Author Archives: Len Wallick

About Len Wallick

Besides endeavoring to be of service to all of you here at Planet Waves, Len strives to live in Seattle while working as a professional astrologer. To contact him for an astrology reading you can send an e-mail to: lenwallick@gmail.com. His telephone number is 206-356-5467. In addition to his profession, Len contributes to the Seattle community without monetary compensation by serving as a Reiki practitioner and teacher through classes and outreach offered by the Seattle Reiki Mastery Series modality.

Take A Bearing

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Astrology suggests that the next two weeks or so would be a good time for you take a bearing. The purpose would be to work with time (and timeframes) to evaluate where you are in your life. The process might be described as similar to finding your position in physical space with a map and compass.

Without getting too technical, orienting yourself with a map and compass often begins with locating two or more landmarks (such as mountain peaks) with your eyes. Than you find them on your map, and deduce your position relative to the known positions represented by the landmarks.

Of course, spotting landmarks requires you to be in a good position to do so, usually high ground. With Venus having entered Gemini shortly before 6 am EDT (09:44:28 UTC) this morning, you are about to get one of astrology’s temporal versions of spatial high ground.

That’s because Venus (now in the very first degree of Gemini) will oppose retrograde Mars (in the very first degree of Sagittarius) shortly before 11 pm EDT tonight (02:38:08 UTC tomorrow). That opposition on the zodiac (corresponding to an actual opposition of Venus and Mars in the sky) will represent a landmark in time. That’s because of how astrology interprets oppositions.

The phenomenon known as a Full Moon (the Sun and Moon opposing each other on the zodiac and in the sky) serves as the template for interpreting all other oppositions. Most fundamentally, the occasion of an opposition represents a halfway point between conjunctions. A conjunction is when two objects occupying the same degree of the same sign.

Hence, the Sagittarius Full Moon (opposing the Gemini Sun), which just took place on Saturday, represented the halfway point between the Taurus New Moon back on May 6 and the next New Moon. That next New Moon will see the Sun and Moon converge again in Gemini on June 4 (or June 5, depending on what time zone you are in).

That’s how any Full Moon gives you sufficient metaphorical high ground to get perspective on at least an entire month. Since Venus and Mars oppose roughly every other year, basically alternating years with their conjunctions, the perspective you are about to get with them is potentially much broader. Most fundamentally, the opposition that Venus and Mars will move through overnight will represent a culmination — very much like a Full Moon.

For astrologers, culminations are not endings; rather, they are peaks in time. They function like mountain peaks in physical space: as known positions from which you can deduce your position. As regards to this particular opposition of Venus and Mars, you may now deduce that whatever started for you when Venus and Mars conjoined three times last year (on Feb. 22, Sept. 1 and Nov. 2, 2015) is now somehow coming to a peak of its own. That would be especially true regarding subject matter that corresponds to what Venus and Mars together symbolize, which would certainly include personal relationships.

As an added bonus, with both Venus and the Sun now in Gemini, both are about to give you some orientation regarding a prominent feature on astrology’s map for this entire year: the mutable T-square that Eric has referred to so often lately (most recently in his Planet Waves TV telecast on Sunday).

This year’s mutable T-square is anchored by Neptune, which has been in the mutable water sign Pisces for five years or so. The configuration then formed up when Jupiter entered the mutable earth sign Virgo in August of last year, followed by Saturn returning to the mutable fire of Sagittarius for the long run about five weeks later.

Now, the Sun and Venus are beginning their mutual tour of Gemini’s mutable air. Your consciousness (as represented by the Sun) and your sense of values (correlating with Venus) will finally be attaining sufficiently high ground to help you orient yourself with regards to some of the slower-moving planets (Jupiter, Saturn and Neptune) and the very long periods of time they correspond to. Indeed, it is very possible that you might even locate your place in history, as well as where you are in your life, over the next few weeks.

To get your bearings accurately at this time, however, you must first do all you can to place yourself on high ground. At least in regards to personal relationships, that would mean taking taking what responsibilities are fairly yours to own instead of simply looking to blame other people for your problems with them. In addition, assuming the high ground would necessarily entail actually being how you would want others to see and remember you when both the long and short astrological cycles we are now in the midst of finally come to a close.

