Aries (March 20-April 19) — Don’t worry if the week gets off to a stormy start. Take a day to reorient yourself consciously now that the Sun is in a new sign, Pisces. You’re now living between the dream world and the real world, even a little more than is usual these days. The message is that you must stay grounded, which means orienting yourself in the physical world of place and time, of your commitments, and your physical surroundings. You will inevitably be drawn into the cosmos of fantasy, and you must draw yourself back out, and plant yourself down to the ground. If you can do that, you will get to experience the abundance of creativity that’s flowing into you and through you — though this is not so useful if you can’t engage it in the world. Part of engaging with ideas means to dance with the unpredictable, and that’s the best approach to any changes of plans today.

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — You may be feeling restless or anxious, though you won’t show it. That’s a good thing, as you’re at your most visible and social at the moment. Just so you know how others are likely to perceive you, dreamy is the word; and people might project their fantasies. This is true to some degree all the time; we tend to see one another as we are. Yet with Venus and Neptune glowing in the social universe of your 11th solar house — the one where you mingle with the world around you — people see you as shining that unusual invisible light of beauty. You might just dance with this and have some fun. You don’t owe anyone anything for being seen however someone wants to see you. And you have your options open; though, of course, the fantasy of who someone thinks you are is different from the reality. If you engage with someone, you get to take them from one place to the other.

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — There’s a place in every chart called the 10th house, and it covers both reputation and responsibility. You would think the two go together in the world, but not in these tough times, where many people want all glory and no accountability; power and no rules. Your 10th is where the action is now: your ruling planet Mercury has just arrived, as has the Sun. Venus is there, and so too are Neptune and Chiron. This is a moment of leadership for you, and that means leading by example as well as by your words, thoughts and plans. You may need to overdo the responsibility/accountability angle. This is not just about your reputation; it’s about the longevity of your work, which is based on whether people trust you in the long run. Living “in the moment” is all the rage; however, you will benefit greatly from aligning the past, the future, and your mission and calling right now.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — The Sun has entered your sympathetic water sign Pisces, which has a way of making you feel better about life. For those of us who live in the northern climes, winter is losing its grip, the Sun is coming back to warm us, and the possibilities are opening up. You have a life, and you have more than that: you have faith in yourself, which has come through many trials and tribulations, large and small. When there are many planets in water signs (which currently include Mercury, Venus, the Sun, Jupiter, Neptune and Chiron), your life flows. Rather than push the river, you need to guide your vessel. It’s true that we live in what seem like horribly uncertain times, though that’s a reminder of how life has been in most times and most places during the human experiment. We are not guaranteed certainty; there is no such thing, and the illusion of it never works in your favor.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — If you want depth, you will need to open up a little and let it in. You might feel like if you open the gate just a crack, the unknown will rush in and flood you. You may feel like there will be too many demands, or that you’ll lose your individuality. None of that is true. The sky is dominated by planets in the water signs right now; and when that is the case, everyone has to learn how to swim. You move differently in water compared to how you do on land, though there’s nothing like it. It used to be that fire was the element hidden away, replaced by electric stoves and microwave ovens; smoking has become vaping, and who exactly has spent time sitting next to a campfire? Today, however, water is the “secret element,” portioned in little plastic bottles, mixed with flavors and colors; and, in our times of rising seas, it is considered the enemy. Turn up the heat. Dive in. Water is your best friend.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — Planets are gathered in your opposite sign Pisces, the one that represents your intimate relationships and work partnerships, and which describes your environment. This tells me you may have a lot of suitors showing up. While everyone loves attention to some degree, this might be a bit much to manage. However, actively resisting is not the best idea. It’s a little like when you’re at the beach and a big wave is coming: the best thing to do is dive right into it, and you emerge safely on the other side. If you retreat, push back, or hide away, you’ll only feel the tightness of your own defenses. Take this opportunity to engage people openly. Have the courage to speak, to ask questions, to share your thoughts, and to decide what you want to do with whatever attention comes your way. You remain in control of the decisions you make. Don’t let anyone convince you otherwise.

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — Work may be the last thing you want to do this week, especially at work. If you have some extra vacation days, or personal days, this would be an excellent time to take them, and do something rather un-21st-century: nothing special. However, if you have work to do, or if you must show up and take care of the tasks at hand, find a way to make the experience as pleasant as possible. One thing about Libra and its affinity for beauty is your biological need to work in a fresh environment: with lights and plants and some artwork. You are not the cubicle type. You’re not the chicken factory type. You are very much the work-at-home type, or the one who takes on the unofficial role of beautifying the office. See if you can find other “Venus types” (Taurus and Pisces come to mind), and get some help tidying up, washing windows, investing in plants, and bringing some art objects into your work space. And whatever you may do, do it beautifully.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — Yours is the sign associated with sex, all the way back to the earliest days of the astrology that we use. This is associated with biology, and it can be described using evolutionary science. But you don’t need books, studies and reports to know this basic truth, especially now, with planets collecting in one of the most sensuous and erotic regions of your chart, Pisces. Here’s the thing: your imagination may be all kinds of freaky right now, though your true calling is to translate this into physical form. With Mercury in the picture, this is more about a conversation and less about getting lucky or seeing what happens. Use a wide definition of sex, which includes a spectrum of sensual experiences, from food to music to the atmosphere of the space you’re in. However, the presence of Pisces is calling for private rather than public spaces; making your own food rather than paying someone else to do it for you. Find out what partners and loved ones want, and what’s on their mind — and make the very most out of their creative ideas.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — Mars (the planet of desire) in your sign is conjunct an asteroid called Vesta, which is making a long-term visit to Sagittarius. Vesta is one of the most interesting elements in astrology, in that it describes unusual relationship scenarios. The ordinary interpretation of Vesta is about people who try to distract themselves from intimacy by staying at work. However, on a subtler level, Vesta suspends the usual rules of love and romance to make room for the many other kinds of desire that people feel, including those that are lesser known (or understood). You might say that Mars-Vesta in Sagittarius is offering a direct connection to the most spiritual elements of sex and relating. For you, the suggestion is to hold space for whatever is happening. Stand back a little, and observe rather than judge. Make sure you account for the fact that you and anyone you relate to need a kind of sanctuary, where anything can happen. Let that be a quiet space, free from electronics, interruptions and time limits.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — You may have a lot to say right now, and no idea where to begin. You could start with describing the weather. Keep a weather journal for a few days, as an experiment. Do this in a little notebook, which will remind you that old-fashioned tools are the ones you like the best. Describe how the air feels, how the sky looks, and how you relate to the temperature. Start by restricting your report to just describing the conditions of your environment as you experience them. Then gradually let the entries get longer, and expand, just a little, into how you feel about the prevailing conditions. Then, notice what being so observant is doing for you: how it’s changing your perception, and what else you notice. You have an important mission, which includes developing your awareness and your power of observation. This can be done in the very simplest of ways, all of which start with being in tune with your senses, and the part of your mind that receives the information.

Aquarius Solar Eclipse Reading from Planet Waves

Dear Friend and Reader:

I’ve just finished the Aquarius audio reading. It’s now available for instant access.

This is a separate project from the annual edition, different in every way. This is a 75-minute astrology reading in two sessions, based on Thursday’s solar eclipse in your sign — the last solar eclipse in Aquarius until Feb. 17, 2026.

Chart for Thursday’s solar eclipse. The monograph behind it is by the German philosopher Dieter Duhm.

This chart has a lot to say about relationships, self-esteem, family and ancestral matters. I do my best to help you orient inwardly to experience these dimensions of growth and healing not only as real, but as accessible, workable places to focus your energy and time.

Your reading is available for $66. My audio readings are some of the most unusual astrology you’ll encounter. I believe they go deeper than the work that most professional astrologers do, reaching the spiritual essence of the chart’s message, though without the need for a natal chart. This reading will stand up to many playings.

Doing this work takes experience and preparation; if sold as “self help” these readings would be going for many times the price. My intention is to keep them accessible and affordable.

I’ve prepared a sample of the reading lasting about six minutes, which you can play as an mp3, or download as a zip file. The music is an original piece by Vision Quest, the Planet Waves in-house ensemble.

My method of reading opens up so many dimensions that I could devote hours to each chart. Yet this reading distills certain vital messages, catching you up on the past few months of Saturn in Capricorn, and previewing the transits of Chiron in Aries and Uranus in Taurus.

I’ll be following up with a tarot reading in a month or two, a feature that’s included with your reading, though is about to be split off as a separate product. That’s not delivered on a schedule — it’s ready when it’s ready.

Your reading also includes access to last year’s audio reading (so that you can review it) as well as The Book of Your Life 2017 written reading.

Thank you for being a Planet Waves customer, and for trusting me as your astrologer.

With love,

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — Last week’s solar eclipse in your birth sign is gradually working its effects on you. When an eclipse is building, it’s like an invisible storm is blowing in. The psychic air pressure changes, there’s tension in the atmosphere, and a sense of things running out of control. Now that the eclipse has passed, you may have noticed a drop in the pressure, and a sense that you have more influence over your own affairs. Take a deep breath. You are involved in a clearing process, one that’s taking you deep into some problem areas, compelling you to reorganize, restructure, and expand your awareness to every facet of your life. This also includes your relationships, which may seem out of sorts or in transition — though you can trust that this process is leading you somewhere you can actually place your feet on the ground. Make the changes you feel called upon to make. Clear out space in your mind and in your life. Set your priorities, and act on them.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — In astrology, the 12th house is the one that is usually said to correspond with yours, the 12th sign. This is the most mysterious house, which is about all things invisible, and not available to the normal senses. How have your dreams been? Have you noticed that you’re doing some kind of deep working out? Have you noticed that the air feels a little cleaner, like in the morning after it’s rained all night? Last week’s eclipse took place in your 12th house, which was like a psychic purge. Periodically, this house needs the pressure equalized with the rest of your life, your mind and your chart, and that’s what happens when there’s an eclipse in this area of your chart. Notice your new clarity, feel it, and pay attention to what you notice. Make sure you do that Pisces thing and keep your point of view moving rather than fixed. One benefit to this event was that it’s helping set you free from thought-forms that had grown too rigid. Look at everything and everyone, including yourself, from as many angles as you can.

