Author Archives: Eric Francis Coppolino

About Eric Francis Coppolino

Lives in Kingston, friend of critters, etc.

Equinox Ahead; Saturn Entering Aquarius

Dear Friend and Reader:

Events the next week will reveal the direction of events to come. The vernal equinox, that is, the Sun’s arrival in Aries, takes place late Thursday in the United States and early Friday in the U.K., Europe and Asia.

As we move through the remainder of the year, the equinoxes and solstices are extraordinarily powerful — even more so than usual — owing to the events that happen concurrently with them. We reach a potential point of resolution, which is likely to manifest as some form of social transformation. This is depicted by Jupiter conjunct Saturn in the first degree of Aquarius.

Painting by Lanvi Nguyen.

Meanwhile, plenty happens over the course of the next week or so, with another major peak coming on April 4 when Jupiter makes its first of three conjunctions to Pluto.

How Freaky This All Is

But first, a word about how freaky this all is. As of last week, much of American and European society is postponed indefinitely, closed or canceled. Some places, preparation is on the level of what you might expect for a civil defense event such as World War III, as Andrew McLuhan has observed.

People are panicked, and in some places fighting over toilet paper, while stocking up on junk food. (I guess they’ll need the TP in that case.) Many have no concept how to prepare for time away from normal availability of provisions. They’ve never even gone camping. Heck, many people don’t know how to pack a picnic. Or for that matter a bag lunch.

Other places, such as the Planet Waves research facility located in a barn in Tidewater, Oregon, are ready to live off the grid for weeks, because the power goes out for that long on a regular basis. Our bureau chief there is grinding cornmeal as I write.

However, many businesses around the world, large and small, are already feeling the impact of the panic, which is going to affect nearly everyone in some way. Many people are already living paycheck to paycheck (if they have one) and cannot afford to prep. If you are in a position to, please help at least one other person get ready for possible supply line interruptions.

Much of the legitimate fear about this problem is associated with the low capacity of our medical system in the United States. It’s usually running at or close to maximum, and now we’re talking about adding some unknown increase in demand, of potentially very sick patients. Meanwhile, the U.S. has not been friendly to scientists, and is not prepared for even regional emergencies, like a hurricane, which happen regularly.

So let’s see: the National Guard has been sent into New Rochelle, NY, a town with more than half of the state’s coronavirus cases. Are they all wearing biohazard gear?

What We Don’t Know

There is a lot we don’t know, including how this is going to play out, and whether the preparations being made most places will have an effect of flattening the epidemic’s growth curve somewhat. We don’t know if there was some extenuating factor in Wuhan. Was there some factor that was responsible for lowering immunity? Did this stuff escape from a lab, and have a concentrated impact?

There is in fact a virology laboratory in Wuhan that researches coronaviruses and SARS. I just read about that in The Wall Street Journal, my new favorite newspaper, in a March 5 article.

Workers inside the lab at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. That is Level 4 biohazard wear, from Abercrombie. Photo by Johannes Eisele / AFP.

The institute “contributed to China’s fast identification earlier this year of the outbreak’s source as a novel, or previously unknown, coronavirus.” It’s called the Wuhan Institute of Virology. That sounds like a fun campus to visit, drop by the bookstore and pick up a teeshirt. Now for the spin. Get ready.

Ready?

The newspaper said in a March 5 article: “The institute’s location at ground zero of the most infectious epidemic in China’s modern history has also made it a target for peddlers of alternate theories that humans first contracted the virus as the result of an accident of some kind at the laboratory. Leading scientists in China and internationally have dismissed such views, saying that the virus likely originated in wildlife, perhaps bats, before spreading to humans, possibly through a food market in Wuhan.”

Oh really. So, it was purely a coincidence.

There is a biohazard level 4 (the highest) SARS and coronavirus facility in Wuhan, where scientists handling glass vials full of plague pathogens waddle around trapped in body-shaped balloons with air hoses, but the virus exploded in that very city first because someone ate a bat for lunch. Or maybe a bat, we don’t know. Maybe it was a lizard who ate the wrong kind of caterpillar.

Peddlers of alternate theories? Are you effing kidding me? You mean nothing ever goes wrong at labs, or in nuclear power plants, or chemical manufacturing facilities? Thank you, I am SO reassured.

How about askers of perfectly obvious questions? If it did escape from the lab, that could have two positive benefits: maybe that’s why it was so intense in Wuhan, and maybe they have the antidote. Of course they could not say they have the antidote because that would be a huge clue that it escaped from the lab. Or maybe it would be another coincidence.

Meanwhile, life continues as normal some places. My father just called me asking how to change the battery on his guitar tuner, which is all around a good thing. His wife Yael, who is Israeli, added that she got an email (in Hebrew) that said, “I haven’t received an email about the virus in the past three minutes. I think everyone except me is dead.”

The Astrology Surrounding the Equinox

The season changes Thursday, March 19, at 11:49:33 pm EDT. The Sun enters Aries, making a conjunction to the Aries Point (the first degree of the zodiac). This is an amplification point, and an intersection of the individual and the collective (which gets busier every hour). This is likely to come with an escalation and acceleration of the virus issue.

Alls you can say is like wow. Planetary positions at the time of the equinox, just before midnight EDT Thursday. Everything is in there — look at all that Capricorn to the left. Note that Saturn (in mustard yellow) has the number 29 degrees and 51 minutes. It’s about to enter Aquarius within a few hours. The Sun, the yellow circle with the dot, is about to make a conjunction to Chiron in Aries, and squares to everything in Capricorn. You can see Mars in red, conjunct Jupiter; both are about to be conjunct Pluto (also in red). This chart connects directly to at least two other future charts — those on June 21 and Dec. 21. Seasonal changes are VERY powerful this year.

That is what the Aries Point does. Note that there will be an annular solar eclipse on June 21 in the first degree of Cancer, which is being activated by the Sun’s entry into Aries on Thursday. The equinox also activates the Dec. 21 conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn on the Capricorn solstice, so we may see a microcosm of the rest of the year played out this week.

The important thing about the Sun in Aries is that it lights up the nodal axis, now in early Cancer-Capricorn, which is itself loaded by Chiron, Salacia, Pholus and Quaoar. Put simply, a lot of energy is about to move.