The ultimate potential of this period in your life (and history) is thus for you become something of a mountain peak yourself — somebody who other people will someday refer and aspire to as they orient themselves in lives yet to come. Obviously the first step in attaining such lofty aspirations is to at least behave as though you are already there.

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Been There, Done That

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Insight often comes unexpectedly, and from unusual sources. Often it takes the form of a small stimulus to help you recall something you already know. Such was the case when Amanda Painter shared her inspiration for reminding readers of yesterday’s weekly subscriber edition about Eric’s Spring Reading for 2016.

To help the Planet Waves Core Community appreciate how Eric’s perspective on our current season could come in handy now, Amanda got a bit of insight by drawing a card from her tarot deck.

According to her account, the card Amanda selected was, “the 7 of cups from the Rohrig deck, with `Frustraton’ at the top.” Unsurprisingly, that’s a theme that resonates with the astrology of this particular moment (and very possibly with your life).

After all, the Sun moving through the final degrees of any sign (as has been the case for the last few days) often corresponds with a conscious experience of frustration. The same can be said for planets in the same situation.

Additionally, any planet slowing down as it prepares to pivot and change direction on the zodiac can stimulate something of the same feeling. Yet, after all such times have passed (as they inevitably do), it’s not unusual to recognize that you have been there before and come through it all better than you thought you could.

Sooner or later your experience adds up. Eventually you learn to take periods of frustration with aplomb because you you have been there and done that. After a while you realize that things do change for the better as often as not (and that you change for the better even more dependably). The great thing about astrology is that it helps you to anticipate and catch the turning of trends as they happen.

If astrology is indeed any indication, several trends are turning now, and if anything for the better. Following the Sun’s ingress to Gemini earlier today, the Moon will enter Sagittarius tomorrow to oppose the Sun for a Full Moon representing the culmination of our current lunar cycle. Following the climax of its opposition to the Sun, the Moon will gradually and reliably wane to remind your emotions to unwind in kind.

Then, on Sunday, the end of Mercury’s retrograde in Taurus will be followed by a slow but accelerating recovery to gradually ease your mind.

Next week, first Venus, and then retrograde Mars, will complete their own respective tenures in their current signs (Taurus for Venus, Sagittarius for Mars).

Venus and Mars will then assume a new sign position: Venus enters Gemini and Mars will retrograde back into Scorpio. As they do so, they will essentially re-enact tomorrow’s Full Moon with an opposition of their own. It’s as if they’re reminding you that you have seen this before and emerged stronger than ever each time.

In each case of what’s coming up above (and what can be expected to correspond here below), you have been there and done that countless times. The fact that several iterations of previous experience are implicitly taking place at once can indeed correlate with frustration, but only if you allow yourself to be caught up in the moment and forget the insights conferred by what you already know.

In other words, this is a time for you to remember that there is nothing about the end of May 2016 that you are not familiar with. If you can simply manage to recall how it feels to come out of such a period, you will be able to use next week to get set for more fully appreciating yourself and your life, as opposed to setting yourself up to only wonder once again what all the fuss was about.

Be confident. You got this.

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Planet Waves Weekly Horoscope, May 19 – May 26

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Planet Waves Weekly Horoscope for May 19, 2016, #1101 | By Len Wallick

Aries (March 20-April 19) — Most of us have a so-called ‘element’. That is to say, an environment in which you are most comfortable and proficient. An actor’s element, for example, might be on the stage. To be out of your element is often referred to as being ‘a fish out of water’. It is possible, however, to discover a separate or alternative element that is just as suitable as the one you now think of as your own (if not more so). Such might very well be the case for you soon. Whether as result of your own personal evolution, or by sheer serendipity, you could come across something or someplace new that feels like home. Be alert for that sensation. If you do feel it, remember to take enough time to make sure that what you are feeling is real before deciding to move in. — by Len Wallick.

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — It’s amazing how most of us can get through a day without being hyper-vigilant about every detail. It’s also probably a very good thing. That way, you can be selective, choosing how and where to focus your attentions and energy based on what your priorities are in the moment. To the extent that you may comfortably do so, however, the next few weeks might be a good time to look more closely at what you have filtered out or passed by. Reliably for you, a good place to start is to quite literally stop and smell the flowers along your way — provided you can do so safely and without doing anything inappropriate (such as trespassing). Then, go on from flowers to other observations less often taken in. This is not about seeking distraction; quite the opposite. It’s about expanding your mind without losing any focus at all. — by Len Wallick.

