Dear Friend and Reader:

THIS WEEK — Mercury retrograde ends Monday. That can come as a sense of relief, as if someone finally turned off the chaos generator. Yet this can feel like the water churning as a ferry pulls into the slip and the pilot throws the engine into reverse.

Virginia Woolf, Aquarius, born Jan. 25, 1882; author of “A Room of One’s Own” and other famed works.

When Mercury changes directions, you can expect a couple of days of added mild chaos. Pay attention to the details, and don’t try anything too fancy with a computer or network unless you really know what you’re doing. Keep track of your keys, and put checks in the bank, where they belong.

The best thing about this event (technically called Mercury stationing direct) is that it can bring out information that solves mysteries.

You might get the missing piece of data, the clue, something someone says offhand, and you suddenly figure it out. Remember, the more you know, the more knowledge comes to you.

The Sun is now in Aquarius, the sign of cool, brilliant types, inventors, sci-fi fans and people who tend to believe in mind over matter.

If your birthday is this week, you can count on a highly motivated time in your life, when you have the energy and persuasive power to accomplish anything you set out to do. A close relationship partner could also be a tremendous asset to your professional ambitions.

Your weekly horoscope is below.

Lovingly,

PS — We covered Mercury stationing direct in more detail in a mailing Saturday. Here is that article if you missed it.

An Update on Vision Quest

Eric is continuing to record the audio astrology and rune reading sections for Vision Quest. The audio astrology gives an overview and goes deeper into some of the themes in the written horoscopes.

The rune readings work with the formula given in the five-rune spread, considering it in the context of the astrology. Eric then uses a diversity of other tools; including ancient artifacts, natural artifacts and totem animals. The rune readings are more casual and conversational. Each type of reading is designed to complement the other as part of an integrated whole interpretation for each sign.

You can still get all 12 signs — including all these readings, plus the music, art, featured writing and more — for the bargain price of $97. You are welcome to share the Vision Quest experience with your household, however you define it. Individual signs can be purchased here from $24.95. You may view excerpts from each sign’s written reading here.

Aries (March 20-April 19) — You are now in a position of social leadership. Humans almost always need someone to come up with the plan or strategy, and if it sounds good, they’re likely to go with it. I suggest you lead the crowd rather than go along with it. You may be the one person who can get the people you know, or some of them anyway, to try something that’s actually different. On a more practical level, the power of the group mind is especially strong right now, particularly if you are the one to focus several intelligent individuals on a challenging problem. The approach to take is that everything that actually needs a solution has one. It helps immensely if you commit to believing only what you demonstrate to be true.

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — Relationship themes remain a top priority. It looks as if you’re trying to work out the details of a partnership with someone. I would just caution about having too many fine points on the agenda. Rather than obsessing over details, what you need are the larger, more basic elements of your agreement. You seem to be in a moment of your life where you’re having realizations on just that level: your deepest philosophy of life. In relationships, the schedule matters, as does doing the dishes and sweeping the floor. Yet the authentic point of contact is what makes your life meaningful to you, and that you share with another person. You seem to be asking truly deep questions, and I would encourage you in doing that. You are on the right path.

