Last Days of Taurus, Sagittarius Full Moon

Dear Friend and Reader:

The Sun is moving through the last five degrees of Taurus this week. With the Sun at the end of a sign, there can be some “let’s get this wrapped up” tension, and I would encourage you to take your time and reach for completion. The Sun’s trip through a sign is a journey. Taurus is a deep sign. Every day counts.

You’ll get there. Photo by eswendel.

When the Sun changes signs on Friday, May 20, the Moon is nearly at opposition — and the Full Moon takes place on Saturday, May 21. So, as the Sun moves through the late degrees of Taurus, the Moon is waxing toward full phase, and that will be an adventure.

Pay attention, and do your best to defuse negative tension rather than feed it. Alternately, you have the option to play with tension in a positive way (conversation, friendly debate, actual exploration of ideas, role play and so on).

The heat of this event is described by the Full Moon closely conjunct Mars retrograde in Sagittarius. This will bring to the forefront the many questions of Mars retrograde, which we’ve been covering week by week all throughout Planet Waves (including in the horoscope below).

You can reasonably expect some previously hidden feelings, ideas, necessities or underlying issues to rise to the surface. Here is the thing to remember: How you handle them is up to you.

The action in the sky is about to shift in the direction of what are, in theory anyway, the most flexible signs: Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces. This is a reminder that your mind is flexible. You have the ability to see options and to make decisions. You have the ability to change, which is a necessity of growth. Said another way, growth IS change. And the wave that is rapidly approaching is encouraging you to embrace this basic fact of existence.

I describe the Sagittarius Full Moon and Gemini New Moon charts in Planet Waves TV. I will take it much slower in Tuesday’s Planet Waves FM. See you there.

With love,

Planet Waves Boutique: Your Gateway to the Infinite

“You’re amazing, Eric — and your visionary work is a tremendous boon and inspiration during these volatile times.” — Jost Van Dyke

Whether you find yourself needing the psychic equivalent of a hug and a hot meal, your curiosity is leading you to dig deeply into the mysteries of life and astrology, or you simply can’t get enough of Eric’s clever and thoughtful work, the boutique is the place for you.

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The 2016-17 Taurus birthday reading is now available for immediate access. Check out this fantastic video preview by Eric. This reading makes a special and lasting gift for the Taurus you love. You can order that here.	If you haven’t yet secured your copy of our excellent 2016 Spring Reading, here’s a new video preview just for you. Don’t forget, you can get all 12 signs or choose individual signs. Written horoscopes coming soon!

Aries (March 20-April 19) — How important is your opinion? I would propose that admitting to the facts of what you know is more meaningful than your idea of what they might mean. Facts, by which I mean things you can demonstrate to be true for you now, must point to the need for a decision if they are to be considered relevant. Once you intervene with your opinion, that can become a huge sidetrack, like pundits on TV endlessly debating some future probability but unable to do anything about it other than stage a debate. There seems to be one situation where you are missing vital information. If that’s true, it deserves some acknowledgement. When you make this particular discovery (which is about yourself, and one seems inevitable), that is the time to set the appropriate plan into motion. This is a matter of confidence, and you’ll know it when you have it. Give it a week; there’s no rush.

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — You often have a habit of keeping certain information to yourself. It’s true you have a right to not say anything. Yet if you’re looking for an easy way to let off the pressure in your relationships, it will help if you’re more transparent about what you need. I see the dilemma, though. You might know something, but to admit it outwardly subjects it to a reality test. You might not want to debate the point, for example. There may be another level to this: by not describing your reality, you leave yourself free to change your mind. Here’s an idea: even when you reveal your reality, you’re free to make a new decision (which is inevitable, as nearly all decisions get reviewed and remade eventually). Yet, when you don’t reveal your needs, what you do is deprive people close to you of the ability to respond to who you are in your current reality. Everyone will benefit from that opportunity. And it will do something helpful, which is to keep you focused on the present.