Aries (March 20-April 19) — One reward of this time in your life will be new friends, new groups to hang out with, and new social patterns. If you find yourself among people you don’t know, go with it. However, this could be enough to cause panic among the younger generation, which prefers everything to be familiar and somewhat scripted. So if you suddenly find yourself among people you’ve never met, and don’t know much about, what do you do? Start by introducing yourself. Pick someone who looks friendly, walk up to them, and say hello, and tell them your name. You can even ask their name! It’s totally OK. Social circulation is good for the universe, and making new friends is good for you. A gathering may have a specific reason, though this is not necessary. No matter what the stated purpose, the underlying motivation is likely to be social. You don’t need an excuse to have fun.

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — This week’s solar eclipse in your house of reputation and achievement will wake you up to the role that you’re serving. Most likely this is through some professional activity, though it’s not necessarily associated with your formal role. It could be, though every person serves a purpose in a social environment. For example, if you answer the phone all day, you spread your vibes to everyone you talk to, and by extension, everyone they come in contact with. Locate yourself within the social network you contact through your profession, and notice the ways you can tune up the role that you play. If your work specifically involves messaging of any kind, whether sales, or politics, or media, you are part of establishing a new pattern of speech and thought. You may not see yourself this way — but then, you might want to look, in such a way that you do.

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — What is the future, really? Is it a thing that already exists, and we wait for it to reveal itself? Is it something we create, and aspire to? Or is it an experience that’s creating us right now, as we proceed in its direction? Every one of these possibilities is conceptual, and unproven. However, some have demonstrated that it’s possible to envision something, to aspire to it, and to have that thing happen. It’s also noticeable that many have a fixed view of the future, or seem to ride along a path that’s set down like train tracks. (Take the local, or take the express, but don’t get off till you find success!) This week’s eclipse of the Sun in Aquarius will shake up your concept of the future, and free some bandwidth and energy that will help you make decisions. More than anything, you need an open mind, and to be aware that you’re not living your parents’ life — therefore, you’re not subject to their beliefs.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — A deal is a deal, right? Well, it is, if everyone keeps their promises. In the business world, that’s called good faith: everyone trusting that everyone else means what they say, is willing to come through, and is able to deliver. It doesn’t matter whether this is a verbal contract or is in writing; the sincerity of a promise is all that matters. On any pending business or financial matter, check in with yourself, and make sure that your promises are in good faith. Evaluate the track record of those you do business with, and size up their intentions based on what they actually deliver. In this realm, peer pressure usually comes in the form of blaming an organization for delays, lack of flexibility, or the failure to deliver. If you notice a shock to the system, or some unexpected change, take advantage of it. Utilize anything out of pattern, or where there is some disruption to the usual social order.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — This week’s eclipse of the Sun takes place in your relationship zone, Aquarius. If you keep an open heart and mind, this aspect — a conjunction of the Moon, the Sun, Venus, Mercury and asteroid Juno — will teach you something about the potential of your relationships. The old Flock of Seagulls song “Modern Love is Automatic” describes the reality for many, who struggle with a seeming lack of choice, with incompatibility, and with lack of freedom. This may emerge from not seeing one’s options, or not choosing consciously. You’re being encouraged to open your eyes and notice who is available, and on what terms, and to engage in a real conversation. Beware of seeing yourself in others; make sure that the commonality you notice is not a projection. Pause before doing something you’re supposed to do, or that’s expected of you. You are free. Proceed in manual mode.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — The changes at work are coming on fast and furious. Yet you would be wise to slow down, and notice that what’s really happening is that new patterns are being established as the old ones break down. Rather than dealing reactively with the confusion, create something that works better, particularly on the human level. With so much activity in Aquarius (including Mercury, your home planet), one might make the mistake of thinking this is all about technology. But Aquarius is more about human design than it is about anything else: those group relationships that so often prove so challenging. The more you honor the voices of individuals, the less the group dynamic will dominate. And though we’re all drowning in technology, the world was, is, and will always be about people. So listen to what they say, and feel what they feel, and help create a world where everyone is welcome.

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — A diversity of aspects, and worldly events, are conspiring to liberate you from the past, and open up the future. The main element of freedom from the past that you’ll benefit from is freedom from your insecurities. You’ve turned a corner here in recent months, as if you suddenly have a more stable foundation. Now you get to test that out. You may be familiar with the dilemma: do you do what you want because you’re making enough money, or do you do what you want, and figure out how to have that support you? These days, it seems like the second one is more valid for you. Time is precious, and you’ve crossed enough thresholds to prove that you can make progress toward your goals. At a certain point you have to claim that progress and seize an opportunity when you have it.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — You’ve reached a point where it’s time to ask yourself how much involvement with your family is appropriate. Even asking this question can send shudders down the spine, which means it’s worth considering boldly. You may rationalize your involvement on the basis that they all need you, and if so, that’s the first thing to question. It makes a convenient excuse, in part because it may be true. However, do you need them just a little more? You may be trying to cover what you perceive as a psychological weakness that prevents you from being more independent in your choices. The way to heal this is not to cover the weakness but rather to reveal it for what it is, and get an understanding of how it may be serving you in some way. For example, do you use it as an excuse in any way? You want real confidence, not a substitute.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — Mars in your sign, or anyone’s sign, would usually describe being in a self-serving and competitive mood. Yet due to the presence of other planets, you’re more in a self-sacrificing state of mind. This could inspire you to serve others, or at least to put their needs first. The world could use more of this, and it’s likely to be a dominant force in your character for a while. Just two cautionary thoughts, though: One is to pay attention to whom you’re serving, and to what end. The other is to make sure that you’re not avoiding intimacy, using work or service as an excuse. It’s one thing if you’re actually involved and invested and need to get a job done. It’s another if you’re avoiding something. You’ll have a better sense of this by next weekend, and can evaluate your situation then. It’s likely that you are, in fact, working for the good cause, not as a sacrifice but as a gift.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — The theme of financial reorganization is all over your charts, and it’s going to happen one way or another. Get a grip now, while the gripping is good. Take charge, which begins with a breakdown of the numbers. Know exactly where you stand. As you do that, notice how you’re keeping track of both the figures and your documentation. This really is a paperwork question, though it’s ultimately about the framework of your financial life. There is a psychological element to this, and a maturity element. Freud said that challenges around money involved father issues. Jung said they involved mother issues. We can speculate and say that when we’ve resolved the lingering baggage of our parents, the matters of finance are both easier, and more personally meaningful. If at this moment you don’t have ease, go for meaning. Your income potential is significant; you have every reason to involve yourself in an improved approach to the subject.

Aquarius Birthdays 2018:

The Perfect Reading for Your Evolving Aquarian Life

“My takeaway from the Aquarius reading is a sense of PEACE. You really do UNDERSTAND what Aquarians are going through these days (and yes, because you do understand and explain the issues I am going through so well). Yes: you are an honorary Aquarian.”

— Eileen

Dear Reader with Aquarius Sun, Moon or Rising Sign:

When you look back on the last year (or listen to last year’s Aquarius Birthday reading), what do you notice most? Is it the difficulties you’ve struggled to overcome; or the new and creative ways you’ve approached life on your own terms; or the way you’ve interacted with those around you?

Life as an Aquarius is in the process of shifting: we’re between two eclipses that involve your sign; one of your ruling planets has changed signs (Saturn) and another one is gearing up to do so in May (Uranus). And Chiron is about to move into Aries, shifting the focus of your learning and healing agenda, and hopefully providing a little relief.

Both your inner experience and your outer reality are undergoing significant changes. Using his signature blend of astrological experience, therapy training, life coaching, and motivational speaking, Eric will cover these major changes to the sky (along with subtler points) in your upcoming 2018 Aquarius Birthday Reading.

You can still pre-order this reading for the lowest price we offer — you get two segments of astrology audio (at least 30 minutes each) plus a tarot reading for the year. It will be the perfect complement to your Art of Becoming annual reading (if you’ve ordered that, too): an intensive audio meditation you can download and listen to anytime, anywhere.

Wishing you a happy birthday season, and dynamic use of these eclipses.

Yours & truly,

Amanda Painter

P.S. If you know and love an Aquarian, show them by giving the 2018 Aquarius Birthday Reading as a gift!

P.P.S. If you’d like to review your year and check Eric’s accuracy as you head into The Eclipse Zone, please listen to last year’s reading, as a gift from Planet Waves.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — The bigger your plans, the more they may evoke your insecurities. This is typical even of high achievers, though you may want to gain some insight into the issue. Consider two possibilities: one is that you’re confusing your potential success with your self-worth. This is easy to do, in a world where little attention is paid to human factors (such as feelings), and much is paid to externals, such as the appearance of success. A related matter is whether you feel you’re of value to a spouse or other intimate partner. The all-too-sad truth is that many people do indeed value their partners based on success, which translates to how much money they make. If you can account for both of these factors (which involve confusing self-worth with success with financial success), what does it mean to “accomplish something”? What does it mean to make a contribution? Is that even important to you? This week’s eclipse in your birth sign is a fine occasion to sort some of this out.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — This week’s solar eclipse will let off some psychic pressure, which you may not have known you were even experiencing. You have plenty of responsibility at the moment, and a good few aspects of your usual life seem to have gone missing. So it’s not surprising that you would be feeling some tension. However, once you experience what looks like an equalization of your inner atmosphere, you’ll be able to breathe easier and have more room to maneuver. When the Sun arrives in your sign in about a week, you’ll feel even better. Start stretching out now — your body, your traveling range, and your mental outlook. Remember how much music helps lighten your spirits. You’re feeling restless, and your solar chart describes a classic case of cabin fever, which usually gets you this time of year. It’s true that the dark, damp winter is not especially appealing to someone who would rather be on a Caribbean beach, though this would be a good time to go out exploring and see what warm places you can find, wherever you can find them.