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — You will need to pay close attention to joint financial matters this week, which may go through more alterations than a tailor does in a month. Keep your calculator handy, and make sure the numbers add up. Even if they do, add them again. Be on the lookout for hidden information, which you might discover when two facts seem to contradict. Meanwhile, beware of acting impulsively, or becoming obsessed with, well, anything. Finances and investments are the surface issue, which conceals something else. Peel back that layer and see if you can reach the underlying subject matter that is the energy source beneath any possible disagreement. The more intense your feelings, or those of someone else, the more necessary it is to seek and discover the deeper truth.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Someone close to you is working out an issue that, to them, might seem like a matter of life or death. Really, they appear to be struggling with a decision that they’ve already made, and are coming to terms with. Not only is it not all that bad, this could represent a truly positive development for everyone. People talk casually about commitment, and often accuse others of not having any. Then they might struggle to offer themselves to someone or something meaningfully. I suggest you be gentle with the whole topic, and see if the world is presenting you with any meaningful reflections you can study. It’s possible you’re seeing something that is usually veiled deep within you dramatized in your environment. That could lead to a meaningful conversation with yourself.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — The recent Full Moon in your birth sign may have brought some important matters to a head. If so, one result could be that you have a much better understanding of where someone is coming from. You might not agree with their position, or you might be hoping for something better. In all, I suggest you guide yourself to the level of deeper healing. Seen one way, there is no such thing as a relationship issue; there’s just what individuals go through. You’re in a rare position to work out a psychological and emotional matter that may have puzzled or troubled you for years, seeming to have no possible resolution. The answer involves making tangible decisions and sticking with them long enough to evaluate whether you made the right choice.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — Take the path of least resistance. That’s not always the best way, though it seems to be now. If the subject involves sex, talk it out. That will provide the most direct route to love and pleasure. If the subject involves some creative activity, I suggest you get it into physical form as soon as possible — such as onto paper, or built into a model. If the subject involves a child, you may be expecting them to behave in a way that is more mature than their age. Even if it’s the smart kind of kid, remember: they’re still a kid and don’t need any more pressure on them. That kid may be you, however. As responsible and focused as you are, you need time to play, without having to keep looking at the clock.

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — Don’t take family quarrels or emotional conflict too seriously. Give yourself some distance rather than getting dragged into the discussion. Your role is to recognize what belongs to others, and to act as if that is true. Yet you’re also in a position to provide what I would call a loving presence. You don’t need to mediate, or help settle the matter, or take sides. You will be at your best if you are able to hold space for a conversation to happen. Before long, any confusion will resolve itself, leading to a genuine moment of peace and harmony. In support of that, it would be helpful if you remain on friendly terms with everyone. You don’t have to take sides, though you do need to be aware of how you feel.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — You must be tactful with people, and do your best to speak their language. Whether this involves work or personal relationships, that means listening carefully, and understanding what their words mean, and doing your best to understand the feeling behind those words. This may take more patience and more time than you’re used to offering. It will be worth the investment. And it may go against your desire to get a result, right now. That’s really the last thing you want since, at the moment, so much is a work in progress, and you don’t have all the information you need. Plenty will come out over the next seven days, though you need to be listening, reading and reading between the lines. Then, carefully put the pieces together.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — The most important fact about money is knowing how much of the stuff you have. As Peter Gabriel said, you must know your plastic from your cash. With that out of the way, remember that ideas are much more valuable than funds are, if you act on them. Make sure that every decision you make is aligned with your long-term goals. This will keep you focused on those goals, which would be something of a miracle here in the age of Attention Deficit. Trust, above all, that you’re being drawn in the right direction, though this will be far more meaningful if you actually answer the calling. It’s true that you have some impressive goals, which you actually can accomplish if you’re willing to invest the time and devotion for a few years.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — One would think the human mind is the most flexible thing in the world, though that rarely turns out to be true. You seem to be in a position where you have to change your mind every day, and you may be getting tired of this. Yet this is exactly what learning is. This may seem like an unusually deep or difficult process. What you’re feeling is that it’s real. You have questions, which are themselves compelling you to rearrange your assumptions, especially about yourself. Now you need to keep not just an open mind but a flexible one, so that the answers can find their way into your view of the world and of yourself. Make peace with the fact that authentic discoveries necessitate real adjustments. That is progress.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — Your worst fears are unlikely to be true. Was there ever a time when they were? But that may be small reassurance, if you’re inclined to panic. What can you do? A psychological solution is not going to go deep enough. You need not just insight into your own mind, but actual evidence of truth, and the experience of how it feels. The most revealing information is likely to come through your dreams. Most people feel that dreams are weird and senseless; though, when examined carefully, they often have elegant logic. Go gently into this territory, and allow your observations to flow. Pay attention to how you feel, and remember that every symbol in the dream is a representation of you. How those elements relate is how you relate to yourself.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — You are looking right at the potential for some unusual success, whether professional or financial, though you must be shrewd. By that I mean: first, recognize the power that you currently have; see the advantages of your position. Recognize how much influence you have on others. It’s far more than you imagine, but don’t let on about that. Invest your energy into figuring out where people are coming from. Gently probe their point of view, and understand what evidence they have to support it. You don’t only want to know what people believe; you also want to know how they got to their conclusion. This will help to craft any message that you have to deliver to a broad audience over the next week or two. Just remember: you have more impact and influence than you know.