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — That which is delayed is not necessarily deferred. There is a difference. You are better at discerning that difference than most people are, and it is precisely that native skill which will allow you to navigate through the period of time you are now entering. Trust your judgment about whether simply being patient will pay off, and endeavor to make forbearance look easy. Conversely, if you sense you are being put off by others, consider not letting such actions simply pass. There are ways to keep your issues and negotiations alive and moving towards results that give everybody a chance to win. Find those ways, and others will see how it is in their best interest to compromise with you — without any requirement that you compromise anything that’s important to, or about, you. — by Len Wallick.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Do not underrate how versatile you truly are. Inside you, there’s a vast array of personal resources you might appropriately call tools. The tricks you are now being faced with performing may very well come down to simply and (above all) consciously choosing the right tool for any given situation. In other words, you will want to be more careful than ever about reacting without thinking in any circumstance that gives you even a little time to think. You will also want to be very aware of all your habits, even the very best ones. That’s because you are entering a period of at least two weeks when you are likely to encounter exceptional situations in which your best interests would be served by making an exception to what you usually do. Eschew the necessity of defaults now, so as not to find yourself in fault later. — by Len Wallick.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — You may have had good reason to go it alone in some ways during your life — especially for the last four or five years. Perhaps it was to protect yourself somehow. Maybe it was because you found that you could rely on yourself when others occasionally proved to be unreliable. It’s good to be able to protect yourself. It’s also good to be self-reliant. There is no avoiding the fact, however, that you are a human being. There is also no denying that our species has survived because of, and defined itself by, a capacity for cooperation and forming communities. Therefore, as you move forward from this auspicious point into the rest of your life, be open to joining with the auspices of individuals or groups with whom you could form a more perfect union. — by Len Wallick.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — There is a through-line. If anybody is connected to it (or even a living manifestation of it), it’s you. The through-line is not necessarily a straight line, but it does reliably pass through what seems to be impassable. It connects everything, even that which seems impossibly remote or even irrevocably severed. For most people, this through-line is expressed by the phrase “life goes on.” For you it is more than a phrase. That’s how you have always been so adaptable when others struggle with change. It’s the reason you have always been so quick to learn new things and even better at mastering them. Remember all this now, and you will see that outward appearances do not do justice to the truth: that your situation at this time is nothing less than a threshold to being you at your very best. — by Len Wallick.

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Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — For every little thing you figure out how to do better — even the seemingly insignificant — the result will improve the quality of your life. Therefore, pursue perfection, but not as an end in itself. After all, perfection is only an ideal. The purpose of ideals is to serve as a guide, not as a master. For that reason you should be careful not to become a slave to the unattainable. Making yourself and everything you do more and more excellent should be a process. You will know you are engaging with that process successfully if you get a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment from even the most mundane tasks. That sense will, in turn, bring you joy. By any measure, enjoying yourself more is an indication that the quality of your life has indeed improved. — by Len Wallick.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — Peggy Noonan wrote that, “Part of courage is simple consistency.” True, consistency can have its shadow side just like anything else; stubbornness for its own sake would be one form. Yet consistency has its place and benefits, too. There is reason to think that your practicing at least one or two forms of consistency could very well contribute to the best possible outcomes for you and everybody you are associated with at this time. Foremost among those consistencies to consider undertaking is being kind to all. That, by the way, would necessarily include being kind to yourself. Another way you might want to practice consistency — more optional but, paradoxically, also more optimal — is by presenting the same face to every person you encounter. For only in that way can you consistently be, and feel like, your very own self. — by Len Wallick.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — In spite of what an old Internet hoax may tell you, Mars will never appear to be as large as the Moon from your perspective of the sky here on Earth. For the remainder of this year, however, the things that Mars represents on Earth (among them: desire) could very well appear for you to be as large as some of the things symbolized by the Moon (among them: emotional needs). That’s not necessarily a bad thing. It may be useful for you to know the difference, however. Under some circumstances at least, pursuing a desire could entail a different strategy and require different tactics from seeking to get your needs met. Therefore, to have the best results in both attaining your desires and fulfilling your emotional needs, seek to know the difference — and yourself — better. — by Len Wallick.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — Anybody who thinks you need fixing is probably wrong. Anybody who tries to fix you is almost certainly not doing you a good turn. Your very best friends will distinguish themselves by accepting you and being happy with you as you are. Another attribute of good friends, however, is that they want you to be happy in, and with, your life. For that reason (and for the sake of your friends, as well as for yourself) make it your business to figure out, to the extent that you can, all that makes you happy and all that does not. Once so figured, do your level best to live in ways that support, rather than sabotage, your happiness. If you can do simply that, you will have become more than just your own best friend. You will also have given your friends the best gift possible: your good example. — by Len Wallick.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — Children who play well, either with others or by themselves, possess a great wisdom: that being human and alive on Earth includes places and times when it is appropriate to have fun. Regardless of what you are now dealing with or living through, indications from the sky above imply that you are being accorded the right time, and enough time and space, in which to have some fun of your own (or you will be soon). But first you must remember what you knew as a child. Play does not have to be anything in particular. It’s about what you feel. If what you are doing when you play feels fun enough to keep you doing it for its own sake; and if you lose track of time, concerns, or even the weight of responsibilities in the process; you will know that you have remembered very well indeed. — by Len Wallick.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Itemizing how your current abode does (and does not) differ from whatever home or homes were provided for you as a child is an excellent way to begin getting clear about what, if any, changes you want to make in your personal surroundings. The same principle and protocol would almost certainly allow you to take an inventory of the intangibles that constitute your inner life. That way you can get a better idea of both who and what you now are (or are not), as well as what you might (or might not) want to become. Finally, and most importantly, remember that even if there are constraints regarding the extent to which you can change the physical world, the power you have to make changes on the inside are truly unlimited — even if you might need some guidance from the outside in making them. — by Len Wallick.