Aries (March 20-April 19) — Be courageous this week and speak up about what matters to you, no matter now secretive or sensitive the subject matter. You may feel fear around this, or tension, or some unnameable emotion, though you’re also being drawn to express your truth. You don’t need to do this in a public forum; it would be wise to keep the discussion to intimate spaces, with people you’re close to. You might, however, have an occasion to open up some discussion in a group forum. The temptation these days is to go right to the internet. With so much happening in Aquarius right now, the lure is extra strong. When you have something important to say, say it in person. The risk might seem greater, though in truth, the electronic realm is free of any risk and offers very little reward or potential for healing. Vulnerability is what you need.

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — Mercury, the Sun and Venus are streaking across the 10th house of your solar chart, inviting you to achieve great things. You define the term “great,” though the notion usually includes some kind of stretch beyond the ordinary. You’re likely to be doing just that; though this week, a series of aspects is inviting you to fully engage your awareness and recognize what you’re doing and why. You are tapping into a deep source of motivation and creativity, and you can bring that right to the surface of your mind — right to full awareness. That inner source is directly connected to much of what is pushing, stretching and twisting the world right now, and you’re dancing with it like it’s your best friend, the great python. We are living in a time when the entire universe is vibrating with the message: WAKE UP. You’re one of the people who is ringing that bell.

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — Your chart is lit right now. As an air sign, you’re especially sensitive to air-sign energy. And there’s a whole lot of that going on at this moment, with the Sun and many planets in Aquarius — and an eclipse on the way. This is a fancy way of saying that you’ve got it going on. You may be concerned that your plans are taking too long to manifest, though that won’t be a problem for long. In fact, it would be wise of you to gather your energy, focus your mind and get some rest before the pace of life picks up rapidly. One thing you can do is carefully size up whose fears (besides your own) have had a way of slowing you down. Do they belong to your mother, your father, both, or someone else? Who, if anyone, instilled a fear of achievement? Take the time to think that over, make some decisions, and clear your mind of what is not your burden. Or, said another way, clear the runway. You’re about to take off.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Last week, there was an eclipse of the Moon in your house of money, self-esteem and personal resources. The eclipse was conjunct Ceres, which came with two messages, both ongoing. One involves separating your self-respect from any negative attachments or opinions of you that your mother may have (or had in the past). The second is: respect your own ability to feed yourself. Make a conscious, daily yoga of being grateful for “the roof over your head and the sandwich in your hand,” as the old expression goes. On Feb. 15, there will be an eclipse in Aquarius, which is about shared resources and mutual respect. This is an invitation to up your game. You may feel like you need to proceed with extra caution; which is true, sure; eclipses are powerful. But you must also push the edge, be bold and be strong. Take the chance of standing your full height.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — Eclipses are back in town. It’s likely that your life is still in some way reeling from the Great American Eclipse of last August — the really famous one, which was in Leo. I know that because the whole world is still shaking and quaking and wondering what to do. Last week, there was a powerful eclipse of the Moon in your sign, which had the effect of equalizing the pressure caused by the event last August. You are working your way to a new kind of equilibrium. This process will go on throughout the year, peaking once again with another solar eclipse in your sign on Aug. 11. You are going through an initiation. You may feel pushed to the edge of your abilities, your energy, your strength, your courage, and maybe your will to live. Ride it out. Take the trip. Focus on your one and only life, and remind yourself why you’re alive.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — Lots of interesting and potentially weird stuff is going on at work. It’s all leading to something, which you’ll know for sure around the time of the New Moon eclipse on Feb. 15. You’re delivering efficiency and effectiveness. You are a well-oiled machine. You have great ideas. Now it’s time to bring in some heart and soul. Your work-related house, where many events are developing, is Aquarius. That can be chilly or impersonal — or it can be boldly humanitarian. You can do everything you do, as well as you do, and fully honor the necessities of the human realm. Put yourself in the place of others. Listen to what they’re saying to you about their experiences. You know you’re destined for great things, and you provide an amazing service to others. Yet, without heart and soul, it’s all just wires, boxes and balance sheets.

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — Roll and sway with your environment, even as it changes, minute by minute. The world is chaotic and churning, everywhere from Washington DC to Washington Heights to the back hills of Washington State. Our environments are full of interruptions and intrusions. The only way to deal is to adapt consciously. That means learning how to ride the waves; a kind of psychic surfing that, while not entirely free from risk, is a much better option than getting churned in the chaos. Your creative energy is bursting right now. You have nearly every other advantage, including being curious and restless. Some of the best astrological advice I ever got was from a surfer, who was wearing a tee-shirt that said, “Look where you want to be.” By that he meant that you steer with your eyes, by resting your gaze on your intended destination.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — You can take a detached view from any family or household dramas — let yourself be drawn in by good vibes rather than chaos. People will figure out that’s the reward for your being there, especially if you tell them. You don’t need agitation; you will benefit from cooperation; you are just fine going on your own. Therefore, associate with people only when it serves your purpose or, alternately, when you know you can actually be of some tangible assistance. You are reassessing old patterns of relating that have their roots in your family. This is a rare opportunity to drop many of the dysfunctional ways of thinking and relating that no longer work. You want to listen for when people are acting in automatic mode, like robots. That’s your cue to wake up and step back, or to disrupt the scene in some minor way, to shift the energy — such as dropping a dish on the floor.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — Society is now pretending to be embroiled in all the conversations it’s been avoiding since the last Women’s Lib protest in 1975. The thing is, very few people want to get the discussion to the depth where something actually moves, grows or changes. That involves taking a personal risk, which remains unpopular. You, however, are walking along the edge of feeling your entire emotional history in a keen and palpable way. There will be moments when the whole past comes back to you, with all its corresponding vulnerability. Work that energy for all it’s worth: like a performer on stage who is willing to bare all for the sake of an excellent performance, having no clue whether it’s even working, suspended between exhilarated and terrified. That’s the place where you can be real with yourself and with everyone around you. You will learn a lot about yourself, and everyone else.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — Your sign is usually associated with doing things the old way rather than the new way, though at the moment you can bring the perfect blend of the two. In times of change, that’s an essential combination, the hybrid of tradition and innovation. There are ways the human condition changes, or seems to change, rapidly, and there are ways that it does not change at all. Look around you and see the difference. People still have an emotional need for affirmation and contact. They have a need to socialize together. We need to express common values and long to fulfill common needs. You have an unusually vivid psychic opening into the collective mind right now. You share many priorities with the people around you. Use this ability — it will serve you well, for any purpose you want. Remember that service to others moves spiritual energy much better than service to self.

Aquarius Birthdays 2018:

The Aquarius Eclipse Zone — and a Gift from Us

“Today I was listening to last year’s reading and I kept feeling that I needed to get this year’s reading; I’m so glad I did. It answered everything, or at least helped me to realize I’m okay and actually very excited.”

— Rhonda Benson

Dear Friend and Reader:

You’ve just experienced a spectacular “supermoon” and total lunar eclipse in your opposite sign, Leo. Leo is your “relationship sign,” and as such also holds information about other sorts of partnerships besides the romantic kind (including those that are not so amicable).

Not only that, but the corresponding partial solar eclipse will occur on Feb. 15 in Aquarius — making these next couple of weeks a potentially very fertile time for you to shift your life in a new direction. What would you like to see more of in your life in the next 6-12 months? And in what ways can you aim yourself in that direction over the next couple weeks?

Eric will be taking up this auspicious astrology in your upcoming 2018 Aquarius Birthday Reading. He designs these audio meditations to be useful for the entire year, long past your birthday month — which is perfect, considering that the eclipses take moths to unfold.

He’ll also be covering the major-planet sign changes that mark this year, two of which involve your ruling planets (Saturn, which is newly in Capricorn; and Uranus, which enters fellow fixed sign Taurus in May) — and much more.

You can lock in the lowest price we offer when you pre-order your Aquarius reading; that’s two segments of astrology plus a tarot reading for the year for only $33. Note: the price will increase as Eric nears publication of your audio reading.

Why should you get both your Birthday Reading if you’re already getting the Art of Becoming annual reading? Mainly because it covers your key astrology in a different, stand-alone format and has its own unique emphasis — born of the moment when Eric records it, capitalizing on his more intuitive, improvisational skills.

May you celebrate your birthday eclipse season with a sense of potential and empowerment.

Yours & truly,

Amanda Painter

P.S. If you know and love an Aquarian, show them by giving the 2018 Aquarius Birthday Reading as a gift!