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — In a few days, the Sun will burst into your sign, which I reckon will come with the feeling of being set free. Yet from what, exactly? A state of mind, mainly. You might call it density. Lately it’s as if your thoughts are moving in slow motion. At the same time it’s become difficult to change your mind in the usual way, to shift your thinking or to change the topic. This may be a reminder that something brewing requires focused, conscious thought. Developments this week will make that possible. I suggest, however, that you create mental space to work out your question. By that I mean the equivalent of clearing a table for the purpose of doing a specific project, such as assembling a puzzle. It’s obvious that something like that needs its own dedicated location for a while; you can’t keep moving it around, or taking it apart and putting it back together. The same is true with the problem you’re solving. Leave it out, where you can see it, with a light shining on it — and the solution will come to you, along with a few other brilliant, practical ideas.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — You seem to need a personal retreat. Obviously it’s not practical to go underground, and you have good reasons to stay accessible and visible most of the time. Yet you might take some extra space for yourself over the next few weeks. Time away from the Internet would be helpful, even if it’s just an evening here and there, or a whole day during the weekend. This is not for the sake of purity, but rather to give you an opportunity to clear your mind. You might think of this as designating an inner sanctuary for yourself. Some might consider this avoiding reality, though you are born under the sign that is associated with seclusion. If you are busy with your career, your relationships and your family, that’s all the more reason to take time and space out, so that you can figure out what you’re feeling, or more likely, give yourself permission to be ambiguous. It’s healthy to indulge that every now and then.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — There is big movement in the house associated with your career, though there is little room for error. That can be a dangerous combination, so you need to slow down and make sure that you take any necessary precautions without stilting yourself. Said another way, make sure you take responsibility for both ends of any line of communication for a week or so. This will require some executive micromanagement, such as calling someone up to ask if they got your email. You’re good at that, anyway; though the key will be maintaining your wider vision at the same time. You must keep a high vantage point and a broad perspective. Know what larger plan every smaller element fits into. Go for efficiency points and make things applicable to various goals and purposes. And when you’re dealing with higher-ups, bosses and others in power, take extra responsibility and measure your words carefully.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — You might experiment with not trying to fit everything through such a narrow opening. You have two main influences working in your chart at this point (and for the foreseeable future). One of them has you funneling your whole reality through a pastry-decorating bag, squeezing your emotions through in impeccable detail, including the big chunks. The other is like a brightly colored parachute on a cool, clear day, as you sail silently through the sky and land gently on the ground. This setup seems custom designed to show you how your mind works in closed and open modes; in self-critical and self-embracing modes. While you’re considering these possibilities, I suggest you do whatever you can to increase your flexibility, such as touching your toes and then hanging there loosely for a while every now and then. Overall the theme of your solar chart is about listening to your body. That’s another way of saying feel, and get the message.

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — You might not appreciate the fact that you’re in the role of teacher, guide or the person holding the rudder of your relationships. Yet this is a more meaningful role than you may imagine. While you may find it irksome that you cannot quite get a handle on ‘normal’, you’re certainly gaining experience with eccentric and interesting. Yet if you agree to do your part and hold space open for whatever is strange or unpredictable, you are doing something else, which is fostering a revolution. You have needed a real change in your relationships for a while, which happens to be the same change the world is either eagerly wanting, or avoiding with all its might. Consider yourself a midwife who is helping others birth new ideas about who they are. You can learn a lot about yourself along the way, though your gift of holding space open for the progress of others will be a precious gift in their lives in the coming days and weeks.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — Do your best to keep clear with others this week. Monitor your environment for information; listen to what people say, and remember what they say (especially any ‘off topic’ comments). Notice how one particular situation seems to be on the verge of taking a step, though don’t rush the process. Over the next week or so, you’re likely to make a discovery about someone close to you that provokes an even deeper discovery about yourself. You can afford to take your time with this, and to work without any specific goals for a while. You are in the process of diving into some deep spiritual waters, and you will thrive on the experience if you take the time to feel where you are, and notice what you’re experiencing inwardly, all the time. Water is the deep element. You don’t need to exert much force to move your body. In fact, the less, the better.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — Mars retrograde in your sign is having the effect of making the obvious seem obvious, even if it contradicts what you previously believed. Be glad of the occasion to unburden yourself of so much that was not true. This is a vital step in the process of discovering what is true, getting the clutter that passes for information out of the way. You are gradually entering the realm of direct knowledge. This will take the place of many forms of opinion and theory. Remember that most of this knowledge comes from your relationship with your body, rather than what we think of as the mind. The body has a mind of its own, you might say — and that is the mind you are learning to listen to. The body does not speak in riddles, and it doesn’t speculate. It speaks in clear terms, like thirst (respond by drinking water) or craving anchovies (respond by eating anchovies). You will get other messages as well.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — Your life seems to be an ongoing study in questioning assumptions about yourself. This process set in slowly, and now it’s taken over. However, should you find yourself in any kind of quandary, difficulty or special challenge, you might return to the yoga of investigating what you presumed to be true before you actually verified it in some way. Apart from the obvious problem with this, assumptions deny you the pleasure of curiosity, investigation and experimentation. And your chart is glowing with these things now — with the craving of direct experience, the thirst for learning by doing, and experiencing the freedom to learn from your mistakes. This will help you get out of your head and into your body. You can afford to take more risks than you do, and most of them involve things like the crazy discoveries you make by being ‘wrong’, exploring new feelings and noticing how you respond to people and things the first time.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — Take some time out of every day and remember to feel safe. If it’s raining out, be grateful for having a dry place to live, or that the plants have something to drink. If you have critters, be grateful for your ability to feed them, and to the mutual loyalty of the relationship. It is true that we in the Western world either don’t know how good we have it, or we lose sight of that basic fact. I suggest you keep this truth about your life firmly in mind. Even if you are struggling financially, which is possible with Mercury retrograde in Taurus, you might take time to appreciate your astonishing resources: be they talents, skill sets, values or collections of people and things. Identify your form of abundance, love it and share it. That’s the best place to come from if you want to live even more abundantly. Said more simply, you have what it takes.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — You are learning the benefit of keeping your viewpoint moving. This is a real moment of clarity for you, especially where the grand experiment of following your true calling is concerned. Yet you don’t want too much clarity. I suggest you avoid the mistake of thinking you see things ‘as they are’, remembering how much you’ve gained from taking a circumspect approach to reality. Therefore, explore as many points of observation as you can, and make sure you view your activities or your goal from many perspectives. You will still have the power to focus yourself and to make decisions, but they will be smarter decisions that embrace more of your potential. As a Pisces, you are blessed with the gift of seeing how everything relates to everything else. Use that generously. See the interplay of all things, of all ideas, of all people, and it will be easy to spot your various best roles within the planetary symphony.