Marked and Remarked

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Following last week’s discussion regarding how the 24th degree in a handful of signs are being lit up by current astrological aspects, it now seems appropriate to focus on how one specific degree of one sign in particular is about to be rung up repeatedly. That would be the first degree of Gemini.

Periodically over the years, Eric has remarked about how the degrees in which an eclipse (especially a solar eclipse) takes place are marked afterwards to the extent where “They tend to function as planetary points.”

Those ostensible “planetary points” bear watching for what Eric has referred to as “the synchronicities of what occurs when those degrees of the zodiac are activated.” Such an activation is about to take place in proverbial spades.

Back on May 20, 2012, an annular solar eclipse took place in the first degree of Gemini. It was a visually dramatic event. The only difference between a total solar eclipse and the annular variety is that an annular eclipse takes place when the Sun and Moon come together near the lunar apogee — the point of the Moon’s orbit furthest from Earth — as well as near a lunar node.

As result, the Moon does not quite conceal the Sun completely. Instead, it leaves a ring of light (or “annulus”) surrounding the New Moon’s profound appearance as a spot of absolute blackness in the middle of the brightest object in our sky.

Besides its dramatic appearance, the May 20, 2012, eclipse was notable for several reasons. It was the first annular eclipse visible in the continental U.S. since May 10, 1994. It also closed the astrological chapter initiated by the previous (partial) solar eclipse in the first degree of Gemini on May 21, 1993.

In addition, the first solar eclipse of 2012 not only preceded a lunar eclipse two weeks later (as one would expect) but also served as a spectacular preview for something even more monumental. That was, in essence, another type of eclipse: Venus transiting the face of the Sun for the last time in this century on June 5, 2012.

Each year since annular eclipse of May 2012, the Sun entering Gemini has served to re-mark the May 20 eclipse. This year, the solar ingress to Gemini shortly before 10:37 am EDT (14:36:25 UTC) on Friday will be just the beginning. A little more than 24 hours later, the Sagittarius Full Moon will oppose the Sun. Last but not least, Venus will enter Gemini early next week to promptly oppose retrograde Mars — just before Mars leaves Sagittarius to return to Scorpio.

That’s a lot of synchronicity. It is as though May of 1993 and 1994 are being drawn forward and merged with May of 2012 and May of 2014 (the last time Venus opposed Mars) in some significant way. It is as if a point marked by an exceptional eclipse is about to be remarked upon by the cosmos itself in such as way as to invite you to make a mark (or remark) of your own.