Dear Friend and Reader:

THIS WEEK — We have one more full week of Mercury retrograde. This process, which began Tuesday, Jan. 5, ends Monday, Jan. 25. The last week of Mercury retrograde can present some challenges. For example, you might want to take action or make a decision before you’re ready.

Three playful arctic wolves — basically, big, wild dogs from the north — at the Toronto Zoo. Photo by Scott Fleming/Flickr.

You might think you know something when it turns out there is more information coming. One of the most distinct properties of Mercury retrograde ending is making a discovery. So take your time, be patient, and let that revelation come at just the right moment.

Aspects this week are all about honest conversation. Many of the signs describe this as being about the most intimate aspects of life. If you answer this calling, and practice sincerity, a kind of magic is possible. Barriers between people can melt. You can discover things about yourself that you would never have imagined, particularly creative talents that surprise you.

The Sun changes signs to Aquarius on Wednesday. This shifts the emphasis from work-related matters to a lighter social environment. But as far as work is concerned, group efforts are favored over individual ones. Learn to put your mind together with those of other smart people and come up with the best ideas, and the best solutions.

Here is your horoscope for the week.

Lovingly,

Vision Quest Update: From the Inner Chamber

Dear Friend and Reader:

Vision Quest is my 2016 annual astrology reading, covering all of the signs and rising signs. The written interpretations were published two weeks ago, and the audio readings are now well underway.

What is different about this year’s annual is the time I’m taking to do it. I retooled the schedule, allowing myself two months to write the chapter-length, book-quality readings that just published. Now, I’m taking the month of January to do the audio interpretations, which go deeper into the astrology, covering additional topics and adding new insights.

Sample rune reading from Vision Quest.

I’m also offering an artifact/rune reading for each of the signs, which takes us off the grid of astrology and into a more primal realm of symbolism. I am using tools such as power animals, minerals and ancient artifacts to illustrate and elaborate these recordings. All art will be presented with a high-resolution option for printing as an altar piece or background screen.

All of the audio readings come with custom-created music by the Vision Quest ensemble, and those who purchase all 12 signs get a double CD download included free. These tracks include meditation music, drum grooves and ambient music.

No matter how many online readings you’ve had, you will discover that this work exceeds them all, in quality, texture and relevance of theme.

Vision Quest is not so much Sun-sign readings as it is a set of contemporary, immediately relevant spiritual tools, based solidly in astrology.

Taken together, the project is like a weekend-long workshop with a book-length volume of writing to go with it (5,000 words per sign), complete with original art and music. It is designed to be imbibed slowly, and to have lasting relevance.

I cover aspects into 2017, though more accurately they address a key turning point in personal and social history. I’m aware from many reader comments that readings in this 17-year series have a perennial quality, lasting for years. If you want to experiment with that, you may travel back in time and explore all of the prior editions at no cost.

How am I able to do your readings without your natal chart? Ahhh, that’s something of a mystery. Let’s say that I’ve found a way into astrology that bypasses the natal chart and goes to the level of collective soul.

Reader comments on the 2016 readings have been extraordinary and heartfelt.

Symbols come in many forms, including numbers, shapes and minerals. These help expand the story told by astrology. All photos will have a high-res option.

D.H. wrote in recently, “I am an Aries with Cancer rising and a Gemini moon, and I have to say that the Cancer reading resonates very, very strongly with me (I have not yet enjoyed the Gemini reading).”