The other major event connected with the equinox is Saturn entering Aquarius, its other sign of rulership, for the first time in about 29 years. I could go on about details of the astrology but I want to end with a commentary about this, in particular.

Aquarius is about to become the center of focus. Yes, for a long time it’s been Aries and Capricorn, and we’re still not done with that — in fact we’re about to see what it’s all about as the Sun enters Aries. However, over the next three years, Aquarius will be increasingly the focus, and that begins this week, when Saturn enters it.

Aquarius is the sign of groups, of social patterns, of inventions and (correspondingly) of technology. As I suggested on Thursday, we must take current events as an opportunity to make a better world. That means getting together, forming useful social patterns, and using our technology in clever, positive and inventive ways.

We need to cooperate. We need to work together. We need to understand leadership, coordination, collaboration, and the sharing of vital information.

That is Saturn in Aquarius.

With love,

As the Worm Turns

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Photo by Lanvi Nguyen.

Dear Friend and Reader:

Despite this week’s harrowing news about the spread of the “novel” coronavirus, and the dire projections of what is about to happen, and the stock market’s nearly 30% (so far) plunge from this year’s peak, I propose that this is a good time to look at the potential benefits of the situation.

So let’s just mark the moment. All it took for world financial markets to first stagnate, then crash, was a disease outbreak in China, and a few cases in the United States? It’s that fragile? It’s that driven by psychology, meaning fear?

This is the product of the venerated capitalist god of greed. That is impressive. We’re told that this fantastic system works the best of all. Turns out, it lacks the resiliency to handle something as basic as sick days, or taking care of the sick.

For a moment I’m going to speak mainly to Americans, who tend to have a worldview different from other Western countries. One other thought before I continue: the more we do now to avert this crisis, the less drastic the final results. There is a lot we can do, in terms of prevention, on every level. The question is, will we?

OK, now for my message to Americans.

For many, many decades, the United States has lived as if it could do no wrong, and worse, as if the wrong that it did would never have an effect. Though the “trickle down” theory of economics has proven to be a mere political talking point, the attitude of our corporate leaders has certainly trickled down to a large segment of the population — the ones who will believe anything that makes them feel good, no matter who may get hurt.

War after war, with environmental catastrophe mounting season by season, there seems to be little will to take care of our problems. Nobody was ever elected to Congress on a platform of ‘raise taxes and be responsible’. There is this little problem of wanting everything for nothing — such as the functioning of society itself.

We do not generally view society’s role as taking care of others. Our notion of society does not involve a community ethos. It has involved a spirit of what I can only call greed and immodesty that I know is beneath the true ethics of many who aspire to it. Many who partake in so-called conservative politics are in fact caring and charitable people.

The little kid in me wonders about this, somewhat painfully: why do good people go along with such plainly evil ideas, such as denying people access to medical care? Or thinking all Mexicans are criminals? Or thinking it’s OK for the president to manipulate elections and cavort with sworn enemies of our country? Why do people vote against their own interests?

What is this love affair with billionaires, while so many are homeless and hungry? What is the love affair with believing blatant lies? Lies so obvious a child could spot them?

Photo by Lanvi Nguyen.

This is an Opportunity

In the course of about one month, we have watched the world change irrevocably. Whatever that past environment was, it’s over. We are now waking up to the new territory we’re in, which will require the rearrangement of our way of life, our values and our choices.

Coronavirus is a before and after moment that will shape society for the rest of our lifetimes — any society that it touches, though I think particularly the United States, as we’ve become a culture that is rigid and set in our ways. Now that is about to change, as every way we are set in will be shifted, a little, a lot, or entirely.

The events of one decade after the next have happened to “other people.” They have been local or regional events: hurricanes, wildfires, mass shootings, earthquakes, floods, tornadoes. Each time they have happened, for most Americans, they’ve happened over there. Now, coronavirus is happening right here, or somewhere close and coming closer. To put it bluntly, we all know people who will get sick, and some who will die.

That is new territory. It’s territory where we’re going to need to take care of ourselves and one another. It’s a new zone of history where we will be forced to think about what is truly important. We will need to distinguish a want from a need from a preference from something utterly irrelevant.

We will need to learn how to cooperate, and how to organize our communities. We will need to learn how to make conscious decisions together, and stick to them: as families, as schools, as companies, as friends, as small groups of associates.

Whatever else happens, many, many people will do this — including most of you reading, who tend to lean a little more into self-care and self-awareness than the average gremlin. To whatever degree possible, every last person must learn how to take better care of themselves — for everyone’s sake. That means staying cleaner, healthier, better fed, better hydrated. And my take is, this will be one result of what we are going through now.

This is a wakeup call. For example, what would you do if you had 30 days to live? That’s the situation many people are about to face. It’s a good question, too.

Photo by Lanvi Nguyen.

An In-Body Experience

Here’s another way to think of it. The impact of the internet has been to drive us out of body. This started with telegraph, radio and telephone, though we’re now a century and five orders of magnitude beyond that.

We are now, collectively, having an in-body experience, of dealing with an actual problem on the physical plane of reality. We are being forced to think about what we touch and the air that we breathe.

The central problem we are existing with now is how many people think that life is all a fantasy, a kind of virtual or enhanced “reality.” You may not walk around thinking, “I’m not really here,” but you’ve been carefully conditioned to not really be here.

I understand that from the standpoint of metaphysics this is “all an illusion,” or “all part of the great maya.” Though for that matter, not everyone who takes LSD or ayahuasca is an enlightened master.

If you read me at all, you’ve probably read this quote at least three times, maybe 10, by the late Eric McLuhan, son of the even later Marshall:

“The body is everywhere [everywhere you take it] assaulted by all of our new media, a state which has resulted in deep disorientation of intellect and destabilization of culture throughout the world. In the age of disembodied communication, the meaning and significance and experience of the body is utterly transformed and distorted.”

To repeat the operative phrase, “the meaning and significance and experience of the body is utterly transformed and distorted.” We are now experiencing this problem, and trying to address it, in the context of utter transformation and distortion.

Photo by Lanvi Nguyen.

Traveling at Electric Speeds

Earlier this month, Eric’s son (and my McLuhan study pal) Andrew sent me another quotation of his father that completes the idea. Remember, he’s talking about all of us. Try this on:

“At electric speeds, we, not messages, are sent. It is an old observation that on the phone or on the air you are in more than one place at a time, minus the physical body that you once used to define identity. The cybernaut abandons his body and physical identity and self (including gender) whenever he embarks on each trek into cyberspace. The conditions for disorientation are complete: out of body, out of time, out of space.”