This does not mean you should undertake anything outside of what’s realistic, responsible or appropriate for you. Rather, you might want to examine your life for any unfinished business that should have been completed in 2012 or 2014. Additionally, consider furthering or otherwise building upon any endeavors you have undertaken in the last four years, with an eye towards some sort of culmination, if not completion.

You are undeniably part of what’s going around to come around both above and below. The extent to which you have chosen to consciously take ownership of your part with awareness and purpose will undoubtedly show some results in the days to come.

The next week or so implies a chance for you to pull a lot of things together, and to open yourself to the possibilities represented by one of those exceptional moments in time when all of time might be said to be present. Give yourself a chance to be fully present with these days, and you will surely make your mark quite well.

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A Matter of Degrees

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Today is the only Friday the 13th this year. No use avoiding that fact. One thing that brings up is the subject of numbers. Numbers, in turn, figure into astrology — especially as regards to the 360 degrees that contribute to define all circles, including the zodiac circle. It was not always that way, however.

The 360 degrees of the zodiac circle are essentially measures of longitude. Longitude, in turn, corresponds closely with the earthly and third-dimensional experience commonly called time.

Before people had accurate ways of measuring time, degrees could not be as accurately determined as they are now. Hence, degrees were not always as big a deal for astrology. Maybe it was better that way, maybe it wasn’t.

Since there currently appears to be no practical way to go back in time, we have to deal with things as they are now. As things are now, there is no avoiding the fact that modern astrology is very much a matter of degrees. That’s especially true if and when certain numbers keep coming up repeatedly.

Even ancient astrologers without accurate clocks recognized that repetitions usually indicate either cycles or other types of patterns. Cycles and patterns, in turn, provide a way to project order onto events. Perceiving order provides at least the potential for orientation in, and even some understanding of, your life. The question is whether that which is perceived is meaningful or meaningless.

That very question came up not so long ago when Planet Waves reader Suzette van Hauen Drucker wrote in to share her observation regarding 23+ degrees and the recent spate of sign-ruling planets concurrently in retrograde.

Specifically, it seems noteworthy (at least) to correlate three such cases. The first case is Jupiter, which this week concluded a retrograde that initiated at 23+ degrees Virgo on Jan. 7, 2016. Next, note that the retrograde of Mars (which is still in progress) will conclude at 23+ degrees Scorpio on June 29. Finally, the current Mercury retrograde started at 23+ degrees Taurus back on April 28.

When you employ Eric’s astrological rule of thumb that once is a fluke, twice is a coincidence and three times is a pattern, Suzette’s observations imply the potential of meaningful interpretation all by themselves.

But wait, there’s more.

Today, on a day which (at least) brings up the subject of numbers, the Sun is at 23+ degrees Taurus, and the Moon is 90 degrees away at 23+ degrees Leo. This marks the lunar first quarter. Any first quarter Moon is meaningful if only because it orients you in time. That’s because half-lit Luna, visible high in the sky at sunset, marks the temporal halfway point between the most recent New Moon and the next Full Moon. In the case of today’s lunar first quarter, the orientation in question could be applied towards an even longer period of time because of what’s coming up on June 9.

On June 9, Uranus will conjoin (share the same degree of the same sign with) Eris for the first time in nearly 90 years, at — you guessed it — 23+ Aries. As Eric has repeatedly pointed out (most eloquently in yesterday’s weekly edition published for Planet Waves subscribers), Uranus conjunct Eris, when taken in context with the Mercury and Mars retrogrades, is nothing less than a big deal. Implicitly, it provides some meaningful orientation (and possibly some orienting meaning) for your life.

The Spring Reading is now published. Order all 12 signs here or choose your individual signs here for immediate access. You may listen to a free audio introduction here.

The Spring Reading is now published. You may order all 12 signs here or choose your individual signs here for immediate access. You may listen to a free audio introduction here now.

Regardless of what you consider meaningful, however, it’s implicitly clear that we are way beyond fluke or coincidence regarding the 24th degree (another way of saying 23+ degrees).

At least five different signs have been lighting up in that degree in the same year, correlating to some of the most auspicious astrology in many years. The fact of that illumination culminating with the Sun and Moon today (of all days this year) strongly implies that today will not be unlucky in the least.

On the contrary, the theme of widespread connection throughout the zodiac cannot be considered anything other than good fortune. For along with that theme comes an indication of the most profound kind of universal order: oneness.

