one agenda, that thing known as ‘the universe’ may seem to have another. Your charts describe you trying to stabilize a situation, while they also describe a shakeup. Matters of finance and those of emotion need to be given equal emphasis. They should be treated separately, and also seen in the context of any common ground they share. The financial question may involve whether everyone is paying their fair share, or feels like they’re being treated equitably. Are expenses being shared proportionally to income? Regarding the emotional piece, the question seems to involve some baggage from the past that’s a holdover from previous relationships. Don’t blame current partners for what others did to you — and if you know someone’s weakness, do your best not to be exceptionally sensitive. A mutual commitment to healing will go a long way toward that end.

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — Trust and vulnerability are the most important qualities of love. There are others, though they can only flow in a space of sincere openness. If you’re working on your relationship, or your desire to be in one, this is the place to start. However, this is predicated on something else: being comfortable with yourself. Being close to another person is like seeing yourself through a magnifying glass. All of your traits and characteristics, the ones you like and the ones you don’t, can be blown up to what seems like larger-than-life scale. You can start by being forgiving, in an even-handed way: that is, of yourself and of others. And you must be willing to do your own healing work; in other words, to attend to your known issues, and any you discover. This is not the usual way to conduct relationships, for a good reason: it takes actual awareness and work to live this way. However, the time has arrived.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — Sex in our society remains a fascination, a curiosity, a source of pain, something to gossip about, something to exploit, a suspicious activity, something inappropriate or undesirable, or even something special. In other words, sex (as presented publicly, and often as experienced privately) is everything except normal. If you’re going through a sexual awakening, I suggest you keep the ‘normal’ bit right where you can see it, experience it and talk about it openly. At first this may seem awkward, particularly with all the guilt, secrets and silence that are heaped around this most natural of human experiences. This is the first step in reclaiming your sexuality from various shades of ownership and expectation — the very things that kill relationships, so it’s a worthwhile cause. Just don’t let any initial awkwardness stop you. Explore until sex emerges as what it really is: beautiful and ordinary.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — If you stay aware of your feelings, you’ll be more in harmony with the world you live in. That’s because the world around you is experienced, perceived and colored by your feelings. It matters less what they are and more that you experience yourself honestly. This will remove a barrier between you and everyone around you; that, in turn, will open up your potential and your options. Slow down the movie until you meet your experience on the level of a poet or mystic: in full color, soaking in your emotions. You may discover a key to life if you practice that kind of mindfulness over the next week or so, as the distinctly Sagittarian planet Chiron merges its energy with Venus. This is more than a sensory trip: it’s about grounding in your existence: on a planet, next to a star, in a galaxy.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — Though you crave expressing yourself, it’s never quite easy. You seek perfection of your message and your ideas, though the lines seem to blur, and the colors and ideas melt into one another. Yet if you focus your mind and put your favorite creative tool into your hands (be it a pen, a camera, a paintbrush or a musical instrument) you may discover that your abilities are suddenly more accessible than ever. This is not an accident and it’s not luck; it’s about long preparation, and an alignment with your reality. This experience involves your relationship to the sign Pisces, where there’s some truly unusual cosmic activity at the moment and through the week. Give yourself all the space and time you need, or that you can muster, because anything truly creative wants to find its own space and its own rhythm. And remember, never judge your own performance.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — Don’t always assume you’re right. Though this may be annoying, you’ll appreciate the exercise because you’ll come closer to reality. It always helps you to be flexible. Structure and form, you have. An organized system of logic, you’re aware of and you can use when you need to. Change is something you expect but then often resist, which is why being open-minded is so vital to your happiness and your wellbeing. The overarching theme of your charts at the moment is healing any residual issues (or an overt crisis) of self-esteem. You may never feel that you measure up. But the question, if you ask it, might be: who is doing the measuring? And what is the metric? Both logic and intuition would likely tell you that comparison is irrelevant, though you cannot ‘not compare’; you can only live organically in your truth. Practice self-acceptance and you may make the pleasant discovery that it’s easier to grow and change from there.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — This is a momentous time in your life, though you may not know it. Of course, you might indeed be noticing how your inner world is opening up to you. You could be experiencing the activation of your potential. You may also be seeing your limits, and noticing how far you have to go, in order to have the life that you want. Don’t be deceived by your doubts. Remember all those times when you turned out to be much closer to answers, to fulfillment and to breakthroughs than you thought you were. Remember the times you’ve given up, only to find that your desires were in fact alive and that existence was aware of you and responding to you. We’re just days away from the meeting of Venus and Chiron in your birth sign, which is happening over the next week and cannot happen again until 2062 (in somewhat reduced form). Stay close to yourself, and close to your experiences, and close to what you want. Brush off your doubts, and remind yourself that you’re alive.