Dear Friend and Reader:

Good Monday morning to you. While we have not had a dramatic journalistic buildup to today’s Mercury transit of the Sun, this is an unusual event and, speaking from the standpoint of astrology, indicates a genuine opportunity to make a change in some pattern you may have decided was just not gonna give.

I describe the physics of this in the article below (which you may have already read, though it’s worth emphasizing the point). When you are considering what this might apply to, start with the very thing putting up the most resistance in your life. That might be a current issue or something going back decades.

See if you can reduce the matter to three things: your intentions, your options, and a decision you might therefore make. Be tangible and speak in words that are clear to you. Burn off any fog in your mind and be clear, first, about what you want. Then guide yourself in the direction of options and then of a decision.

Be as real as you can about what is truly important to you. My newest YouTube presentation describes the Mercury transit from a few different viewpoints. The horoscope below was written based on the chart for the Mercury-Sun alignment.

With love,

Monday: Mercury Transit of the Sun

Monday is the midpoint of Mercury retrograde. At that time, Mercury passes between the Sun and the Earth. That is the essence of the retrograde — Mercury going by. That’s called the interior (previously, inferior) conjunction of Mercury and the Sun.

The most recent Mercury transit of the Sun, from Nov. 6, 2006 — shortly after Eris was named and Pluto was ‘demoted’ to minor planet. The transit is an invitation to define your own turning point in your life.

When it does, it usually passes a little above or below the Sun. Most conjunctions are not exact alignments; they are a little off, on the vertical axis. When Mercury and the Sun meet on both the vertical and horizontal axes, that’s called a transit of the Sun — and that’s what we get Monday.

This happens in the sign Taurus. The most fleeting of the planets, Mercury, meets the Sun in its most solid and stable sign, in a kind of mutual infusion of energy.

To me the symbolism is about where mind meets substance. We might scoff at the notion that we can conjure things with our minds, but tell that to someone who sketches a skyscraper on a napkin and then goes and builds the thing. Tell that to someone who writes a hit song, or any song. In one sense the whole universe as we perceive it is a figment of the imagination.

Now we have this exact alignment where mind and matter meet directly. This provides an occasion to develop the connection in your own life. Taking that a step back, you might acknowledge the degree to which your thoughts and your decisions determine much of what you experience as real and as true.

My Monday Morning horoscope below is devoted to this aspect.
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This week in Miracle Hour [play episode] from the Pacifica Network, Eric Francis addresses the question of sexuality in A Course in Miracles. He speaks directly to material in the Course pertaining to the body, to relationships, and to how everyone brings all the meaning to what they perceive. On one hand the Course seems to embrace Christian dualism, and on the other to advocate relationships that go beyond “specialness” or exclusivity. He also offers some of his own experiences. What results is an exciting, fresh philosophical narrative. This edition is the first to make reference to what is called the “unrevised manuscript” of the Course.

Substance, Value and Beauty: Your Taurus Birthday Reading

Dear Friend and Taurus:

Imagine that you walk into an antique shop or guitar shop and you see something that’s way underpriced but you know how rare and valuable it is — that’s an Eric Francis prepared reading. Most people might overlook it, or think that the relatively low price means it’s not valuable; but you know otherwise.