P.P.S. If you’d like to review your year and check Eric’s accuracy as you head into The Eclipse Zone, please listen to last year’s reading, as a gift from Planet Waves.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — Planets are gathering in your sign, welcoming an eclipse of the Sun that takes place in about a week and a half. You have resources. You are moving energy. You are about to take a tremendous step in your growth and your maturity. It’s essential that you set aside both naïve views of the world, and cynical ones. Much of your purpose in life is the gaining of experience, which is the test of theory and, in fact, the ultimate test of reality. You’re being compelled to change in ways you’ve long resisted, which includes seeing the patterns that you follow, and doing whatever you can to change them. Put your mind into manual mode. Stay awake for every waking hour. Pay attention to your environment and every bit of feedback it provides. Look for patterns in the chaos. They are calling your name.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Several unusual influences are simultaneously calling you deep into yourself, and at the same time calling you take action in the world. The order of operations would best be inner first, outer second. This of course necessitates your not getting lost in your inner reality like it’s the only one there is. Important responsibilities are calling on you to participate in the world. Yet you have the distinct advantage of inner guidance. This is a gift you must learn to use, and to trust. It’s not a plug-and-play kind of thing; it takes skill, more like piloting an airplane than sending a message on Twitter. You need to understand all the dynamics of your environment — which means your inner world, the space and energy around you, and the delicate place where the two meet. If you make a mistake, correct it quickly, and move on. If you make a discovery, note it well.

Aries (March 20-April 19) — There’s a psychological aspect to everything; and if you’re paying attention, you won’t miss it. Better still, you’ll benefit from the insight into what others around you are thinking and feeling; this will relate to what you are thinking and feeling. You need a concept of motivation that does not automatically involve suspicion. It’s a modern mental crisis that many people assume everyone may be up to something sinister and that we are, at the same time, incapable of discerning what’s really going on. Ponder that for a moment and it may start to seem like a knot that can never be untangled. The bottom line is that you need to trust yourself, which means trusting your observations and assessments of people. Cultivate a calibrated response: that is, dependable inner references that certain feelings and observations mean something, and that others mean something else. Then, leave yourself room to be wrong.

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — If you remember that your intent is to serve as an agent of healing and service (said another way, love put into action), it will be obvious what decisions to make when the time comes. Once you understand the purpose of your presence, your role will be obvious. You could serve yourself and your situation well by pausing and considering just what that is. You have a role to play; perhaps an important one, which only you can do. You were called into your current situation for significant reasons; and as you connect with them, you’re likely to call forth a stream of vivid memories and what might feel like past-life knowledge. You cannot put this onto your resume, though you can consider it in context. Some of your high-aptitude areas include organizing groups of people, coexisting peacefully with technology, and a rare form of emotional intelligence that’s stable and dependable.

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — You may become privy to sensitive information over the next few days. This could provide you with a financial advantage, or leverage over someone you know. Proceed with caution; think carefully how you use any such data, and don’t hesitate to stash it in a folder in your mind. You can, however, safely use the information to guide your own decisions, and to inform your understanding of people, without saying anything. You may indeed have something at stake, though study the situation and you’ll see you don’t need to make an announcement. If you discover something that’s directly related to the public interest, that’s another matter entirely. If that is true, you need to proceed with special care, and get the advice of someone who has considerable experience handling such matters. Don’t just blow the whistle. Understand all the potential implications first.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — What is good for you will be good for others. It may take some experimentation to see that what’s good for others is also probably helpful to you. At least you’re in a position to help define some common ground, and then work to build agreements there. The current state of the world is that just about everyone is camped out in one camp or another, thinking they have nothing in common with any other faction. The most serious issue with this situation is that it’s not based in truth. As humans living on the planet, we have nearly everything in common with one another. Not only do you know this; it means something to you. Once you’re at that stage, it’s relatively easy to act on it. It would be wonderful if humanity as a group could tap into its collective survival instinct. As a representative of the Divine Mother, you can help guide things that way.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — If you proceed with a clear plan for work this week, you will accomplish things that far exceeded what you thought were your abilities — something likely to persist for many months. This will teach you not to trust your doubts so much. I know this can be a fine line, and certain factors of your chart suggest it’s been difficult to muster up your full confidence. The issue, as it shows up in your solar chart, is that lately, you tend toward self-criticism, a little more than is helpful. You don’t need to do this. It’s not making you a “better person.” You can try an experiment, though — based on an aspect in your chart that’s exact this week. When you want to do something courageous, and you take the first steps, what do you experience? Is your self-criticism a reaction connected to your desire to be bold, creative, sexual or adventurous? If so, you can let go of it.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — This week’s total eclipse of the Moon takes place in the most mysterious angle of your solar chart, this unusual place called the 12th house. You might think of this as the secret room in your chart, where you keep all of your regrets, your secret desires, and your forgotten dreams. The eclipse will open a door for you, which will help you at once purge any dark emotions you may be holding on to, and also connect with your deepest vision for yourself. If you feel those emotions come up, do your best not to stuff them down. Acknowledge what you’re experiencing, and call in the Inner Light to dispel the darkness. Say it just like that: “I call upon the inner light of my mind and offer my [fear, regret, guilt, whatever] back to the universe. I am sincere, I am clear and I am whole.” Then stand back and allow.

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — What you think others think about you says a lot about how you think of yourself. And once you know that, you can start asking questions. For example, where did you get those ideas? If you read them like tarot cards, what do they say about your thought process? How does your perception align, or conflict, with what you know from factual data — for example, the gratitude that people express to you? One of the most dangerous facets of consciousness is projection. It’s vital that you learn how to recognize this, and adjust your thinking. It’s also not as hard as it seems, if you keep asking yourself what is real and what is not. Make it into a game. The people who love you really and truly love you. Yes, there are those who would instigate doubt, but once you know that, you can gently sidestep their influence.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — Your sign is one of those most obsessed with psychology, trying to ascertain people’s motives, and to understand their responses. Your solar chart suggests this has been at a peak lately. You’ve probably been turning this onto yourself lately, and I have a couple of suggestions to make it easier, and to give you some objectivity. When you hear yourself speak, do you usually talk about the past, or the present? Seen one way, that’s all the psychology and all the spirituality you need. If you vigilantly watch that one particular binary, you’ll have a lot of information to work with. Second, what do you think is funny? Do you laugh at things said that are at someone else’s expense? Here’s a very short summary of the psychology of laughter: Bottom line, we laugh when we feel like some danger is gone. That never needs to be at the expense of another.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — Mars moving through your birth sign would normally be read as a selfish impulse. Mars is usually shamelessly self-serving. However, it’s also approaching a conjunction to Vesta, an asteroid representing devotion and self-sacrifice. Under Mars-Vesta, your flame of love and kindness is burning bright. Allow yourself the freedom to be passionate. You can also turn that down a little, and focus on the task at hand. Just beware if you ever feel yourself getting cold; that’s the one risk of Mars-Vesta. And if you notice that, pause, contemplate how you feel and reconnect with love, passion and devotion. On the other side of this, monitor your relationship to the idea of sacrifice. That’s the most cautionary note of Vesta. Doing what’s right, you may give something up — though it won’t feel like a sacrifice. It will feel more like a gesture of offering. Proceed in that spirit.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — It’s been an interesting couple of weeks, with Mercury in your sign making aspects to the most powerful planets in the sky: Chiron, Uranus, Pluto and Eris, all within a few days. This is one way to say there’s been a lot on your mind. You’ve probably made some important decisions, and you’re wondering when and how to act on them. You can afford to coast a little on this; the operative fact is that you know what you want, what you need to do, and why. You don’t want to act until you feel the direct inner guidance to do so, which will feel like momentum. It will feel like a wave rising within you, and that wave will carry your will, and whatever action you take will be easy. In the end, this is a matter of values. You know you’re beyond investing yourself where your values are not in alignment — and that where there is an alignment, that’s the foundation of a sane, honest way of life.

Aquarius Birthdays 2018:

Pointing Yourself into the Eclipses

“Thank you. I’ve been a fan for a few years and always feel nourished by every reading — my own and others. This particular reading hit home and felt like a swoop of fresh air pointing me home. Thank you again.”

— Elaine Sonne

Dear Aquarius Sun or Aquarius Rising Reader:

Some of the most noteworthy astrological events of this year relate directly to your sign. Whether this is exciting to you or slightly intimidating, you can consider yourself fortunate: Eric will be covering the unique opportunities and challenges these events may bring you in his usual grounded, reassuring, inspiring and perspective-shifting way in your 2018 Aquarius Birthday Reading.

Eric Francis.

Among the events influencing your year are both of your ruling planets in new signs: Saturn entered Capricorn — the ‘hidden area’ of your chart — in December; and Uranus moves into fellow fixed sign Taurus in May.

As your inner landscape and outer environment take on a new flavor, Eric will be guiding through it all. Also of particular note: in just a few days we get the first of two eclipses involving your sign.

The Jan. 31 Leo Full Moon will oppose the Aquarius Sun for a lunar eclipse; then on Feb. 15, the Aquarius New Moon will also be a partial solar eclipse. Translation: your solar year is getting off to a potentially potent start, the effects of which will ripple out for months to come. Using his signature blend of astrological experience, therapy training, life coaching, and motivational speaking, Eric will cover these major changes to the sky (along with subtler points) in your upcoming reading.

When you pre-order your 2018 Aquarius Birthday Reading, you’ll lock in the lowest price we offer on two segments of astrology (each at least 30 minutes long) plus a tarot reading for 2018. You can listen to this reading as many times as you like throughout the year — to check your progress, or to receive a little extra encouragement, insight and empowerment to tackle whatever’s come your way.

“I am listening to it again now, and there are so many more gems coming to me. Profound, deep and so thought provoking…inspired!”

— Rhonda Benson

Please note that the price increases as Eric nears publication, and then increases again.

Yours & truly,

Amanda Painter

P.S. The 2018 Aquarius Birthday Reading is distinctly different from the Aquarius written reading available in the upcoming Art of Becoming annual project. It covers your key astrology in a different format and emphasis, capitalizing on Eric’s more intuitive, improvisational skills. The Birthday Reading also makes a fantastic gift for a loved one!