(Note, when I first entered the internet in the 1990s, I could feel this palpably — like I was in some weightless dimension, and it was great fun. Gradually that gave way to the feeling being “normal.”)

By this metric, you can count on quite a few people thinking none of this whole virus thing is real enough to be concerned about. Heck, Fox “News” commentators can claim that this is all a hoax to manipulate the stock market and make Trump seem like he’s not doing such a good job.

Oh really, Mr. Smith. Have these space aliens been visiting you for long?

That is what I would call “total distortion.” That is what I would call “out of body, out of time and out of space.”

On Wednesday, Dr. Anthony Fauci, who heads the infectious diseases section of the NIH, was testifying before Congress. Trump summoned him to the White House during his testimony, i.e., shut him down. He was telling our elected reps we have a problem on our hands that we need to address. Trump cut the mic and dropped the curtain. Total distortion.

Now, Congress itself may be banned from meeting, in order to protect senators and representatives from exposure. Several were exposed at that conservative fest the other day; one of them, U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, the guy who wore the gas mask as a joke, flew with Trump on Air Force One and got a ride in The Beast (his armored limo). These are vehicles that travel through ordinary time and space at ordinary speeds. He is now under self-quarantine. We can only imagine the decontamination efforts undertaken in the presidential vehicles after he left. Heck, the Secret Service driver could get infected. [At press time,we learned that Gaetz tested negative for the virus.]

One last thought. Both Biden and Sanders canceled campaign rallies on Tuesday, and will debate next week without an audience — to protect the public. Trump’s rallies will continue, or that is the plan. The problem is that those who are out of body can have an impact on those who are thoughtfully addressing the physical plane of existence.

Photo by Lanvi Nguyen.

One Last Thought: The Fear Factor

As you may know, I’m a fan of homeopathy. Were I not an astrologer, I would be a homeopath. So I guess I’m a little more than a fan. Here is what I can tell you, from having looked into this over the years. All of the homeopathic remedies associated with flu-like respiratory illnesses involve fear.

Homeopathic remedies address physical symptoms, though all have notes about the associated mental symptoms. They read like this, just as an example: “Melancholy with timidity, fear. Anxious and pale, with cold sweat. Irritable, cross, infuriated by least annoyance.”

It might seem obvious to connect an illness that feels like suffocating to fear, though it deserves consideration. The kinds of fear connected to flu-like respiratory infections include anticipation anxiety, paralyzing fear, waking up in terror of death, we’re all gonna die, fear of going out, fear of germs, and so on.

The remedy that would resolve or prevent H1N1 of 1917-1918 was called Gelsemium, which is about paralyzing fear and anticipation anxiety. It saved a lot of lives — if someone was fortunate enough to be treated by a homeopath prior to being given aspirin by a conventional doctor. (This especially pertained to ships returning from World War I at the peak of the crisis. Some had homeopaths as the ship’s physician and some did not. The ones that did not fared very poorly. The ones that did fared very well.)

Many have commented that the real pandemic is fear. I agree that is the more serious problem, because fear itself is so distracting from rational thought and conduct. It is also the thing driving markets down, which will do some serious damage to the economy. So on the good days those traders are driven by greed. On the bad days, they are driven by terror, resulting in a massive selloff. Mind you, this is all happening in cyberspace, with repercussions on the physical plane.

So — as the worm turns, as society changes, we have some choices to make, nearly all of which involve our relationship to our bodies: whether and how we take care of them; how we feel living in them; the ultimate value we place on them.

I understand that “the body is not everything.”

However, while we are here, it remains the temple of the soul.

With love,

PS — Here is a song that I often play when the going gets rough: “Before the Deluge” by Jackson Browne. It carries a firm caution: good intentions are not enough.

Photo by Lanvi Nguyen.

Planet Waves (ISSN 1933-9135) is published each Sunday and Thursday evening in Kingston, New York, Planet Waves, Inc. Core Community membership: $197/year. Editor & Publisher: Eric F. Coppolino. Web Developer: Anatoly Ryzhenko. Associate Editor: Amy Elliott. Assistant Editor: Joshua Halinen. Client Services: Victoria Emory. Illustrator: Lanvi Nguyen. Finance: Andrew Slater. Archivist: Morgan Francis. Technical Assistants: Emily Thing, Cate Ryzhenko. Proofreading: Jessica Keet. Media Consultant: Andrew McLuhan. Music Director: Daniel Sternstein. Bass and Drums: Daniel Grimsland. Additional Music: Zeljko. Additional Research, Writing and Opinions: Samuel Dean, Yuko Katori, Amanda Painter, Cindy Tice Ragusa and Carol van Strum.

Many times I have quoted Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche: “We do indeed live in an age of decadence, but the dharma is not decadent. The dharma is the same as it always has been.” Despite the challenges of our time, you can focus on your purpose, which is related to the World Purpose. You can step into your calling as one who came to our planet to make a positive difference. This is integral to your healing path, your personal mission and the necessities of the world. In this new video reading, about work and relationships, we will use the astrological markers of our moment to point the way, and clear the way. Pre-order all 12 signs of THE DHARMA here.

Monday Morning Horoscope #219 for March 9, 2020

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You can also now find horoscopes by Eric on this page.

Aries (March 20-April 19) — You need some time in the sanctity of your own thoughts, to consider where you are at in life, and what you want. Various events keep extracting you into the world, particularly via the digital sphere. You have an important investment of yourself there, particularly social, and you’ve figured out how to have actual fun. I suggest you remember that there is much more to who you are, and recall other modes of social interaction that were, in prior times, deeply meaningful to you. Still, it’s like a magnet, and for you there is something stabilizing about how you present yourself and how you exist in these strange, electronic ethers. In your true inner realms, though, you access the deeper levels of your creativity, and your sensitivity. As Mercury changes directions, you will feel that draw into your inner ocean, or at least to the shore. If you hang out there, you will feel some relief from the pressures of the world. Music ameliorates. Get your full Aries reading by Eric here.