Artist, pioneer, legendary actress and Taurus. Your 2016 birthday reading will help you tap into your inner Katharine.

The insights offered, the production value, the ethics and passion that Eric brings to these readings are all so above par, it’s difficult to compare them to other astrology products out there.

I know you understand what a steal it is to get something so singular in its quality, beauty and longevity for the pre-order price Planet Waves offers.

“For what it’s worth — never heard anything so right on, aligned with what I am looking at, aware of, dealing with, leaning into — especially professionally and emotionally. I can’t even list them all — so many subtle angles and aspects that all resonate and add up. Affirming experiences, potentials, challenges. To a T. Wow.”

—  Robyn Landis

Eric wrote recently that, “Taurus is a kind of worldly incubation process for spiritual growth and movement, on a wider scale than we might imagine.”

Right now both Mars retrograde and Mercury retrograde are taking you deep into yourself. The intensifying Uranus-Eris conjunction also has significant implications for you personally. All of this astrology (and more) is getting at the core of your “incubation process” in a particularly unique way.

I hope you won’t wait to pre-order your 2016 Taurus Birthday Reading. You are certainly welcome to pay full price (or more, if you like), since you know it’s worth it. I suspect, however, that you’d rather snap it up now for $19.97 and score yourself an incredible deal for your birthday.

This will be a mix of studio-quality audio and high-def video, including a tarot reading — a feast for your senses. Or as one reader put it:

“… very much like having an intimate conversation with a valued friend and mentor.”

— Nora Connaughton

Yours & truly,

Amanda Painter

P.S. The 2016 Taurus Birthday Reading is a gift even the most discriminating Taurean loved one will value. Pre-order it now, and they’ll get access as soon as it’s ready.

This is Just the Beginning: Uranus-Eris is Yet to Come

Dear Friend and Reader:

Mars retrograde is only part of this season’s dynamic astrology. In the background, the Uranus-Eris conjunction is nearly exact — you might notice certain issues of identity and self-perception are insisting on your attention.

Eric covers how Uranus-Eris and Mars retrograde interact for each of the 12 signs in the 2016 Spring Reading.

The Sun rises over the Parthenon in Athens, Greece, in this May 16, 2009 photo by Anthony Ayiomamitis.

Have you listened to the free audio introduction Eric recorded for this project? It’s only a taste of what he brings to the video sign readings.

“Brilliant reading, Fire Breathing Fish. Love your maverick personal style too! Onwards, Inwards, Upwards and Outwards!”
— “watersnake” / Linda, commenting on the Libra Spring Reading

As we near the midpoint of Mars retrograde later this month, Eric will be writing a special Mars retrograde horoscope to be delivered to all purchasers of this reading. If you want to receive that hot off the presses, be sure to sign up now for affordable individual signs — or, you can still nab all 12 signs at an amazing price.

Incredible and perfect. Thank you Eric; how many times I’ve said it — I don’t know how you do it but it’s just beautiful!
— Dorothy Rodriguez

Yours & truly,

Amanda Painter

Planet Waves Astrology Editor

Aries (March 20-April 19) — You have a significant financial opportunity right in your vicinity, though it’s likely to come in the form of a discovery. You might think of this as figuring out how to use what you already have, to some unusual profit or benefit. In leaner times, people were more creative, and would consider the value of their current resources before acquiring or venturing into something else. Now we just buy things. I suggest you take the older-fashioned approach of assuming that for any need or desire, you already have the thing you need in your possession. Now imagine this can work on a much larger scale, and that the ‘thing’ in question may be the solution to a puzzle, an idea for how to expand a business, or a new way to think of your talent. Remember, this is not about getting anything else; it’s about discovering what you have and how to use it in an interesting way.

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — Many people who have experiences of enlightenment feel them as an awakening to something they already knew. It’s as if they remember their real self all at once. In that moment it seems like the most obvious thing in the world; amazing that they ever could have missed it. Then one of two things happens: either the person embodies the new idea and begins a new journey, or they forget their revelation and go on living as they had. Sometimes the discovery will be actively denied. Your solar chart describes an experience of you remembering something deep and real about yourself. It may be easy to overlook. You cannot force your memory, but you can listen to yourself more carefully. Underneath what you might think of as the usual chatter of your mind, there is an important message coming through.