When you look at the astrology and correlate it with current events, as well as with developments in other fields of human endeavor, there’s no use avoiding the fact that you are not alone. Whether through your inner or outer perceptions, you cannot deny repeated indications of connection between your life and the lives of any and every other. The only real differences are matters of degree, and even there the separations are closing.

Of course there are those who make it their business to drive us apart and divide us from one another. After all, there is profit to be made from promulgating conflict and selling the illusion of being somehow superior. If there is anything to not only the astrology, but also the sciences and arts of our time, however, those who divide in order to conquer are in the process of squandering their influence and becoming anachronistic epitomes of meaninglessness.

Therefore, it is with no small degree of auspicious irony that today’s astrology implies a very real opportunity for you to do something, however small, to bring all of us together. After all, the best luck is made to happen. Do something to make today a lucky day in somebody’s life, and you just might find how close all of us already are.

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Planet Waves Weekly Horoscope, May 12 – May 19

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Planet Waves Weekly Horoscope for May 12, 2016, #1100 | By Len Wallick

Aries (March 20-April 19) — One way or another, you are making yourself into something more than you thought you could be only two years ago. The question is whether you are fully and consciously aware of what appears to be a successful personal transition in progress. Your day-to-day decision process has evidently been sound enough to get you this far, but is your ascent more than the accumulating sum of your hard work and a lot of good choices? In a way it does not matter if you can see how far you have come. As is often said: don’t mess with success. But at least give yourself credit where credit is due and be proud of who and what you are. — by Len Wallick.

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Taurus (April 19-May 20) — It’s a good year to be a Taurus. Celebrate your existence, and not just on your birthday. Extend your appreciation of being here now for as long as you feel it to be appropriate. The only thing you might want to be careful about is excess. When you raise a glass to toast, make it pure water more often than not. This does not mean you need to deny yourself the good things in life. Simply realize that there are enough good things available for you to enjoy so that you can sample a bit of each without going overboard with any. After all, variety is the spice of life. More to the point, no palatable diet ever consisted of only spices. — by Len Wallick.

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Gemini (May 20-June 21) — You have every reason to cultivate optimism at this time just as you would care for a garden in its early stages. While flower and fruit may not be evident now, they will be delivered with time and a surprisingly small amount of effort on your part. The key is to be both patient and consistent in all your daily efforts to support any current endeavor that has the potential to support and nourish you in return. Do not allow pessimism to take root. Yes, it is important to be realistic. Most important, however, is a belief in your own ability to be and do what is needed to ultimately enjoy an abundant harvest. — by Len Wallick.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Look to form or be part of a team effort or two, and you will probably enjoy more than just successful results. If circumstances indicate that you should be the one organizing or managing a collective endeavor, remember that the best teams are made of very different individuals who each make a unique contribution to create a whole greater than the sum of its parts. Therefore, as a leader, encourage both diversity and motivation. If your calling at this time is to be more follower than leader, work to do more than just your part, by supporting the morale and relieving the burdens of those whose direction you serve. — by Len Wallick.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — If you want to be understood, first seek to understand. Even though you may not receive credit for being compassionate, you know in your lion’s heart that one of your many strengths is to feel empathy and show support for those you like and love. The only challenge is that it is now evidently time for you to demonstrate the same qualities of heart towards those who have not previously inspired you to be sympathetic. There is a reason for this, and it has to do with what some call enlightened self-interest. The degree of success you enjoy henceforth will be proportional to the extent you are able to walk in another’s shoes. — by Len Wallick.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — Time is on your side. As good as days past may have been for you, there is substantial reason to believe that even better days are yet to come. To do your part to make sure those evidently impending days are the best they can be, don’t simply wait for things to come to pass. Take an active role. For example, even if you see no need to do so at this time, update your resume and keep a presentable copy where you can find it quickly. That way, if an unexpected opportunity comes knocking, you can answer the door promptly and adroitly. Act as though the life of your dreams is looking for you, and you will do the finding. — by Len Wallick.

Remember to renew or extend your Core Community membership for one year to receive your Planet Waves custom journal. They’re available in red, purple, blue and black, while supplies last. Those who upgrade to, renew or extend the Backstage Pass for one year can receive one of my extra-special hand-painted notebooks. To learn more, write to cs@planetwaves.net or call (206) 567-4455.