The Journey of You and Chiron | A New Reading by Eric Francis

Anyone who has encountered it is curious about Chiron. Planet Waves provides one of the few dependable online sources of information on this unusual planet. For the 10th anniversary Astrology Studio reading, I will be covering Chiron in Aries — a momentous event for all those born under this sign, and of high interest to everyone else. Pre-order this reading here for the best price.

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — Freedom is an inner state of being, much more so than an outer one. Yet if you’re feeling restless and like you need to stretch out, take some tangible steps and do it. Even pushing one seeming limit of your life or your world will help you. I suggest social. Take a moment and consider what would be your ideal social environment, which means human environment. That feeling of wanting to experience a liberating burst directly involves your contact with other people, and your need to be accepted for exactly who you are. That is possible, though it begins with self-acceptance, or said another way, being at peace with yourself. I know this can seem impossible to a good few people, or so rare as to be a kind of dream. Even if you want to change and have a long list of things you want to change about yourself, making progress comes from boldly meeting the challenge of inner harmony. Get your full Taurus reading by Eric here.

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — Mercury is now stationing direct, after one of the longest, strangest retrograde trips in recent memory. They usually have a touch of weirdness; this one has spread its influence all over the world. Your little planet has landed in late Aquarius, which is your solar 9th house — that of your worldview, your big plans, and the elements of your faith. Certain persistent questions have come to a point where you may be able to phrase them in ways open to a viable answer. I suggest you focus your intentions on one particular goal or motive, and work with that for long enough to get a result. It is again time to rethink the whole notion of ‘career’ and ‘profession’ from the inside out. That means starting from your deepest creative impulse and translating that into tangible work. You might take that as “what do I like to do every day, and where do I like to do it?” Ask that question, without any prejudices about what is possible. Ask, and write down your honest answer. Then stare at it for a while. Get your full Gemini reading by Eric here.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Several different factors are working together to make you more visible and to power up your sense of purpose, in relationship to your surroundings. You will like this because you’re getting opportunities to take care of people in ways that are suited to your nature. While you have a conservative streak (what tantra calls ‘preserver’ energy), you’re also a little quirky and a tad particular. Let that work for you. You don’t really want to fit in anywhere; you want to take leadership doing what only you can do. Leadership does not necessarily involve being police chief or captain of the rugby team. In your case it means connecting to life so as to give you the pleasure of full commitment, and letting others see that such a thing is possible. Yes, there are always challenges associated with this, and true individuality often comes with a touch of feeling isolated. But take note, that is usually an illusion. Get your full Cancer reading by Eric here.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — Remain true to yourself and to your purpose. Don’t let anyone distract you, or convince you of anything that is not true for you. Focus on the idea of what you want, and want to become; you don’t need to put as much effort into it as you may think. In fact it would help a little if you temper your drive to get things done, and focus more on being what you want to be. I know that in Western civilization, “doing” and “being” are considered the same thing, which is a theory that deserves to be tested. You can test it by experimenting with existing in the state you aspire to. You slip into this like a glove. There is no concern or anxiety involved, no more than in calm breathing. Most people think that if they work hard enough, they will get to a place where they are satisfied with their lives. You have an opportunity to start with the result, and then gradually backtrack into the appropriate level of activity. Get your full Leo reading by Eric here.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — You’re in the process of having a revelation about the nature of both a personal relationship, and a work situation. Once you see the scenario for what it is, you will feel much better; you will see how you have room to expand your sense of who you are, and stretch into a new reality. Belief presents one of the most serious obstacles in this world, whether it’s true or not. Once belief is seen for what it is, the alternatives seem much better: awareness, understanding, curiosity, and acknowledging your need for adventure. The world may seem like an exceedingly dangerous place right now. But most of that danger is coming through provoked emotions and a level of intellect best described as theoretical. In reality, many paths are open to you, and you remain in possession of your individual quest, and your individual karma. Count on the big scenario of the world taking care of itself. Focus on something specific to you. Get your full Virgo reading by Eric here.

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — You may be craving a daring experiment of some kind. Maybe it’s a financial experiment; the markets are volatile enough for someone who knows what they’re doing. Maybe it’s an emotional experiment, the choice to reveal your feelings to someone you care about. Maybe it’s a sexual experiment. Typically for humans in our moment in the world, these desires are usually suffocated under ten layers of denial. The available bandwidth seems to get narrower and narrower. Yet you’re not actually bound by it. Something, a feeling or desire, may break through to the surface, and if it does, you have the potential to experiment. This is about pleasure and sharing; it’s about investing yourself in an experiment. Contrary to nearly all of the sexual values of our world, no power over anyone else is involved. No value is exchanged except for what is inherent in the experience: what you offer, what you feel, what you learn. Get your full Libra reading by Eric here.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — You could be seeing a bold, simple situation as much more complex than it is. Perhaps this is due to your tendency to overthink most things to an exponential degree. Yet that often works out to be a means of rationalizing yourself out of your desire to have a far more interesting life. Have you considered the sources of the fears that trouble you? Have you considered how much better your life will be without them? What you will have to ‘give up’ is the false certainty associated with restricting your experience. Yet once you step outside of that, you will invoke a kind of vulnerability that is especially freaky these days. One generation ago, the things you want to do were for many people just simply the thing to do. It can be that easy, though the first attachment to let go of is needing the approval of others (mostly, surrogates for your relatives, or the actual people). Thankfully, there is someone in your life who is calling you to another place, another time, another kind of existence. Get your full Scorpio reading by Eric here.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — Take the opportunity to improve your financial situation. This is always driven by motivation. It’s not about luck; intelligence plays a role, though it’s useless if you’re not connected to an energy source — and you now have one. Relying on others for your financial wellbeing is not a good strategy for you. You are more the self-reliant type, though there are always points of contact. Partnership questions are therefore mostly a matter of structure. It’s better if you’re the one who controls the accounts, your cash flow and your spending priorities. It’s better if you set the agenda, and fortunately you have one. You’re in a better position if you don’t want money for its own sake, but rather to accomplish specific tasks, whether that means paying the electric bill, helping a friend or acquiring something you want. Connect dollar amounts to specific plans, and set structured goals. Once you get into the swing of intending to do something and then succeeding, you will want more. Get your full Sagittarius reading by Eric here.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — This is a potential moment of clarity for you, when the fog clears and you can see into the distance. Inwardly, envision the sediment of your emotions settling to the bottom of the lake, and the water taking on a transparent quality. In this space, ideas will come to you. You will see through previously vexing problems. And you have the ability to get out of your own way, which you can refine into a method. Mostly what you stumble over involves questions of priorities. The word “priorities” means paying attention to what comes before something else, and this can be based on time, or on preference. You can resolve that easily by stopping and asking yourself what has to happen next. Get difficult or complex projects started long in advance, even if you begin with a few notes scribbled down. Gently get things moving, and keep your energy flowing. Even if you’re knackered or stressed, do your best to stay focused. Persist gently and your stress level will drop, and your energy will bounce back. Get your full Capricorn reading by Eric here.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — Mercury stations direct in your sign Monday, combined with a Full Moon across the sensitive partnership and commitment angle of your solar chart. You may be asking yourself who you can really trust. That’s a good question. The answer is most likely those who demonstrate their trustworthiness, through consistently treating you well. Notice who is good for their word — that is, those for whom the promises they make matter. Take the opportunity to track your own patterns and guide yourself into being committed to fulfilling what you agree to. Today would be a good day to reflect and make a list of any unkept promises. Then reach out and let people know that they’re still on your mind, and you intend to fulfill them. You might find this goes further to calm your anxiety than anything else you can do. Get your full Aquarius reading by Eric here.