She continued, “Thank you, Eric, for helping with the order/chaos and leadership themes. I do feel that this Cancer reading was written specifically for me. I am still working on integrating it with the Aries reading, but I suspect that is what the journey is about at this point in my life. Maybe I will have to call on you at some point for a personalized reading once you get all the audio files done and have a well-earned rest.”

Dorothy Rodriguez wrote, “Eric, your gifts are priceless to me. Everything you wrote immediately resonated within and opened me to lay claim to needed changes and so much more.”

She continued, “You’ve created this beautiful model with your annuals: the readings, art and music — loved it all and deeply moved by the impact of it. Really looking forward to the audio/artifact readings! Sure to be a treasure to turn to again and again. Thank you, Eric, for your work, and to all of your staff who help to bring such insight, beauty and guidance every day.”

Anna Marie wrote to me and said, “I just finished listening to your reading, teaching the solar house system, and re-reading the Vision Quest for Gemini. All I can say is I am so stoked. Not only are you giving us a reading, but a teaching that is invaluable. Thank you so very much, Eric. You rock!”

My readers and clients say it better than I ever could. I invite you to sign up at the still-discounted price prior to publishing the audio readings (expected before Imbolc, in late January or soon after). You can access all 12 here, or individual signs here.

With love, your astrologer,

Aries (March 20-April 19) — Be mindful of jealous emotions this week. They can disguise themselves a few different ways, including ‘scorekeeping’ in relationships, as well as various shades of control drama. Note: you might not be the one who is feeling these emotions; they may be projected onto you. Either way, you’re in a position to take the discussion to where it really wants to go, which is the heat and passion that will reveal itself when you and a partner are honest with one another. Jealousy or any intense feeling would not be possible were there not some potent energy in the relationship. The key to amorous bliss is expressing it in a way that is humane and friendly, and which recognizes that people in fact have free will and the ability to choose.

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — Be cautious when mixing life’s most sensitive topics — finances and sex — with alcohol or any other substance. There’s a place and time for everything, and some great potential combinations to experiment with. However, there’s a word of caution in your solar chart, suggesting that you want to keep control of your wits and your ability to make clear decisions. At the same time, there’s an indication you might want to push a few limits. That could turn out to be excellent fun, as long as you know where your boundaries are. If you can’t talk about something openly, then it’s probably not a good idea to do it. That said, open sharing on these deep themes of life could lead to a spiritual awakening, or a profound personal revelation.

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — You may be cooking up a strategy to keep certain secrets hidden away, though it’s clear that you want to reveal yourself. If you’re working with a plan, perhaps let it be a conscious way to handle self-disclosure. People tend to smother themselves in what they don’t want to say, particularly if it involves their family background. One of the themes of your life is learning how to regain your power, or perhaps even to gain it for the first time. I suggest you reveal your secrets to people on a need-to-know basis. Understand exactly why you want someone to know something about you, and discuss the subject on that basis alone. If you’re uncertain about anything, give it a week, until Mercury grants a new level of inner clarity.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — If there is some burning subject you want to discuss with a partner, I suggest you not push the issue. Rather, let the natural momentum of growth and change bring the subject out naturally. You are likely to be correct if you feel there’s something someone else knows, that you’re supposed to know. This could be personal or it could involve business. The topic may not be ready for a conversation yet. Until then, there’s no actual need to have this information, and the most vital thing you want is to preserve trust with this person.  The best way to do that is simply to trust. That means making as few demands as possible, and not fixating on any one topic emotionally or mentally. Rather, do that thing you do so well — ride with the tide.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — Be mindful of the decisions you make at work for the next few days, and take your time deciding on your agenda. This really is a scenario insisting that you plan your work and then work your plan, or measure twice and cut once. You’re likely to be feeling the pressure to make a decision, yet without complete information. And you might think that whatever it is has to happen as soon as possible. Actually, it can wait, and if you insert a few delays or strategic pauses in the action, you will discover things that completely change the scenario. Meanwhile, quietly gather facts and figures, and learn where people are coming from without revealing your viewpoint yet. Your knowledge will become power, and the situation may mysteriously resolve itself.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — Your family taught you many things, and some of them were not true. By things, I mean things about yourself. This includes certain ways you were taught you had to behave (or else), which you may now be discovering were merely options. The next seven days could shape up to be a time of discovering and reclaiming your passion, and your right to have fun. You’ve been working at unraveling an overly serious side of yourself for quite a while now, and it looks like you’re about to be handed a missing piece. I would add these ingredients to the cake: keep laughing at yourself, and drink a lot of water. If you’re reaching for humility, remember: it’s similar to humor and humidity.