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — So far as you are able to do so, it would be worth your while to invest in your community. Your contributions need not be extravagant, monetary or even tangible. What will count most is the quality of what you give and the degree to which your devotions serve to develop bonds with your neighbors. For that reason, offer your services through existing cooperative efforts, at least at first. What’s more, part of what looks to be your personal environment of endeavor at this time implies that you should be something more than just an agent of change and service. Also, be open to being changed, so long as it is for the better. — by Len Wallick.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — Odds are a lot of people wish they had at least one of your qualities. Therefore, be present to the good fortune of being you by not taking what you have for granted. Think of yourself as a well, which once dug still needs to be maintained. Be mindful of all the things you should (or shouldn’t) do to assure that you do not run dry, break down or somehow become bitter. This is about more than attending to your own good, because (whether you can see it or not) all that is good about you makes an important contribution towards maintaining an extended community. That community is defined and inspired by your very existence. — by Len Wallick.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — Worry not. There is no indication that your future will be anything less than your present. Indeed, if anything, there is a promise (even the inevitability) of more. Whatever appears to be a prospect of loss at this time is in all probability the prelude to actual gain. Whatever looks for all the world like an onset of limitations is likely just part of a process leading to personal development and expansion. It’s almost as if you are young and growing again. Even though you may feel trepidation and uncertainty about what’s ahead, the probable fact is that you and your life are about to open and bloom like a flower. — by Len Wallick.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — It’s okay to have exactly the life you want to have. There is, however, no need to be distraught if you run into some detours on the way. This does not mean that you need to suppress your emotions or compromise your feelings. It does mean you owe it to yourself to be joyful and elated about your prospects. If there is anything your life has taught you up to this point, it is that you can feel confident and believe in yourself. Just look at how far you have come. Just think about all the people who respect what you have done. Therefore, respect yourself and enjoy the journey, even if the road is not always smooth or straight. — by Len Wallick.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — When you are at home, feel it. Enjoy the comforts of your abode, no matter how humble. Revel in the simple miracle of your pillow, or favorite chair. Take in your table, and everything on it, with a sense of awe and wonder regarding how it all came to you. The same sense of appreciation will go a long way when in the company of friends, or family. Listen to that unique voice and all that it says beyond words. Look into those living, incomparable eyes and search for the soul that is there to be seen through them. Let gratitude be your guide. Let it take you from the prosaic into the profundity that fills even your most mundane moments, and freedom will be yours. — by Len Wallick.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Behave as though you are the proud owner of the world, and what you want from the world will be more likely to come your way. When you are with somebody else, show off that tree and those clouds as if you have made them yourself. In a very real way, you do possess and have created all you see, taste, smell, hear and feel. Just as real is the fact that at least some others would absolutely love it if you shared those possessions with them. All you have to do to manifest those realities is to be alert for those moments when somebody asks about your day, and be ready to give them a small but tasty piece of it. Sooner or later what you receive in return will be precisely what you were looking for. — by Len Wallick.

The Operative Prefix

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It was an eventful day in the sky yesterday. Jupiter resumed direct motion after having been retrograde in Virgo since Jan. 7. In the middle of its own Taurus retrograde, Mercury made news by visibly moving across the face of the Sun for the first time since 2006.

Soon after Mercury and Jupiter did their thing, the Moon came home to Cancer, the sign it rules. It arrived shortly before 1:24 pm EDT (17:23:26 UTC) yesterday. Luna will remain in its watery cardinal realm until it enters Leo shortly before 5:32 pm (21:31:52 UTC) late tomorrow.

You may have felt a difference after the Moon entered its dominion yesterday. That’s because both the Moon and the sign Cancer, perhaps foremost among their other symbolism, represent feelings

You also might want to take yesterday’s feelings into account today. Specifically, it would be a good idea to consider how you felt (and possibly continue to feel) in the context of what seems to be the operative prefix at this time: “re-.”

Words that begin with the prefix “re-” typically come up repeatedly during periods distinguished by the quantity and/or quality of retrogrades — like now. Even though Jupiter is progressing forward again, four other sign-ruling planets continue to regress back through their respective signs: Mercury (in Taurus), Mars (currently in Sagittarius, but on its way back to Scorpio), Saturn (also in Sagittarius) and Pluto (in Capricorn). That’s no small thing, nor is it at all common.