Astrology Studio for Pisces | A New Reading by Eric Francis

This is a momentous time in collective history, and a turning point in your life. As the year develops, most of the movement — including Pisces’ ruling planet Jupiter, and the Jupiter-Saturn conjunction — will be pointing into Aquarius, the most sensitive and innermost angle of your chart. I will also cover the retrogrades of Venus and Mars, and the forthcoming Jupiter-Pluto conjunction in your friendship sign Capricorn. Mostly, I will help you orient on your profound journey, and offer guidance how to harmonize with the world at this unusual time. Get instant access to this reading here.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — This week’s combined aspects are offering you many unusual opportunities. Stay where people can see, hear and feel you, and no hiding your light under a bushel. At the moment, you’re blessed with an unusual and appealing way of expressing yourself, so speak up when the desire fills you. The world is in a ridiculous state of fear and chaos at the moment, though you’re in a position to both work with the energies and make the situation work for you. Remember that you’re playing the long game. Therefore, remember that whatever you say and do today will have effects in the future. And at the same time, peer ahead and see yourself in a place you want to be, doing something you want to do, and keep taking steps in that direction. Even your seemingly modest moves and gestures can mean a lot; what matters above all else is your sincerity. You will be able to avoid most errors with a little calm reflection, in advance of making any decision, no matter how minor. Get your full Pisces reading by Eric here.

Monday into Tuesday: Steady As She Goes

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Dear Friend and Reader:

Within approximately 36 hours of this writing (by late Monday or early Tuesday, depending on your time zone), the Full Moon will peak, and Mercury retrograde will end. That’s enough movement to give a little jolt to the psychic field and offer a sense of where we’re at.

I’ve said a lot about this confluence of events, both in the article below (reprinted from Thursday) and one that it links to, from one week ago today.

Once you have an idea that this kind of astrology is happening, the thing to do is to be observant of yourself and the world around you. Listen to what people say, notice what you observe visually, notice how you feel, and keep your subtle senses on.

Photo by Lanvi Nguyen.

Helpful Practical Information

Before I get to the main theme of this article, which I promise to keep brief, here is some potentially helpful information.

We continue to update a special news feed related to the world public health situation. We are watching major news sources, Asian regional news sources, as well as dependable specialized publications. Our contacts around the world are reporting in locally. If you have news from your area, please contact us.

That federal Centers for Disease Control has denied New York State permission to allow seven private labs to test for the virus is an indication of how the federal government is handling the situation. Trump has even said that he wants to keep the reported numbers low. This is the "don’t look, don’t find, not there" method of assuring the public that everything is fine.

The new Planet Waves FM covers two topics of potential interest. One is a look at both the astrology and world situation involving the virus, in the first part of the program. The second part includes a discussion of what it means to step outside of the authoritarian medical model and learn methods of self-care.

With medical science having nothing to offer in the way of a cure or direct prevention, we are left with their best advice: keep your hands clean, avoid touching your face, practice social distancing, and learn how to sneeze and cough without infecting others. Get help if you think you’re sick. And that’s about it.

That means many people will be entering the wilderness of natural remedies, with little experience and no dependable sources of information. I discuss how to handle this situation, and how to take control of your decision making process.

Word is getting out that hand sanitizers do not help and can make matters worse.

Photo by Lanvi Nguyen.

An Idea From Homeopathy

Over the years, and in recent weeks, I’ve been seeing ideas for the homeopathic remedy that might address this problem. In days of old, there would be something called the genus epidemicus, a remedy for the whole epidemic.

Remedies nearly all have mental states (psychic and emotional conditions) that come along with their physical symptoms. All of the remedies described so far have the common property of fear. It might be fear of germs, anticipation anxiety, not wanting to go out, paralyzing fear, and panicky fear of death.

While it seems obvious to say that there is fear associated with fever-related illnesses in general and with the first truly global pandemic in recent memory (and for most, in living memory), this is worth taking conscious note of.

The disease pattern of illnesses of the kind we’re looking at all take root in an environment where fear is a dominant mental state.

Whatever else you may be doing to prepare for possible disruptions, do what you can to keep your spirits high. Take pleasure in your commitment to care for yourself and your loved ones.

Meanwhile, appreciate how delicate life is. This is a good time to tread lightly on the Earth. While this situation is going to take its toll, I believe it’s possible for many individuals and for society itself to learn some important things.

We need an occasion to shift our priorities away from greed-based politics and the notion that obsessive consumption somehow equals prosperity. We need an occasion to prioritize taking care of people as the first responsibility of society. More than that, we need a self-care revolution.

For now, we’re on our own. And while we’re on our own, I propose that our approach be to keep living, and to live well. Take care of what you need to do, cut unnecessary things from your list, and make sure you do some of what you love the most.

If you are one of the strong ones, take care of yourself, so you can take care of others.

With love,

Action Memo: Mercury Storm/Full Moon

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The article below takes the astrology out to early April. The next few paragraphs (in this short article) sum up my suggestions for the next approximately 10 days, through the end of Mercury retrograde and the weekend of the Full Moon. Many more details are in the article below. This is just a summary.