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — This week, there’s a Full Moon eclipse in your opposite sign Leo. Think of this as a tune-up of your relationships, particularly on the emotional level. It might feel like a pressure release, as if two spaces with different atmospheric pressures are being equalized. This will help you catch your breath and ease some of the stress that’s been silently building, much of which is described by the eclipse. Two weeks later, the Moon comes back around and forms a conjunction to the Sun, in your sign — that’s an eclipse in your sign. At that point, you’ll have an opportunity for a personal reckoning of some kind: an assessment of what you’re doing and why you’re doing it. Let this inner discussion encompass every aspect of your life. However, there’s no rush at the moment; when eclipses are in the vicinity, the thing to do is to steer your craft gently downstream, flowing with the current.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — This week’s eclipse of the Moon will remind you that you need to invest your creative energy in endeavors that fully support you back. You tend to give everything to what you commit yourself to and, as a Pisces, sometimes you forget to send an invoice. Think of this in terms of food. The effort you put into tilling the ground, and the seeds you plant, must ultimately feed you, and leave you enough to plan for the future. It’s one thing to let your talent shine out, and that’s one of your specialties. You will do that no matter what endeavor you choose. Now you must hold your own on making sure the refrigerator is full, that the bills are paid and, most of all, that you stay healthy in the process. The health piece is essential; without that, you have very little. Therefore, support your own strength. Support your growth. This is really possible.

Aries (March 20-April 19) — If you find yourself making a mistake you’ve already made, particularly at work, pause and reconsider your actions. You may not know until you start to see some negative effect, though the sooner you draw back, the better. The most important thing to remember this week is that your words have impact, particularly in a professional context. It will serve you well to be respectful, to the point of being a bit courtly. Take a formal approach; stand up when someone important enters the room, shake hands, be polite and strive to make less of an impression, not more of one. As the week progresses, you will be booming out at 50,000 watts, and what you whisper, people will carry across the airwaves. As the evil genius Frank Luntz said, it’s not what you say — it’s what people hear.

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — You have the ability to bring people together, and you probably have good reason to as well. Put the two together, and have a real meeting of the minds. In person would be much preferable, even if these are one-on-one meetings. If that’s not possible, meet in real-time, such as by video conference. You will want to stay a few steps ahead of the game this week, so make sure you’re watching trends as they develop, listening to gossip without saying anything, and keeping your eyes on the horizon. You can act on factors you’re aware of without revealing to others what’s motivating you. These very days can bring out your best leadership qualities, which you have in abundance but rarely get to use. Even if you don’t think this is your style, give it a try. You will learn something about yourself.

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — You may have a tendency to overreact this week, so moderate your responses to the situations you encounter. If you find yourself experiencing strong emotions, pause and step back. A little detachment will go a long way. A variety of factors could lead you to feel like a powerless child in the presence of all-powerful adults. That’s not true. Your ability to take some distance and observe matters with a touch of objectivity will be helpful. So, too, will your ability to communicate. There is no situation in which you don’t have the right to ask questions or assert your needs. If you have an opinion and feel uneasy about stating it, that’s probably a good reason to do so. Most power dynamics are in your mind. Remind yourself of the many ways you actually have power, particularly over your own affairs.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — You will need to be patient with people, particularly in intimate or partnership situations. If you find yourself reacting to someone (for example, if they keep making the same mistake), that’s the time to slow down and take a different approach. As the week develops, you might notice that certain individuals are pushy, argumentative or seem determined to convince you something is true by writing it on your body with a tattoo needle. Rather than push back, the thing to do is dance with them. Play along rather than resist. This may take conscious thought on your part, though once you start to move with the energy, you’ll notice that you’re successfully de-escalating the situation and can then turn it to everyone’s advantage, starting with your own. There is plenty of room for mutual gain. You just need to see the opportunity, and work well with the human factor.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — You might rid yourself of the idea that people are equal, and instead, work consciously with power imbalances. This is not a slight on your idealism, just a practical suggestion that will help everyone be at their best. All people have power differentials, whether we’re talking about the ability to do calculus or bench press or wealth or a skill at strategizing. Who is good at what? You may attract people who far exceed your abilities in certain areas, and you can work with them. You are gifted in ways that others are not, and you can make those assets available to others. Usually these differences are overlooked, or are the subject of jealous competition. They can also be a source of strength. In physics, voltage is also called “potential difference.” The greater the difference, the more voltage you can have.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — You’re heading into an unusual week that will be distinguished by a creative breakthrough, probably related to business. This is about something obvious, something that was always there, only suddenly it’s appearing in a prominent way. If you already know what this is, focus your thoughts sooner rather than later. Work out some of the details in advance. Once this idea picks up, there will be work to do, and time will be of the essence. So, too, will accuracy. The creative potential needs some substantiation, and a meticulous approach even if things must move quickly. Look back over the past and notice what errors you’ve made more than once. Those are entirely avoidable in the future, if you’re aware of the history. Most of that seems to involve lack of imagination, something that’s easily remedied.

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — An important family matter is on the horizon, and this may be the week you finally resolve the issue. Your solar chart describes two competing tendencies. One is to get wrapped up in the situation. The other is to be ahead of, and a little bit above, the situation, and therefore to be available as a facilitator. You can use the aspects that describe your getting drawn in, but for something better: gaining an understanding, particularly of elements rooted in the past. You’ll be much more helpful if you’re not emotionally invested, and you have the power to do that. This will allow you to guide people to being on the same level; that is, to see eye-to-eye and maybe even hear one another out. However, as the week progresses, the lure of jumping into the fray will increase. Beware of temptation.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — You need to be so careful with your words this week that you develop a new relationship to them. The most important thing you can do is slow down. Interpose delays between what you feel, what you think and what you express. You may feel righteous, and who knows, you may even be right. Yet you won’t help the situation any if you repel others with what you say, or incorrectly demonstrate that you don’t have a clue. You actually do have a significant understanding, though it won’t be till Wednesday’s meeting of Mercury and Pluto that your thoughts fully come into focus. Once they do, you will understand and feel something so strongly that you will want to stop the movie and make sure it sinks in fully. Therefore, pause, listen, rethink and revise. And hold your fire.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — You may be called upon to make a financial commitment of some kind, though if you can at all avoid it, don’t sign anything before Thursday. There’s plenty of information that will come out over the next few days, information that you need. As this astrology develops, you’ll also become more keenly aware of your value to whatever organization you’re serving, and can work your relationship grounded in the mutual financial realities. There’s no need for urgency, only for deeper thought. The more intimately you are connected with your purpose, the more closely you can bring that into someone else’s purpose (that’s the idea of a contract or agreement). Remember that this is about partnership. For that to work, it has to work for everyone. And that is certainly possible — in ways that will reveal themselves in the near future.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — Your solar chart this week is a study in understanding the mistakes you make repeatedly, and how you can avoid doing so. This calls for careful self-reflection, and you may find yourself mixed up in one such error before you decide it’s time to hit the brakes: and better sooner rather than later. Here’s something you may not have considered, which is the context of your family. It would seem that the kinds of problems you run into involve in some way trying to please your family, such as attempting to meet their expectations. This may go back a long way; so far, in fact, that it’s considered a normal and natural part of tribal law in your family, despite the obvious problems. And further, you may feel that you’ll be opening Pandora’s box if you try to shift things — all the more reason to do so.

Aquarius Birthdays 2018:

A Reading from Someone Who Understands Aquarians

“My takeaway from the Aquarius reading is a sense of PEACE. You really do UNDERSTAND what Aquarians are going through these days (and yes, because you do understand and explain the issues I am going through so well). Yes: you are an honorary Aquarian.”

— Eileen

Dear Friend and Reader:

I know at least a couple of Aquarians who’ve dealt with major difficulties this year. I’m not sure how widespread that has actually been among those with an Aquarius Sun or Aquarius rising, but I suspect it has a lot to do with Chiron wrapping up its journey through Pisces: your house of what you value, including your body, your money, your talents and your self-esteem.

This year Chiron begins to move into Aries. This will shift the focus of your learning and healing agenda, and hopefully provide a little relief.

Chiron is not the only planet changing signs this year, however: Saturn is newly in Capricorn, and later this spring Uranus will enter Taurus. These shifts hold very specific changes for you: both in terms of your inner reality, and in terms of the overall environment you interact with.

Using his signature blend of astrological experience, therapy training, life coaching, and motivational speaking, Eric will cover these major changes to the sky (along with subtler points) in your upcoming 2018 Aquarius Birthday Reading.

Recorded in pro-quality audio, you’ll receive two segments of astrology (at least 30 minutes each) and a tarot reading for the year ahead, plus an extended description of your sign. But what you really get is practical, accessible inspiration that will help you find a more empowering perspective on challenges, and the confidence to say yes to opportunities.

“Ah Eric — just listened to your reading. I was moved to tears by your closing words. Your passion, deep care and love always shine through; and you have the gift of all great teachers, of making one feel that one is being personally addressed, respected and taken care of.”

— Liz Glanville

Please note that when you pre-order your 2018 Aquarius Birthday Reading, you will secure the lowest price we offer –just $33. The price increases as Eric nears publication, and then increases again.

The Sun enters your sign this Friday, Aquarius — I wish you a happy birthday season, and much joyful use of your reading.

Yours & truly,

Amanda Painter

P.S. The 2018 Aquarius Birthday Reading is distinctly different from the Aquarius written reading available in the upcoming Art of Becoming annual project. It covers your key astrology in a different format and emphasis, capitalizing on Eric’s more intuitive, improvisational skills. The Birthday Reading also makes a fantastic gift for a loved one!