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — Your mind has the power to conjure reality. People dispute this fact, though bridges and skyscrapers, clever inventions and the lyrics of hit songs all begin with thoughts, often simple enough to write or sketch on a napkin. If that is not a form of conjuring I don’t know what is. Some highly unusual astrology is presenting you with the opportunity to put this power to work. On Monday, the planet Mercury — the one associated with your sign — will make a rare transit of the Sun. This is an exact conjunction similar to an eclipse, which is likely to make news reports in every country. Rare astrology describes a rare opening in your life. This takes place in your chart where your imagination merges with the substance of the material plane. This is another way of saying that you can create something tangible with the power of your imagination. It’s time to get busy.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Your solar chart right now is all about your connection to the wider world, whatever that means to you: expanding your circle of friends, connecting to new communities, or connecting somehow to the public. Despite the reputation of your sign for being private and cloistered, you are so comfortable in this realm that it could be viewed as one of your spiritual homes. It’s not so much that you want to be seen, as that you want to be known for what you do, what you offer and who you really are. Those are qualities you’re being invited to extend into the world now, and to share generously. Yes, to do this, you will need to trust existence. You may need to rise above some misgiving or question. You can do this boldly now, because you and what you are offering are of genuine value and worth to a community that expands well beyond your own four walls.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — You may not think this is the best time to be making professional decisions. Yes, Mercury is retrograde in your career house; that’s supposed to be a cause for concern. Yet sometimes the exact opposite of conventional wisdom holds true, and this is just such an occasion. You can do something unusual now; for example, embark on a project, a business or a series of moves to enhance your career. There’s just one condition for success, though: in addition to the necessity for impeccable quality, you must do what you’re doing in a way that is truly your own. This is success dancing to the beat of your own drummer, based on work so good that you are willing to sign your name to it. Said another way, this is not the time to follow the rules that others have set; it’s the time to follow your own calling and your own inner code, which is a high standard indeed.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — If you’ve been doubting yourself, you now have reason to be assured of what is true. You must be your own reassurance in this world. Yes, it’s helpful to have the approval and understanding of others, but that cannot determine the course of your existence. You might think you need much more confidence for that. This is really a matter of building your confidence by proving to yourself that you know what’s best for you — by doing it. You must be a leader in your own life, not a follower. There is nobody else worth following, no matter how much you may care about them. Claim back your power by being the person who defines your own needs, your own desires and your own priorities. Your astrology is blazing with one message, which is about you setting your priorities and aspiring to your own desires. If this shakes up a relationship, press ahead and you can come to a point of breakthrough where things get a lot better.

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — You may find yourself able to reach an unusual agreement with a close partner — something that has no resemblance to what is normally thought of as compromise, but rather a whole new kind of double-win situation. You have always known this was possible; for you, mutually beneficial agreements are on the level of a biological instinct. It’s just that humans (at times, yourself included) can have an uncompromising approach to life. Yet now it’s as if what was previously unmovable and inflexible has reached a melting point. You will be amazed how little needs to change on the mental level for so much to change on every other level. Nobody is asking for a lot. Everyone involved seems capable of offering, and even willing to offer, far more. Yet embracing the notion of symbiosis — a biological relationship where two different entities thrive on one another’s presence — will lend itself to much happiness. The keys: listen, and be open.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — There is extraordinary movement developing in your house of partnerships this week. This might influence your bonds with others on every level, be it personal, professional or in the many places they overlap. Something you either have deemed impossible or have not recognized the potential of is emerging as a distinct possibility. Yet in order to get the benefits as they are offered to you in the form of an opportunity for closeness, there’s something it would be helpful to hear. Your situation may be one of not wanting to hear, though it also could be that you don’t quite understand the language someone is speaking. You might lean in a little closer, or you might remember a certain idiosyncrasy you’ve noticed in yourself lately. It’s about how a particular thing is important to you, and you don’t know if anyone gets it but that doesn’t matter. Proceed from there and you’ll get it.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — One never knows what the future holds. Some use this as an excuse to trounce and elbow their way through life. Others use it as an excuse to be loving toward others, and to take a gentle approach to existence. Usually, this is based on how one treats oneself. Several factors indicate that you may be feeling stressed or irritated without really understanding what the issue is. You might be feeling impatient, as if you’re behind your time. I suggest you settle into a gentle and patient approach to both yourself and to your relationships. You can afford to set aside expectations, and to live a little closer to the present moment. If you do that, you might notice that certain stuck areas are starting to move, and that important goals are showing signs of life. Remember, though, the universe is made of one thing only, and that is relationships.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — Your life has been defined recently by the relentless pressure to change and to grow. Like anyone who lives under intense conditions, eventually you get used to them. Then, when some factors change, when the pressure lets off or a welcome opportunity comes your way, you might notice how you’ve felt all along. One factor that’s working in your favor is a better ability to feel your own future. Try it and see. There’s no longer an invisible force making you look over your shoulder all the time. Yet the thing about the future is that it’s always born of our creative experience of the present moment. And that, too, is coming into focus. You might feel it as some inspiration, or better yet, the desire to experiment. That is the thing to do, without any thought of what might become of your idea or your project. One definition of learning is making the discovery that something is possible. And you do that by trying something you thought was, if not impossible, then beyond your ability or talent.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — No amount of money or number of things is an assurance of feeling secure or confident. Extremely wealthy people are often the most insecure of the lot, which is because wealth on that level only provides a limited kind of confidence. And often it will substitute for other, far more meaningful, kinds of confidence — or worse, interfere with cultivating them. Right now you have an opportunity to experience what happens when confidence comes from deep within you. This may feel like the ground cracking open on a hot day and fresh water spouting out. You might feel like you’ve come to an understanding with yourself, which relates to your genuine value in the world. It is true that many people who contribute the most, and who mean the most to their friends, rarely get to feel that. Listen to yourself this week and you will hear the message that you need.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — You are about to get the boost that you need. In many areas of your life, balances are shifting in your favor. You might say that your star is rising: Jupiter has just turned to direct movement and is heading toward the top of your chart. In many other areas you can make note of improvements and of a solid quality that has gradually entered your life. Yet there’s still an awkward feeling in the air, something you cannot pin down, or have not been able to put a name to. Be with that for a while. Notice that there are things you want to do, there are things you need to do, and there are others that you absolutely must do for some reason you may not understand. Honoring that, I suggest you do something that is perhaps out of character for your sign, which is to work with specific goals. Choose one from each category, carefully, making sure you write in pencil so that you can change your mind. Very soon, you will have a clear agenda, and that makes success infinitely easier.