Shanghai, Xizang Road Market. Photo by Lanvi Nguyen.

We are experiencing what has been a particularly challenging retrograde for many. I suggest handling the coming week and into the weekend as if we were already in Mercury storm phase, which is still about five days away.

The combination of the approaching Full Moon, Mercury changing signs in retrograde motion (re-entering Aquarius), and then slowing down to its station, plus other details (Venus square Saturn, for example) are advising caution, particularly in business transactions. Things are going to proceed fast as the Moon waxes toward full phase, so beware of anyone wanting to speed things up and/or corner you. Bide your time as you can, which means abide in your time.

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Inside, Outside: A New Moon in Many Layers

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The Pisces New Moon, which was exact Sunday morning, is a chart whose message comes in several main layers. One is the presentation, which you might think of as the press release. The other is what’s really going on with you.

One is the crust; the other is the deeper substance, which may seem a bit unfathomable, like a vast undersea world.

The surface layer is related to Venus in Aries square Jupiter in Capricorn. This is a kind of public relations position, very common in our era (we might think of “social media” as a PR campaign, where everyone serves as their own representative).

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Monday Morning Horoscope #217 for Feb. 24, 2020

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Aries (March 20-April 19) — There are times along the way to learning how to be yourself that you have to exaggerate a little. That might mean speaking a little more loudly, dressing in bright colors, or seeking more attention for something you’ve done or are doing. It might mean sifting the emphasis of a relationship to your agenda. This is not a ‘permanent’ state but rather a test run, like trying something on. Then you might reflect and make some adjustments. This seems to be happening on a deep level for you: both the trying on, and soon, the adjustment process. You are likely to be discovering a kind of inner power you were only dimly aware of previously. Over the next week or so, this goes from an external experience (something you share) to a deeply internal one (what you feel, how you are challenged to grow, and letting go of who you no longer want to be). Get your full Aries reading by Eric here.

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — You can put yourself out there — announce your existence, make a statement, take a position — though there are no assurances of how your message will be received. Particularly now, with the world so polarized and everyone so confused, anything could be taken as meaning anything. That said, you seem determined to get your message out, or to make your presence known. While Mercury is retrograde in the public angle of your chart, I suggest you conduct little tests. Float ideas both on social media and during in-person conversations, then see the results you get. Do your best to state your idea in as neutral a way as possible just to explore the ensuing discussion. You’re likely to hear things you never would have expected. I suggest you start on a small scale, and carefully study the results. You may apply this approach to any communication puzzle you may be facing in your life, whether personal or professional. Get your full Taurus reading by Eric here.

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — Proceed with caution and patience on any moves related to your career. There is way too much room for error, illusion and misunderstanding at the moment, which pretty much assures you’re likely to get it wrong, for now. Let’s prevent that. Therefore, place yourself in research and fact-finding mode. Do a lot of listening. Track multiple sources of data, and figure out what is actually going on. This will help you build a strategy that you can begin to put to work some time after Mercury stations direct on March 9. If, meanwhile, you are doing something related to a career change, a new job, or some role where you must take authority, tune in like an owl watching a forest at night. Take your time and don’t make any sudden moves! Information will come to you by way of unusual, invisible or seemingly impossible means. When in doubt, break out the three-column method for the assessment of a situation or fact pattern: 1. What you know for sure; 2. What you don’t know; 3. What you suspect. Work on that for a while and see what happens. Get your full Gemini reading by Eric here.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Your best new plan may be a dusted-off old one. So take a little while, and retrieve and review a number of possibilities you considered high priorities in the past. Ruminate on them a bit and see what you come up with. No doubt they will need a little modernization, though it’s the central idea that counts. Meanwhile, whatever you’re involved in at the moment has the potential to be done in an interesting way. First of all that means interesting to you: exciting and engaging of your curiosity. This is especially true of any communication-related venture, such as writing or broadcast or even music. You’re also in a brilliant moment to turn supposedly spiritual teachings on their ear, and set yourself free from ideas that you have found vexing in the past. You have some extra penetrating vision to see past lies, deception and disinformation in any form. Use your talent well. Get your full Cancer reading by Eric here.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — Now is the time to focus on any sexual healing projects you’ve had on the back burner. You may make a discovery or connection over the next few days to a week, which will seem like a veil being dropped off of the hidden truth. Take this gently. You have no need to act at this point, only to be aware of your feelings and how you’re responding to them. If you’re inclined to discuss this topic with an intimate partner, make sure that you have a sense of where you’re coming from before you do. Sit with your impressions until you get some clarity. Now is not, however, the best time to take action within major partnerships, be they sexual or financial. It is, though, a more appropriate moment to carry on a conversation at a low simmer. Expand your awareness to where those with whom you have commitments are coming from: how they feel, about themselves, about you and about your shared circumstances. Get your full Leo reading by Eric here.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — Mars making its way across Capricorn, your solar 5th house, is heating up your creative/experimental zone. This transit is inviting you to indulge your needs, desires and talents. You may feel if you do that, you will go out of control, though in a sense that is the idea. You tend to be a bit compressed and over-cautious where your self-expression is concerned. Even small gestures can seem like a big deal, though now you’re being fired up by Mars, in its sign of exaltation. This is about the love you make as much as it is about anything else you might design, draw, sculpt, fabricate or scribble onto a napkin. Stay in territory that feels a little dangerous, and where you’re not sure the outcome. Draw on the past at least a little — to do something new is often seeded with a bit of the old yeast. What you’re going for is the feeling of connecting your ideas to physical expression. Let it happen. Get your full Virgo reading by Eric here.