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — The Sun and Venus are in your sign, and you’re probably feeling a lot better than you have in weeks or even months. You know that positive changes are on the horizon; there’s excitement in the air. A forthcoming total eclipse of the Moon in your opposite sign Leo occurs on Jan. 31, and that’s an invitation to look at a relationship situation. In fact, it’s an opportunity to consider the total environment of your relationships, and see what they have in common. Questions to ask yourself might involve whether any given relationship is good for you, and if not, what about that relationship reflects your total environment. For the next week or two, you have the ability to make changes that might otherwise seem impossible. Use this time well, to choose what you want, and to un-choose what you do not want.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Take a conservative approach to what you say in public this week. Public means on any platform you have, from Instagram to a network television program to what you say in the presence of any group. By conservative, I mainly mean reserved and thoughtful. You cannot demonstrate too much evidence of consideration and deliberation. Aspects describe a kind of sixth-sense about what’s happening in the public sphere, which will be useful for both social and business purposes (and for you, these are often closely related). Underlying all of this is the fact that you have impact on your environment, and you want to use that impact consciously. That means proceeding with awareness of what you say and why you say it. You won’t get to take your words back; you may or may not get an immediate response. That does not confirm or deny anything. In any event, be precise.

Aries (March 20-April 19) — This week’s New Moon in the career and reputation angle of your solar chart will bring some reminder of what you can achieve, if you set your mind to it. Yet there are other elements in your chart that are reminding you to emphasize the collaborative aspects of any form of success. You have the potential to be one of those rare few people who can get along with a boss to the degree that you’re a collaborator. That makes you management material. For you, an element of this is understanding how to express your individuality in a professional environment, and where to draw the line on what you compromise. This is not as complicated as it’s often made out to be. If your values are in harmony with those of the organization and people you serve, it’s even easier. The solution to the puzzle is you get to do some combination of what you excel at, and what needs to be done.

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — Beliefs you held in the past are not automatically valid, but they are potentially so. You’ve entered a period of sorting out what is true for you and what is not; which ideas serve you and which do not. Be glad you’ll be moving on from many presumptions that have outgrown their use, or that never actually served a purpose. You get to be the arbiter of what is true, for you, and what is not. That does leave an open question: what if you’re wrong? This is why it helps to be open-minded. There are people around you, both those who are knowledgeable and those who have strong opinions. You can only benefit from listening to their ideas, considering them and evolving some new points of view — particularly if they’re people you disagree with. One of the themes of this new phase of your life is growth through learning. There’s no teacher like one you disagree with. And that might even be temporary.

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — Your chart looks like an all-night meeting of union bosses with top management in an effort to avert a strike. Every agreement seems up for renegotiation. That may be true, though you really must focus on what matters the most. There are many small matters you can compromise on, and several large ones that you cannot. By now you know the difference. However, if this is a business situation, don’t let on too soon what you’re willing to forego. What doesn’t matter much to you might be really important to someone else. If, however, this is a personal situation, you need to be more forthcoming and play your cards face-up from the beginning of the discussion. And you must ask others to do the same thing. It would appear that something has gone on way too long, and you must make a decision one way or the other.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — With six planets currently in your opposite sign, Capricorn, there’s no shortage of people in your life. One question is, what are they all doing there? Is everyone playing their appropriate role? Another question is, who’s in your life for the sole purpose of companionship? You need one or two people who are near you only because they like to be; your presence is their gain, and their presence is your gain. Consider the many people around you at the moment and ask if there’s anyone who fits this description. The relationship will probably not involve financial transactions; it will be a volunteer gig. You’ll have a much better picture of who is who after Tuesday’s New Moon helps clear the air. In this new era of your life, where personal relationships are such a high priority, it’s essential that you be able to assess the motives and agendas of the people close to you.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — Your work life is busier than a flower shop before Valentine’s Day, though you must be careful not to burn out. You can do this by enforcing downtime, though you’re not the kind of person who likes to stop working before everything is done. Therefore, you must have your priorities, and be better at planning them. One thing that will help is being a little bit ahead of all tasks you know are imminent. Even if you have a paragraph of notes about what you need to get done and how you might do it, you’ll find that it happens easier when the time comes. The further ahead you stay, the easier your work life will be, and the easier it will be to stay in balance. Monday and Tuesday, ahead of the Capricorn New Moon, work on things you need to wrap up, bring to a conclusion or otherwise get off your desk. Then start again on Wednesday morning with a new list of priorities.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — You may feel like your time is too scarce to take any kind of risks or to experiment with a creative leap, though that’s exactly what’s likely to work the best. If you’re trying to solve several problems at once, you might just discover that one solution applies to many of them. When everything is so compressed, you can save yourself time by looking for patterns in the seeming chaos. Does one particular theme keep coming up repeatedly? Another question to ask yourself is: have I solved this problem already? You might set this as the primary screen on your phone, so you’re reminded constantly. Meanwhile, don’t miss the creative opportunity at the center of the cyclone swirling around you. The planets have all swarmed into the house in your chart usually associated with gambling, art, sex and romance. If you take a playful approach and keep your sense of humor, you’ll work wonders.

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — Don’t worry too much if things seem to be going out of control where a family or household matter is concerned. You’re somewhat above the fray, and current developments are unlikely to impact your life negatively. However, you might continue your project of creating some boundaries and a degree of emotional distance from people who struggle to keep their act together. You will feel well guided by having your priorities in order, which at the moment means taking care of money first. At this point in your life, next month’s rent, next week’s groceries and one fun night out should not even be a consideration. You can do a lot better than that, if you make financial solvency and success top-level priorities. Emotional independence and financial independence are closely related. You have your own feelings. You need your own money, your own schedule and your own room.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — Set high goals this week, even some you would love to accomplish but which seem impossible based on your current skills and resources. Your chart describes a straight line from your intentions to the means to make them happen. But the way you set the plan in motion is by taking action. This is not about planning, or planning to plan, or considering a proposal to contemplate something. Choose something you actually want to do, and do it. It could be artistic, professional, or deeply intimate. You might want to overcome a fear or an insecurity. You might have an interest in a person. All that matters is that it matter to you, and that you muster up the courage to dare. Right now most of society is caught in a head-trip, or basking gleefully in their anxieties. You of all people have the power to get over yourself, and you of all people will love that you did.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — Vesta, perhaps the most profound asteroid, has just entered your sign. This indicates a special mission of some kind, which may relate to a way you help certain individuals in your life. Vesta puts an unusual filter in front of relationships, which often translates into understanding how you can serve others rather than how they can serve you. Look for all the aspects of your life that will benefit from your devotion, which is an approach to service that genuinely can be called spiritual. It matters less what you do and more the approach you take to doing it. Set aside the drive for personal gain and you will help make improvements in the lives of people around you. Wherever something is going wrong, commit yourself to holding open the space for the right thing to happen. Just your awareness will have a positive impact on whatever you perceive; and carefully chosen, selected actions will make a true difference.

Get instant access to your Capricorn birthday reading when you order it here.

Capricorn Audio Birthday Reading is Ready!

Dear Friend and Reader:

Your Capricorn birthday reading is now published. It’s about 70 minutes in length, in two sessions. This is your birthday audio — an entirely different reading from The Art of Becoming, which will be ready in January.

You are living in extraordinary times, as a Capricorn or Cap rising. There’s been nothing quite like this in your sign since the early 1990s, when the Uranus-Neptune connection passed through town. That was a while ago — and what you’re now working with is just as significant.

At the moment, the Sun, Venus, Saturn and Pluto are in your sign, which is building to a series of major events that peak in 2020. That may seem like a long way off, though time marches on. The presence of Saturn, the ruling planet of Capricorn, is a reminder to tend to your growth, shore up your foundations, and take your place in the world.

Saturn in your sign is helping ground you in your real priorities.

In this reading, I focus on several key points of development, though none is as important as your relationship to your family, and your family history. For all you want to do in life, all the ways you want to succeed, and solidify your process of self-actualization: the family connection is essential.

This relates directly to your most intimate partnerships, because they’re based on an emotional foundation that was laid in childhood. I provide specific information about how to work with these elements, and how to engage in productive self-therapy (it’s not always so useful, but it can be).

Your reading includes access to last year’s recording, plus your 2017 written reading (from The Book of Your Life), and a tarot reading that will arrive in about a month (maybe more, maybe less).

You can get instant access when you order the reading here for just $44. We will increase the price further when the Tarot section is published.

This reading is also included with the Backstage Pass. If you’re not a BSP member, you can upgrade and extend your current subscription, and the Capricorn reading will be included.

Thank you for being a Planet Waves customer.

With love,

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — This week, a rare alignment between Jupiter in Scorpio and Pluto in your birth sign presents some unusual opportunity for success. You’ve had a taste of this the past week to 10 days, and you may already be on a roll. Think in terms of what biologists call a symbiotic relationship. What works for you must work for others, and what works for them will work for you. If you find yourself in a competitive environment, where one person’s loss is another’s gain, you definitely want to shift that, because that’s far from the spirit of your chart. Make sure you’re not the one competing, or believing that there’s some shortage of resources or potential. There is no lack — there’s plenty to go around. However, your clarity of mind, your honest intentions and your sincere choices make all the difference. Just remind yourself regularly: another person’s lack or loss is never your gain.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — A rather unusual collection of planets in Capricorn has you in a rather unusual state of mind. Your dreams will best reveal what’s going on in the hidden aspects of your life. Pay attention to what they’re telling you, remembering that every figure and object in every dream is actually another symbol for you. If you dream of a tiger, you’re the tiger. If you dream of a construction project, you’re the thing being built, and the one doing the building. This astrology may be pushing up your anxiety level. Rather than suppress any fear or concerns, make an inventory of what they are, preferably on paper, so you can come back to it. Keeping written notes will also serve your dream work. Whatever you may be feeling, your mind is bubbling over with potential, and you have plenty of energy. Get clear with yourself, focus yourself and commit to learning, and this week alone you’ll get the gains of five years of therapy.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Keep yourself and your projects where people can see you. Do this no matter how busy you may be. Keep putting your best work into the public eye, and put your body where you can have face-to-face conversations in a social setting. You don’t need a specific goal or agenda for doing this. Just be sincere, have a good time, and trust the topics of conversation that come up. If you’re in a room full of people, do your best to meet every single one of them, and check the vibes. The deepest harmony you can feel with someone is on the spiritual level — that ultimately means a mutual understanding of the purpose of life. There’s no way to fake this meaningfully; and don’t accept imitations or substitutes. When you are making contact with someone, you will know it and feel it. And the most likely place to make that contact is outside your home, where people gather specifically for a social purpose.