This week’s edition of Planet Waves TV covers the old-religion holiday of Beltane, one of the cross-quarter days. I also look at the double inner planet retrograde, of Mars at one end of the zodiac (in Scorpio) and Mercury at the other end (in Taurus). Please subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Dear Friend and Reader:

This week ushers in the astrological Beltane, which is the moment the Sun reaches the midpoint of Taurus, on May 4 at 9:42 pm EDT (01:41 UTC May 5). The Taurus New Moon takes place shortly after that, on May 6 at 3:29 pm EDT (19:29:27 UTC). The last days before the New Moon, coupled with two inner planet retrogrades, make the first few days of this week the ideal slow-down-and-review moment.

Beltane maypole antics. Photo by Paxus.

Eric has written plenty about the cross-quarter days and their relationship to the Aries Point (see here and here for example).

The astrology of this week treads the intersection between the personal and the collective in a decidedly Taurean way. It does so by emphasizing the logical path of our values.

What I mean by this is that when we subscribe to a particular set of morals, this can have consequences wider than ourselves. Note the effect of Christian morality imposed on, for example, sex education and birth control in public schools.

For you, this week, there is a calling to review your own values — to ask yourself searching questions about what you truly believe. The time to do this is when you find yourself in some sort of quandary or issue over what is important, or what decision to make. Values are not abstract. They are connected to choices and to action.

It helps to be real with yourself, and to not play games when it comes to admitting what you want. Yes, this is a process, though it’s true that well begun is halfway done. Give it a go. When you’re asked something, experiment with giving the real answer and see what happens.

You might not get the result you were expecting; you might get a better one, and you’re likely to shift the dialog. These kinds of changes in direction are part of what Mercury and Mars retrograde are about.

With love,

Amy Elliott

Planet Waves Client Services

With Eric Francis

Hi Taurus — Eric will soon be recording your 2016-17 video-audio birthday reading. New to Eric’s excellent birthday narratives? You can now check out last year’s reading here at no cost, or read his inspiring love letter to Taurus natives. Eric and Planet Waves will show you the beauty in you and how to let it shine.

Integrity, Conviction and Heart: Your Spring Reading

Dear Friend and Reader:

Eric’s experiment with video for the 2016 Spring Readings is proving to be a great hit. I’ve already watched my Taurus Spring Reading and took notes, and I look forward to watching my rising sign soon. But I’m going to let our clients tell you what they think of it all.

Hey, guess what? It’s still spring (or autumn if you’re down under), and Mars is still retrograde! Don’t wait for it to be over and then wonder what happened. Order your individual signs now (or order all 12) and figure out what you want, how to get it and what to do with it. (And don’t you want to know what Eric is saying here?)