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — It would seem that the only way to let go of the past is to immerse yourself in whatever you’re feeling. You seem to be working to resolve old anger and insecurity. Mercury retrograde may throw a fog over that basic fact, making it seem like something else is worrying you — one of your usual health complaints, for example. Yet these always tie into what you’re feeling on the most elemental level: hungry, thirsty, confident, insecure or others on that level. So keep it basic and notice what your body is telling you, rather than what you think it’s telling you. Down at the root level, you are doing two things in one: you are claiming something, and you’re letting something go. There is an exchange involved. Identify what you don’t want, feel it deeply, and choose to release your attachment. Then feel what you want the most, and claim it as your own. This involves what motivates you. Get your full Libra reading by Eric here.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — Humans seem to have a hard time changing their minds, even in the face of overwhelming information. You’ve been confronted with many reasons, both urgent and subtle, to rethink several vital matters in your life. They may pertain to family, they may pertain to business, they may pertain to where you live. You probably know what they are: the topics that come up persistently. You now have a new burst of energy that will help you not only to think things through but also to engage the previously missing step, which is taking action. What we are losing track of in our era is that choices must often be enforced by sustained and disciplined movements: actual things you do, and then make sure you did right, and re-do if you need to, until you get yourself to a new level of stability. Get your full Scorpio reading by Eric here.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — Your finances are not the only priority that you need to drive at the moment, though they are a meaningful one. Your life right now is a study in what you value the most; what you hold dear; what you actually live for. Some people know this, and others have to figure it out. Don’t assume you know. The world (and the astrology) is too confused for easy answers, which rarely tell us anything anyway. It is often extreme events that teach us what matters. People tend to learn the most by loss or threat. I would encourage you to take a gentler approach, and make a true inquiry. Here is a clue. There were certain things that really, really mattered to you, which no longer hold so much energy. There are new ideas you have and want to pursue, though the ultimate test is whether you act on them. And there is one thing from the past that is reminding you it still matters — a lot. Get your full Sagittarius reading by Eric here.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — Mars in your own sign is encouraging you to confront your fears. They certainly have their way with you often enough, to the point where you can barely move or make a decision. I suggest you be more curious about this. What happens when you strive to choose something for yourself? How long can you sustain your motivation? Then what typically happens when you act on your decision? By this, I mean when you decide on something that actually matters. Have you noticed a pattern, whether related to your feelings or to what manifests in your environment? Be particularly vigilant about feelings of guilt, and notice where they are coming from. Take note when it seems others move to dissuade or block your movement. This can take the form of anyone or anything appearing to be in the role of an authority figure. Guilt is a sure sign you think someone is trying to run your life. I suggest you be more curious about this. Get your full Capricorn reading by Eric here.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — For many moons, the past has seemed as real as, or more real than, the present. This must be annoying, though it has the advantage of being familiar. After a while it ceases to be a comfort zone and is more like living a film loop that gradually deteriorates but keeps repeating. The question you might ask is, is there some element of your personal history that is trying to get your attention? Do you mistake it for something else? It’s unlikely to be the thing you keep assuming it is. What is hemming you in is something other than you believe. So, start with a list of what you think your limitations are, and then cross them all off and look for the things you have not thought of. And remember that sometimes when you feel corralled, you have to break the fence. Even donkeys know this. Get your full Aquarius reading by Eric here.

Astrology Studio for Pisces | A New Reading by Eric Francis

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Your assignment the next few weeks is to make your mark on the world. You will know you’re doing this when you feel the friction. There is energy involved, and some adventure, and a sense of quest. Basically, your chart describes a time of doing the ground work and the one-to-one retail sales of getting your idea going. Mars is moving through the social angle of your chart, which is Capricorn (this alone suggests that for you, social and professional have a strong affinity for one another). Now is the time to work this angle. But remember, with Mars, you need to be persistent, and have a thicker skin than usual. You might come across to someone as annoying, to someone else as pushy, and to others as determined. Keep going and form bonds with those with whom you feel an affinity, though you must ensure it’s productive and collaborative. This is not a time to compromise on your goals and aspirations. Rather, it’s the time to be originally and exclusively you. Get your full Pisces reading by Eric here.

Monday Morning Horoscope #216 for Feb. 17, 2020

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Aries (March 20-April 19) — Mars, your ruling planet, has just entered Capricorn, which will change the tone of your life in a noticeable way. You must take special care and caution on all matters associated with higher-ups, by which I mean people in authority of any kind. This includes its smaller forms, right down to postal clerks, though in particular, anyone you report to. Take a minimalist approach, and also a proactive one. Do not spring any surprises. Work out the details of any plan you may be involved with, as the current condition of Mercury retrograde will have a tendency to complicate things, and make communication unreliable. Mostly this is about how people handle their interactions with others, and an environment where it seems challenging to be mindful. That means you must pay all the more attention, and make sure you understand the intentions of others, making no assumptions. And be extremely cautious about taking authority that you do not have. Get your full Aries reading by Eric here.

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — You may draw support from Mars in your fellow earthy sign Capricorn, which will lend momentum to your latest adventure or thought experiment. You may use the future as a resource. However, be wise about how you extract the power of time. Recognize that it’s not infinite, and must be used efficiently and economically — though it is yours to work with. Plan ahead in manageable bites, leaving yourself extra time for all of your intended endeavors. Personally I think that it’s not functional to fill up one’s day-calendar months (or years) ahead. You want flexibility, which is the ability to make decisions. Leave at least half of your productive time (or more) unscheduled. Commit yourself only to your highest professional priorities and your most pleasurable activities. You must be disciplined and structured, which in this scenario means limiting your commitments. Aside, be especially conscious in all public communications. Stop and think twice every time you click “post,” “update,” or “send.” Get your full Taurus reading by Eric here.