Aries (March 20-April 19) — It’s time to set your own definition of success, and start working for it right now. The chances are, though, that you’ve already made considerable progress, and what you now need to do is to refine your methods, eliminate any goals that you don’t intend to pursue, and keep your focus. A matter of partnership is crucial; while the person may or may not be a sexual partner, there must be chemistry between you and whomever you work with — chemistry that is cellular, hormonal and pheromonal. By that I mean simpatico and sublime, where you work for the same goal in an intuitive way. In the absence of that, pursue your interests with gusto and see who shows up, wanting to play and participate, for its own sake, and for your sake. You’re working on something that can change the world in some way — if not the big, wide world, then the cosmos of whatever field you’re involved with. You’re onto something real.

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — David Byrne, one of the mighty ones born under your sign, penned the lines, “Years ago who would believe it’s true? / Goes to show what a little faith can do.” The core lesson of this time in your life is having faith in yourself. Nobody would suspect you otherwise, though you know the truth of the matter. This goes deeper than self-confidence, to the core essence of your purpose for living. One key to this is to connect with your purpose in everything that you do. Purpose goes beyond any one activity, idea, or belief. You possess your core purpose at all times, in all places and with all people. That is useful: you can take it with you everywhere you go, and put it to work no matter what you do. If nothing special is ringing a bell, consider that this is about the life of your soul. Soul is not a thing; it’s a verb. It’s a process by which you integrate the spiritual essence of your being into the rest of your being. Do what feels right, and participate fully in your own existence.

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — You may feel like there’s so much going on around you, it’s impossible to keep track of it, much less exert any control. That’s one side of the story. The other side of the story is to remember that you’re bigger than all of it combined: you are more than the sum total of all the separate elements of your life, or any one of them. Matters of finance and business partnership are a top priority, though you can afford to stand back a little, and propose the ideas that you want to manifest. You can afford to observe, and intervene right when you think you need to. However, the one thing you must do is to be observant. You really have to pay attention to the details and to the positions of others, which means conversing with them throughout whatever process is going on. Your ability to shape the outcome is manifested not through power but through influence, which means ideas, a vision, and seeing the scenario from the widest, and highest, possible viewpoint.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — This week’s astonishing astrology — an alignment of Venus, the Sun, Mars, Jupiter and Pluto — is all over the sex and relationship houses in your solar chart. You get a blend of teenage passion with the intensity of a commitment that is really working. This is fun and somewhat wild astrology, though it’s also deep, and it could be daunting. However, you can summon your courage, as if you’re on a diving board and you really want to jump into the water headfirst, and you know the water is deep enough, and you know you can dive, and you can swim, and it’s just a little much — and then you’re happy you did it because you really needed to. The thing you want to avoid is people you have actual conflict with: bad vibes, bad karma, a negative history or any need to deceive anyone. Those are exactly, precisely the people you don’t want to be involved with.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — You are done planning and pondering; it’s time to start doing, by which I mean doing what you know you want and need to do. You have leverage right now, which will be helpful, though you don’t need much. Lean into the challenges you are facing just a little and you’ll see how much power the weight of your mind and your intentions carries. Efficiency is essential, which means placing your emphasis on ideas; and where labor is involved, using the concept of leverage. Be certain to balance your creative efforts with proper rest, recreation and nutrition. You don’t need to become a health guru; you only need to take care of yourself sufficiently well to stay in balance, and keep your stress level down. Where your work seems to conflict with relationships, make sure you consider both sides of the equation. What is the actual source of the seeming conflict?

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — You must be naughty if you want to do the right thing. That means that in order to truly serve your happiness and your growth (personal, creative or whatever), you will need to break some rules, violate some taboos and do some things you think people will disapprove of. Negative emotions such as guilt, embarrassment, fear, or shame can serve as an invitation. Rather than assume they point to the ‘wrong thing’, try the assumption that they point the way to what will serve you the best. I’m not making this up, by the way — this is very old wisdom, though not exactly well understood or overplayed these days. Taboo is a veil over the truth; it’s a scrim thrown over your creativity; and it’s a social control device that serves no purpose in your life. You have a lot of mojo running right now. You don’t need any holy types of people, or holy voices in your mind, stopping your fun.

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — This week you’re likely to discover just how much you have, or don’t have, in common with family members or those you share your household with. You are growing in your own direction, and you need to do your own thing. One of the overarching themes of a long phase of your life is cultivating bona fide emotional independence, or you could say, getting a life. It’s easy to go from one type of family system of control to another. It’s easy to transform being trapped in one kind of environment to being stuck in another. Your goal now is to shift that whole paradigm and set yourself free — free enough to make decisions without the meekest thought of needing to ask permission. Nobody should be walking into your private space without knocking, or anything of the kind. Borrowing from the nearly forgotten author Virginia Woolf, you need a room of your own.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — Have you considered that fear stops you from doing what you want to do? I know that as a Scorpio, you’re supposed to be the first in line to walk on hot coals, the first out of the airplane door on the skydiving trip, or to suggest that the dentist hold the Novocain. But what’s your relationship to fear, really? Do you say what you need to say? Do you feel what you need to feel? Do you admit what you actually know? You’re well past the point of being able to hide who you are, and at the moment, you’ve probably figured out there’s no point trying. Now you might direct your efforts into the other direction: do exactly what might intimidate you. Say what you want to say, not what you think people want to hear. More than anything, admit what you know, and put your knowledge to work for your own benefit. You will have many such opportunities this week.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — Recently a Sagittarius friend said she was interested in having a source of “passive income.” That’s the kind where the checks allegedly come rolling in like interest accrued on a trust fund. This, ostensibly, would be used to support her creative interests. It took me a couple of weeks pondering to see the problem with this theory. When you’re at your best, there’s nothing passive about you. You need passionate income. You need to be well paid for what you love to do, and/or what you do the very best (there’s a relationship between them; if not, it would be wise to develop one). You will succeed financially to the degree you’re wholly engaged with your values and your priorities. Rather than farm out the income aspect of work, it’s essential that you marry it to the creative aspect, generating a reaction that, once it gets going, is difficult to stop.

Capricorn Audio Birthday Reading is Ready!

Dear Friend and Reader:

Last week, I recorded your Capricorn birthday reading. It’s about 70 minutes in length, in two sessions. This is your birthday audio — an entirely different reading from The Art of Becoming, which will be ready in January.

You are living in extraordinary times, as a Capricorn or Cap rising. There’s been nothing quite like this in your sign since the early 1990s, when the Uranus-Neptune connection passed through town. That was a while ago — and what you’re now working with is just as significant.

At the moment, the Sun, Venus, Saturn and Pluto are in your sign, which is building to a series of major events that peak in 2020. That may seem like a long way off, though time marches on. The presence of Saturn, the ruling planet of Capricorn, is a reminder to tend to your growth, shore up your foundations, and take your place in the world.

Saturn in your sign is helping ground you in your real priorities.

In this reading, I focus on several key points of development, though none is as important as your relationship to your family, and your family history. For all you want to do in life, all the ways you want to succeed, and solidify your process of self-actualization: the family connection is essential.

This relates directly to your most intimate partnerships, because they’re based on an emotional foundation that was laid in childhood. I provide specific information about how to work with these elements, and how to engage in productive self-therapy (it’s not always so useful, but it can be).

Your reading includes access to last year’s recording, plus your 2017 written reading (from The Book of Your Life), and a tarot reading that will arrive in about a month (maybe more, maybe less).

You can get instant access when you order the reading here for just $44. We will increase the price further when the Tarot section is published.

This reading is also included with the Backstage Pass. If you’re not a BSP member, you can upgrade and extend your current subscription, and the Capricorn reading will be included.

Thank you for being a Planet Waves customer.

With love,

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — Your sign is somewhat famous for a priggish attitude toward sex. That’s funny, since you’re probably one of the more sexual people you know, even if you veil that with proper attire and an insistence on seeming prim, at nearly any cost (including resisting fun that might appear in any way untoward, or revealing your true desire). It’s time to throw that approach and all the theories that support it into a bonfire. It’s time to ask yourself who you were trying to impress, and then decide that you don’t care. More than that, it’s essential you recognize the ways in which people blame others for their own impulse to restrain themselves with morality; i.e., what would mother think? If you really want to go there, though, ask yourself that very question. If she had a porthole into your life, she might be shocked for a moment, and then have a very, very different reaction — as will you.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — Are you experiencing fear, or desire? Something is definitely moving within you. You seem ready to release yourself from an old emotional bond of some kind, as if you discovered some beautiful aspect of yourself trapped in a dusty old cellar. What is that part of you, what’s this cellar, and who put you there? This is old material; you may be reversing something that was done to an ancestor many generations ago. This may have been repeated through the years, and inflicted directly on you — or not. Whatever the case, you’re ready to set something free from deep in that realm known as the unconscious. Step one in doing so is to make it conscious — to fully awaken to whatever this feeling, need, fear or desire is. The second is to give yourself a push, in the direction where you feel the most energy is contained. You need access to that energy, and to get it, you must go to it: it won’t just come to you.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — If you’ve wanted to go public with something, this could be the week. There’s some genuine harmony between what you are thinking and feeling, and what has suddenly become publicly acceptable. What could this be about? The range of possibilities spans from sharing something with your friends that you’ve long kept secret (a kind of coming out) to revealing a project you’ve been working on for years. It might be a statement you need to make, something you’ve written that you want to share, or artwork nobody has seen. This could be anything that is currently something in your personal world that wants to find a home in some wider community — including you announcing your existence in some way. So, consider the possibilities. Don’t worry if what you do, or who you are, is good enough. Take the chance and let yourself be known, seen and recognized.