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — Love is spiritual. In fact, it’s the only thing that is. You may be figuring out that love is freedom. This is one of those facts that everyone knows and just about everyone forgets. It’s now up to you to remember. Here’s how you know you’re actually going in that direction: you will feel some anxiety or guilt. That’s the trip wire that’s supposed to snare you. Now that you know it’s there, step gently over it and keep going. You can be free with others, though the most important gesture you can make is being liberated within yourself. That means feeling what you want, writing what you want, going where you want to go and believing what you want to believe. Practice doing that and you’ll steadily build your confidence.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — Mars is now magnificently placed in your sign, which is like the stars saying you’re feeling what it means to be the real you. Yet that entity is a work in progress. It’s easy to get stuck in an image or concept of yourself, especially if it seems to offer you something safe. Right now, however, daring is the theme of your life. Deep desire is your birthright. You might say this is a rare moment when you claim possession of your destiny and make a decision that might have otherwise seemed impossible. You’re being invited to dream out loud to yourself, and to consider what you want no matter how impractical it may seem. Along the way, I suggest you devote yourself to solving one problem that’s larger than yourself, as a gift to the world.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — Be impeccable with money this week. First of all, know how much you have at all times. Be aware of your resources, financial and otherwise. This is a core element in your ongoing process of learning self-esteem. Some people are born respecting themselves and some take it way too far. You need a realistic point of view, which means acknowledging your own competence, considering what you’ve accomplished, and recognizing that you’re a helpful person. No matter who may be involved, respect is something that is earned. As you work with that process internally, you will discover that people around you treat you with greater confidence. Whether you strive for this or not, you are setting an example for many other people. Remember that basic truth every day.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — You have a rare moment to consider your relationship to your father. In a sense this holds a key to your happiness, because so many of the rules and restrictions of life are held in that one relationship. You don’t necessarily need to pick up the phone or write a letter, but you can. The real quest is for understanding. Deeper still, your quest is for a clear conscience. If anything is troubling you about any of your past actions, now is the time to bring it to the surface. You may admit that you could have done better, yet you may also figure out that you didn’t do anything wrong; that it was all a mind game. And you might try this: as you meet men, look at them and quietly say to yourself, “This person is not my father.”

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — You may be in a situation where you need to take charge, though I suggest you do this in subtle ways. Now is not the time to declare yourself the boss of anyone or anything, or to manipulate events — that will likely backfire. Yet you could well be the person through whom the creative solution comes. You could be the person who solves the riddle, or who makes the budget work out when nobody else could. Here is a clue: do this slowly. Take your time. Focus on getting the question right, and the answer is more likely to come to you. Or rather, the answer will come from you. One discovery you’re in the process of making is that just about any information or ideas of real importance bubbles up from inside of you.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Have faith. Have faith in the process of your life, in your friends, in your perseverance — and most of all, have faith in yourself. I don’t mean hope or idle wishes — I mean the quiet, inner confidence that you are doing the right thing, and that you’re in the right place and time. If nothing else, this will relieve your mind of needless worry, which will in turn open up your creative flow. Be mindful of how you direct your energy. I know it’s often easier said than done, but keep your thoughts, actions and expectations positive. Whatever you do, affirm the beauty of life. Think of this as a kind of yoga practice. This is the state of mind you will want to be in for some life-changing discovery that you’re about to make.