In spite of beginning with the same two letters, not all of the many words with the “re-” prefix mean the same thing. There are some striking contrasts among them. Perhaps the most important distinction for you to reflect on at this time, however, is more subtle: the implicit differences commonly assumed between two words that could reasonably be considered synonyms: “reaction” and “response.”

Maybe it all started with common use of the term “equal and opposite reaction” as part of describing Sir Issac Newton’s third law of motion. Also, consider how the phrase “chemical reaction” is common, whereas the term “chemical response” is less often used — and would probably carry a far different meaning if it were. The list of such examples could easily go on and on, but you get the drift.

Whether it’s proverbially cricket or not, common use of the word “reaction” usually implies something automatic and without reasoning far more often than the word “response” does. Given the aforementioned context of the astrology today (and actually, for the remainder of this week), it would be worthwhile for you to think about whether (and to what extent) such relatively arbitrary distinctions are less than helpful when it comes to what might be the most important “re-” word of all: relationship. After all, uncommon times often require an uncommon approach to make the most of their potential.

Perhaps what you perceive as somebody’s emotional reaction is actually a reasoned response from their point of view. Maybe you have had occasion to be misinterpreted in kind. No matter which way the words flow, no relationship is helped when one party perceives a lack of reason or thought while the other side feels a recriminating dearth of sympathy and compassion.

So use your words carefully today. Instead of assuming something derogatory of another person, ask for information that would allow you to put yourself in their place, and better understand how they feel. Additionally, make an extra special effort to be clear with and about yourself and your own feelings. That way, you can help the world experience this uncommon period of many planet retrogrades at once as the time of rewarding recuperation, renewal, refreshment and restoration it has the potential to be.

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Hang In There

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A common gaffe with modern electronic media (social media especially) is posting something too hastily. Not so long ago, the situation was reversed. When the most advanced form of communication was a rotary dial telephone, it was considered ungracious to terminate (rather than initiate) a conversation prematurely by abruptly ‘hanging up’.

The old telephone etiquette may very well be applicable to how the astrology next week and beyond manifests with and through you. This will be especially true with regards to two significant celestial events on Monday.

On Monday, the interior (or ‘inferior’) conjunction of retrograde Mercury with the Sun will be precise to the degree for both latitude and longitude as Mercury passes between Earth and the Sun. The result will be Mercury making a visible transit across the face of the Sun.

It will be the first Mercury transit in 10 years, and the longest since 1970. Please do not look for it without the proper eye protection. Regular sunglasses will not be enough. Consult with a local observatory or college astronomy department first if you feel it’s important to see it.

From an astrological point of view, seeing the Mercury transit will not be as important as what you do with it. For many astrologers, all of Mercury’s interior conjunctions represent a day of grace when the usual Mercury retrograde protocols do not apply.

To use a phrase made famous by domestic diva Martha Stewart, the implication is “a good thing.” Given how Monday’s interior conjunction of the Sun to Mercury will be an extra special case, the importance of your showing just a bit of grace yourself will essentially be doubled. The same can be said for what will be going on with Jupiter.

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That’s because Jupiter will conclude about four months of retrograde motion in Virgo on Monday. While Jupiter retrogrades should never be classified as necessarily a bad thing, the resumption of direct motion nearly always represents “even better.” Even so, Jupiter will not exactly be sprinting forward — not at first anyway. Any planet changing direction on the zodiac takes a little time to pivot and get up to speed.

Jupiter’s gradual turn-around, combined with with an unusually long solar transit by Mercury, implies that you should hang in there rather than hanging up. Give your efforts and hopes a chance.

Remember the admonition often credited to the late, great Yogi Berra: “It ain’t over `till it’s over.” Give the new lunar cycle starting with today’s New Moon in Taurus sufficient time to show all the promise it implies. If there is anything to astrology, patience with both the cosmos and developments taking place in your life will be rewarded.

For next week at least, it will almost certainly be worth whatever forbearance and restraint it might take to remain engaged with other people until your conversations can be completed politely, if not amicably. Indeed, for as long as two weeks, until the Full Moon in Sagittarius on May 21, it will almost certainly be advisable to give life, peace and love (among other good things) a chance to prevail — no matter how difficult any given moment may seem.

Hang in there. Amazing times are on their way.

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