And wow Eric again… This reading has given me a lot of insights. Thank you. — Hillary, on the Spring Reading for Aquarius

Brilliant reading, Fire Breathing Fish. Love your maverick personal style too! Onwards, Inwards, Upwards and Outwards! — Linda/”watersnake” commenting on the Spring Reading for Libra

“I loved the video format — seeing you in your lovely studio, with chart in hand. Everything, as always, was totally spot on. And I truly enjoyed watching you, instead of just hearing a disembodied voice.” — Liz Glanville

Excellent Spring Reading, Eric! You are a lifesaver. And this Sun sign or whole sign stuff is just as relevant as a natal reading. I loved your cute little dogs in the background — they looked so cozy and adorable and peaceful. You speak with such integrity and conviction and heart in your work. That’s so rare. — Joel Jodrey

By the way: did you know that you can also call Planet Waves to speak to a real, live person and order this reading by phone? Call toll-free within the U.S. at (877) 453-8265, or call toll-free from overseas at (206) 567-4455 to speak with Amy or Victoria.

You also have options for how many signs to buy: If you’re a super astrology fan, consider ordering all 12 signs for the surprisingly low price of $57. You can also order signs individually for $19.97 for the first one, and $9.97 for each additional.

Yours & truly,

Amanda Painter

Planet Waves Astrology Editor

Aries (March 20-April 19) — Once you know what matters to you, everything else falls into place. Therefore, consider your priorities carefully. If having more money is on your list, I suggest you take that a step or two further and ask yourself what you would do with it. Money is a symbol, and it always represents something else. The question is what, and why. If having a certain kind of relationship is on your list, ask yourself what you would do with that experience. You’ve noticed there’s pressure to emphasize the structure of relationships (marriage, for instance) rather than the content or purpose. From many different angles, your solar chart is illustrating the need to get under the surface image or seeming idea and figure out what’s going on a few levels down. This kind of process might take a while. I suggest giving yourself three weeks of daily self-inquiry, taking notes so you know where you’ve been.

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — You seem to be facing a contradiction: feeling some unusual new potential, yet also being pulled in the direction of some unresolved experience or desire. The two are not at odds, but rather can work well together. For example, the sense of something unresolved might be an instinct to retrieve something you left behind: an idea, a goal, a person. You might need some time to yourself to consider carefully what this might be. I recognize that ‘quiet time’ is starting to become something you might look for in a vintage shop or museum, though it will help you considerably. As for that sense of potential: ask yourself whether you believe what you want is possible. It may seem too good to be true, or more than you deserve. Don’t let that get in the way of your vision. Yes, you must always bring your integrity to whatever you do. That is good news.

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — Have you ever had one of those experiences of thinking about something, but not realizing you’re doing it? Or that sensation of remembering a dream, in little pieces, throughout the day? And then you stop and consciously remember what you experienced? Your chart is describing you having what I call ‘parallel world’ experiences. These might include the feeling of deja-vu, or the sensation of being two places at once. In case you’re wondering, I consider these to be not just normal but also helpful; they are indications that your consciousness is expanding. Think of it this way: there is much more of you than is typically invited into the circumstances of your life. There are feelings, thoughts and visions that don’t fit into the usual day-to-day, and those are the places you’re growing into. Let them seep into your mind, and remember to set aside some quiet space to consider what they’re telling you.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Here’s an idea: write one personal ad a day for a week. Change it up every day: what you’re seeking, how you describe yourself, what your specific needs are. You don’t need to post these anywhere, though of course you have the option of sharing them. Really, this is between you and you. It’s clear that you’re looking for some new adventures in your social life, though it’s not always easy to know what you want. And usually, that’s a discovery that comes in layers. The idea of writing something new every day is to help you remove some of those surface notions and go deeper, get clearer and perhaps make a discovery. One thing to monitor is your idea of ‘how people might respond’ — that is, the people you know and think might judge you. The ideas that you think are the most taboo are likely to be the ones that will make you the happiest.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — You seem to be reshuffling career goals, with an aim of setting your sights on something more meaningful and more profitable — in that order. I suggest you start with what would be meaningful and leave out the financial end. That’s really a separate project, and a lower priority. Getting a real idea of what you want is the more challenging thing. I suggest you take your time, and stoke your imagination. It’s easy to walk along a city street, or for that matter, through a small town, and think that there are limited opportunities for you. You want to go to the other side of the spectrum: let yourself believe, for as long as you can, that anything is possible. Worry not if you ‘don’t think you can make a living at it’. Nearly everything that people thrive on economically today was considered impossible or nonexistent just 10 or 20 years ago, and with this experiment, you are pointing the ship of your life toward the future.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — Who do you see yourself becoming? One effect of contemporary life is the seeming disappearance of both the past and the future. In some odd Buddhist style, we appear to live perpetually in the moment. Yet what’s really going on in ‘the moment’? Are you trying to stay the same, or are you embracing the truth that everything forever changes? Think of your life as a process of ‘becoming’ rather than ‘being’. Right now becoming has two elements: unraveling something that seems stuck (likely to be the residue of the forgotten past) and seeing the potential of what might be (having a vision for your life, and stretching into it every day). You have material you need to resolve, and you will feel better for even making the most basic effort. And you have a life that you want to live. But to even consider that possibility you must open up an idea of the future — and face it with an open heart.