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — You are about to get a kind of power test — such as running electricity through a new kind of circuitry. The test involves you sizing up the ability of others to influence you, or meddle in your affairs. It also relates to what you do with desire — whether your own or that of someone else. If I may offer a suggestion here, you want to be the one making the decisions. You are the one who chooses what you do and do not do with your body. This is not so much about fending off aggression as it is handling the assertiveness of others, in situations where it may not serve your best interests. So that is the thing to check out first, last, and foremost. Consider whether the potential resulting attachment is going to benefit you. Notice whether you are making an implied commitment. Where financial matters are concerned, you simply must stay in control of the contractual language. Where there is some important matter pending, with Mercury retrograde taking off, your best tactic will be to delay at least a month. Get your full Gemini reading by Eric here.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Mars has just arrived in your opposite sign, which describes an increase in the energy from your surrounding environment. This could come in the form of professional offers, admirers, and detractors. There will be circumstances where you need to think quickly. I suggest reading Gemini, as the themes are similar, though more general than the contracts/sex/finances angle I describe there. One thing right off the stick is, you must become comfortable with people expressing attraction toward you. Remember, you get to respond your way, meaning, you make your own choices no matter what anyone else wants. Yet you also cannot aggressively resist or push back. That does not work, especially with so much energy moving. All negotiations must be put on the slow tack, giving you time to make a careful review of the ‘who, what and when’ type particulars. Mercury is retrograde, close to Neptune. Things are not quite what they seem, and you will only deduce the truth in layers. That said, listen to the very first thing someone says to you — that is probably the truth. Not the second thing, the first. Get your full Cancer reading by Eric here.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — You must look after your health and your stress level through the remainder of the season. This has been an important point of focus for you the past three years or so, and you have probably learned a lot about listening to your body and keeping track of your energy level. Pay special attention now. One challenge, though, is that it could be difficult to pin down specifics. So you will need to start with keeping track of your rest, and resisting the temptation to work all the time (one of your specialties, though the current moment calls for some balance). Then do the Wise Woman thing and nourish and tonify. Make sure you eat the foods that you need. Regulate your body temperature and make sure your physical environment is not too warm. If you’re in a northern climate, wrap up and move around in some chilly air. Do things that cool you off, and others that provide a vent for your energy, of which you thankfully have plenty. Get your full Leo reading by Eric here.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — The reality of a personal situation may dawn on you, in the form of finally figuring out what someone close to you has been trying to say. The trick will be remembering what that was. It could seem like the most plainly obvious thing when you hear it, then you might forget. So you will need to get an actual pencil and actual paper and actually write it down. This is not merely about a fact; your perspective is intuitive, and this is easy to miss. You’re also evolving your perception, so beware of the notion that you are perceiving someone or something in its ‘final’ form. In particular, you are a work in rapid progress at the moment, and this is going to change the way you see people and your situations with them. The fact that your awareness is changing means you are changing. And, it so happens, in ways you’ve been wanting to change for a long time. Get your full Virgo reading by Eric here.

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — Mars making its way into Capricorn could kick up some dust or hurt feelings from some past events or situation. You may get a sense of the spots you have yet to heal. Be glad you’re finding out about them, and that they are revealing themselves under relatively calm circumstances. You know you’ve been through far worse at certain times the past three years, and in the more distant past. That, however, is easy to forget if you are feeling insecure. I would remind you that it’s not possible to take retribution on the past, tempting though the feeling may be. You cannot fix your history — not, at least, under the conditions of linear time. You can only address how you feel in the present and tap into what it tells you about what you experienced previously. You can make choices about any conditions that may be prompting your feelings. Stay in the present. Keep your focus. Get your full Libra reading by Eric here.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — You may now be facing a series of unmade decisions, or the opportunity to address unresolved situations. Remember that resolution comes through seeing your options and choosing among them. This is a confrontation — specifically, an inner confrontation that will compel you to come to terms with yourself. You do this a little bit every time you must sort out your possibilities and determine which one of them is really about who you are, and who you want to be. You will, meantime, be confronted by sensations and even some seeming potential choices that have nothing to do with your life now. You will need to be vigilant about knowing what is relevant, and what is essentially the result of the mind control known as guilt. If at any point you get the feeling, “I would do that, except I feel guilty about it,” that is the moment to stop and note you’ve got something with energy in your hands. You’ve got something real. The guilt is there to deflect you from something that is deeply true. Get your full Scorpio reading by Eric here.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — It’s high time you addressed your insecurities and doubts where a domestic situation is concerned. It is difficult for you to see the influence of your family, related to why it is you have trouble standing up to people. You might start with whether you felt anyone actually cared about what you had to say when you were much younger, and how that treatment and your experience of it shaped your world view. I used to speak a lot more quickly than I do today. Once, in a Hakomi Therapy session, I figured out this was because as a child, I had to get a word in edgewise. Other people eat quickly because there was competition at the dinner table, and others have anxiety around the bathroom because there were pressures there. Take the time to notice how you feel when you peel back the first few layers of what seems like the issue. If you find yourself in an argument, ask yourself what, exactly, the matter is — beneath the obvious. If you can, identify what you perceive as the threat. That will tell you most of what you need to know. Get your full Sagittarius reading by Eric here.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — Mars has entered your sign, which usually means energy and confidence. Yet in an odd way, you may feel blocked, as if you have passionate desires and deep intentions but feel powerless to do anything about them. Or, you feel like it’s too much to offer yourself to the “risk” of moving in the direction you want. This may be an old kind of paralysis, and now you get to figure it out and move through it. If you look a little deeper, consider the possibility that you’re afraid to go out of control. See if you can notice the sensation of needing to “hold it in” so you don’t “let it all out.” Truth is, once you get going on the thing you want and need to do, you’re going to let it all out. To tap your energy is to release your energy. Checking yourself entirely is not any form of protection. Usually, it’s a way to compromise or to please someone who you perceived as holding power over you. You no longer need to do that, though you might piss off someone in the process. You have your business and they have theirs. Get your full Capricorn reading by Eric here.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — As you get another chance to experience your anxieties, you might approach the whole thing with a healthy, wholesome dose of “been there, done that.” You also would benefit from using the skills you have acquired. We are taught or told over and over again that fear is not effective or accurate or useful. But addressing it remains a vexing issue, in a world where there seems to be new terror around every corner. Yet is that really true? Yes, we are mortal; yes, we face the challenge or the struggle to survive. Many struggle to get through the day. But that is different from guilt or anxiety, whether general or projected onto some specific topic. You might pay special attention to fears projected onto sexuality in any form. That will contain particularly vital information, especially if the fear comes in the form of guilt. Have you tried to exercise your sexual freedom lately, whether in your mind, with your words, or with your body? What exactly happens? Get your full Aquarius reading by Eric here.

Astrology Studio for Pisces | A New Reading by Eric Francis

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Mercury is now stationing retrograde in your sign. You may have noticed that you’ve been investing considerable energy in getting others to take responsibility for themselves. This may be an actual fact and necessity of your existence. However, you might find it easier to simply move on from those who lack or are deficient in this basic value: accountability. You have enough to do, and you have enough people to do it with — and most of them are not strictly necessary. For a while, experiment with the idea that you’re on your own — a solo actor rather than part of a group. Yesterday I got curious and looked up the homeopathic proving of avocado. Try this on for size: “This is a remedy for people who feel very strongly outside the group. The issue is not so much about belonging, but about having some extra, additional powers or knowledge, setting one apart from the general activities of the others. The person can see what the others are doing and can interpret how the group activity will or will not flow.” Stand apart when you must. Get your full Pisces reading by Eric here.