Planet Waves custom journals have arrived. We are offering these to people who renew or extend their Core Community membership for one year. They’re available in red, purple, blue and black, while supplies last. I’ve also made hand-painted ones for those who renew or extend their Backstage Pass. To learn more, write to cs@planetwaves.net or call (206) 567-4455.

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — How much effort must you exert to get what you need? Do you find that people respond to you, or do you constantly have to push them? Before you can find a meeting place between your needs and those of someone close to you, it would help if you find your own center first. That means understanding yourself well enough to make a few clear, simple statements about which you do not feel guilty. You seem to be under the influence of someone with whom you’re not sure you see eye to eye. You can get to a clear meeting, though understanding yourself is the first step. I recognize how complicated this self-understanding thing is. But it doesn’t need to be that way. If you run into some internal contradiction, consider the two sides of the equation. How exactly did you end up with two values or desires that conflict? Where did you get the idea that you can have one of them, or neither, but not both? You did not make that one up on your own.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — You may be wondering what relationship partners are up to, and why you might not be able to get your signals clear. Here is a clue: have the discussion in person. Skip all the electronica, the social media, the SMS messages, the emails and even the telephone. Get together in a quiet place (preferably private rather than public) and have a conversation. I suggest you begin the discussion with physical needs: have you both eaten recently, and what do you want to eat? Then, with food present, listen to one another. One additional clue I can offer is that any question you have for another person (whomever it might be) is the very thing that would be helpful to ask yourself. You might try a method that has proven to be useful in therapy: treat whomever you’re speaking to, and listening to, as yourself. Or, without changing anything, consider that how you treat them is how you treat yourself. When you look from that angle, what do you notice?

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — It would blow the minds of most people how much of what ails them involves unresolved relationships with their parents. To see this is to see the invisible, though it’s easier than spotting molecules of air floating by. The lack of resolve takes many forms: loyalty to parents that subverts your own needs; having their troublesome emotional habits; being subject to manipulation. With these things in place, the energy can spread, to the point where many people around you seem to have a kind of parental power. This can affect people of any age, including those who are considerably older. Here’s a simple test: When you want to do something merely because you want to do it, how quickly do you experience guilt? And on what particular topics? The presence of guilt is a little like getting snagged in the invisible fence. Suddenly you discover that it’s there. Perhaps cut the power, or just walk on through and don’t look back.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — Your solar chart is describing you trying to remember something. The feeling is similar to when you’ve had a dream you cannot quite recall, and you’re struggling to get the image and the feeling back. Yet it never comes back to you that way — you need to relax and let your mind flow; in a sense, you need to forget in order to remember. Then when it comes back to you, it’s subtle, and easy to dismiss — instead, that’s when you would invite a full recall, and scribble down the central image and the feeling. The feeling is more important than anything; give that some time and space to come back to you; five minutes of quiet reflection might be enough. If you’re at home, get off the Internet for a moment; if you’re at work, disappear into the supply closet and meditate. The message wants to come through — though it’s sublime, a distant memory of something relevant now.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — There are beautiful treasures to be found right in your home: emotional, creative, aesthetic. I suggest you devote the next few days of your life to appreciating the space you’ve created for yourself. You probably put more thought and effort into your home than you have time to enjoy it, and I suggest you reverse that process. Actually feel what you’ve assembled, and allow yourself to soak in the quality of life that you’ve given yourself. Home space includes the immediate surroundings of where you live, your neighborhood and your neighbors. Much of the world is in crisis and turmoil; chances are if you’re reading this, you’re somewhere safe, warm and dry. This fact deserves more attention than you typically give it. Make sure you add the food you love to your appreciation, dining in rather than going out. If for some reason what I’m saying contradicts the facts, consider that it’s time for a new setting for your life.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — You have accomplished a lot in recent months, which is likely to be the result of a year or more of concentrated effort. It’s time to slow down, catch your breath, and reflect on what you’ve done. Though comparisons to others are rarely helpful, consider what you were doing, and how you were feeling, exactly one year ago, and note the contrast. Remember that your thought, your intentions, your actions and your investment in yourself have gotten you to where you are today. You have great things to accomplish, though to make the most of your future investment of resources, you need perspective. That means a clear survey of your life, and real consideration of what your most important priorities are. As for relationships, I suggest reaching out to people you’ve lost contact with in the recent past. Say hello, find out what they’re up to, and perhaps make plans to meet up. Listen to what you hear — and to what you say.