Aries (March 20-April 19) — Over the past month, a series of planets moving into your career and success angle describes you waking up to your ambitions. Tomorrow’s Full Moon in the domestic angle of your chart is reminding you to pace yourself, and not push yourself so hard. Rather, slow, steady progress is what will work the best for you. This also means having an actual home life. You may do this; it’s certainly one of your innate personality features, to center your life around your home. However, as work commitments pick up, you may forget to do this. If you feel yourself going out of balance, the place to restore that balance is your kitchen or bathtub. So take the time to make these places extra appealing, and from the first day of 2018, make sure your life is structured in such a way that points you toward home on a regular basis. While you’re at it, make sure your bedroom is the perfect pleasure salon.

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — Everyone must have a code that they live by. With my abundant knowledge of those born under the sign Taurus, I would remind you to keep your code flexible, and subject to new discoveries. I’ll give you two examples. Attorneys talk about the letter of the law, and the spirit of the law. One is based on a strict reading, and the other is based on the purpose a law is supposed to serve. Another example is how your passport says you’re responsible for following both laws and customs in the countries you visit, which any experienced traveler will tell you is right on point. Some would even say that customs are more important than laws, since that’s what people really care about. This is a reminder to hang loose. You’re a person who really cares about your integrity. You actually grapple with matters of right and wrong; this is part of your psychic foundation. So, easy does it.

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — If nothing else this year, you will come to terms with any fears of commitment that you may have. There has been an interesting evolution in your astrology lately, which represents a significant shift from the past nine years. You’ve had a way of associating commitment with people holding power over you. In many instances, this has turned out to be true, though the deeper question involves the ways in which you give away your power. Now that Saturn, the Sun and other planets have moved into Capricorn, you can see commitment as a way to claim your power, and to use it consciously. You will need to monitor each and every transaction in your life, and notice how you handle negotiations of any kind. Do you read the contracts you sign? Do you have a rule against committing to anything you’re not sure you can do? And what about holding others to their promises to you? As you focus on these topics, the tables will gradually turn.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — It’s amazing how much can change in how little time. The sudden influx of many planets into Capricorn, your opposite sign, does two things, mainly. One is that it shifts the emphasis from Sagittarius, which is your work-related zone, and which was (to put it mildly) in a state of high pressure going back years. You may not have any less responsibility on your plate, though you’ll feel differently about it: better able to organize yourself, and feeling less like you must do everything at once. The second is that Saturn and other planets are now in your relationship house. This might feel like a missing piece showing up in your personal life. Saturn has a way of completing Capricorn, and will provide some solid substance into your social environment. Notably, from classical astrology, the association between Saturn and Capricorn is the strongest when it’s dark out. So get your work done and, as the old song goes, “Bring on the night.”

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — Everything in your chart points back to taking care of yourself. This has three components. The first and most important is emotional. At your best, you’re in contact with your feelings, and you respond to what your body is telling you. Second is making sure that you follow health regimens and medication schedules, and do all the things you need to do in order to stay healthy. Finally, there’s the matter of keeping your work in balance. Work is therapy for many Leos. It’s a way that you connect with your purpose, stay productive and do your part to hold the world together. Yet your chart now indicates that you both need and have help doing this. Don’t take everything on all by yourself. Let there be a discussion of what really needs to happen and how you’re going to work with others to get it done. Obviously you’re not the type to shirk responsibility or sacrifice quality. So there has to be another way, and that way is collaboration.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — Virgo may be the most risk-averse sign. You might have been the type of kid who read the inside of the chocolate box so you knew which one you were biting into, and could select your favorite in advance. Your chart now describes you not just wanting to taste every last piece of chocolate, and not just wanting to eat them all, but also suddenly having the mad, wild passion to be a chocolatier. You want to know how it’s done — and do it yourself. That would make a fantastic way to orient your life: hand-made, homemade, the old way, as traditional as possible. You might try things like: if you’re going to make your own corn muffins, try grinding the cornmeal yourself. It’s easy to make your own yogurt, kombucha, bread and many things we take for granted. For you, this is not about being cool and artisanal. It’s about getting down to the basics of what it takes to live. It’s about making sure that you get what you pay for, and it’s truly all your own.

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — You may feel like the Master of Ceremonies for the holiday, though do your bit and then get off the stage. You have more important matters to tend to, mostly involving family and household. Your leadership is needed, and it turns out you’re the one person many people with different opinions and viewpoints have in common as someone they respect. This is something meaningful to remember about yourself, and why you need, at least, to maintain the appearance of objectivity. There are relatively few people in the world who are trusted by those who disagree on major points of discussion, and you have that particular asset. So, you must always present yourself as objective, which means willing to hear people out, and then do your best to evaluate all situations equitably. However, indecision is not an option; you must always seek, and find, a compromise that works for everyone — if you remember that there’s such a thing as the right thing.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — You may be feeling everything all at once, but you cannot say everything all at once. That may be complicated, because you also have a lot to say. You might start by shifting your speech to all that is friendly and loving. Emphasize the positive in everything. It’s easy to be a critic, and more challenging to see the one genuinely impressive thing about whatever anyone is doing. This same attitude will shine its light back onto you, as you notice what you’re doing right rather than what’s not going so well. You may feel it’s insincere to focus the discussion on the beautiful element of what otherwise might be lacking, though there’s a philosophical issue underneath that: in making improvements in anything, do you fix what’s wrong, or develop what works? There’s more to this question than is obvious. An extended real-time experiment is in order. Anyway, no matter how much one fixes or eliminates what’s wrong, that does not create a positive. Also, humans proceed most successfully on the basis of motivation.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — If you’re concerned that you might take things too far, go out of control, or lose your cool, you can test that out and push your limits — on every topic but one. That one thing would be alcohol, or any seriously mind-bending substance. This “weather advisory” will be in effect for months. It’s saying, essentially, err on the side of caution. That doesn’t mean go straight-edge; it means use your common sense. Respect the idea of moderation, and keep tomorrow in mind. You’re still early in a phase of your life where some heavy constraints have finally been lifted. You’re now off-leash, free-roaming and unregulated, except by yourself. So you need to dial the responsibility piece up by just a little, and make sure your actions are in accord with your values. Check that your values, in turn, are flexible enough to adapt to any new situation. The best place to do any potentially risky or adventurous experimentation is safely behind your front door.

Capricorn Audio Birthday Reading is Ready!

Dear Friend and Reader:

Friday, I recorded your Capricorn birthday reading. It’s about 70 minutes in length, in two sessions. This is your birthday audio — an entirely different reading from The Art of Becoming, which will be ready in January.

You are living in extraordinary times, as a Capricorn or Cap rising. There’s been nothing quite like this in your sign since the early 1990s, when the Uranus-Neptune connection passed through town. That was a while ago — and what you’re now working with is just as significant.

At the moment, the Sun, Venus, Saturn and Pluto are in your sign, which is building to a series of major events that peak in 2020. That may seem like a long way off, though time marches on. The presence of Saturn, the ruling planet of Capricorn, is a reminder to tend to your growth, shore up your foundations, and take your place in the world.

Saturn in your sign is helping to ground you in your real priorities.

In this reading, I focus on several key points of development, though none is as important as your relationship to your family, and your family history. For all you want to do in life, all the ways you want to succeed, and solidify your process of self-actualization: the family connection is essential.

This relates directly to your most intimate partnerships, because they’re based on an emotional foundation that was laid in childhood. I provide specific information about how to work with these elements, and how to engage in productive self-therapy (it’s not always so useful, but it can be).

Your reading includes access to last year’s recording, plus your 2017 written reading (from The Book of Your Life), and a tarot reading that will arrive in about a month (maybe more, maybe less).

You can get instant access when you order the reading here for just $44. We will increase the price further when the Tarot section is published.

This reading is also included with the Backstage Pass. If you’re not a BSP member, you can upgrade and extend your current subscription, and the Capricorn reading will be included.

Thank you for being a Planet Waves customer.

With love,

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — Stop yourself every time you notice yourself saying, “But what would my [mother/father/family] think?” This may be subtle; it may be below the level of tangible inner dialog, though the message will still come through. It might relate to any aspect of your personality from work-related choices to the fun you want to have to your most intimate relationships. One point of growth you’re experiencing is your desire to open up your sexual horizons, right when doing so might encounter the nagging voices of authority figures from the past. This could be such a seemingly natural part of your psychic makeup that you’ve just learned how to live with them. But now there’s a showdown: how long are you going to let yourself be caught in the spider web of taboo, especially if you know that web (and the spider) is in your own mind? On our planet, anyway, there’s no approach to self-actualization that does not involve fully claiming, owning and setting your own standards around sexuality. And having your own rules usually means breaking everyone else’s.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — One of the great themes of this era in your life is noticing the ways in which what seem to be your own choices, life patterns and personality traits are really a response to someone else’s needs and desires. Your chart describes you in a state of questioning and releasing those patterns, only to be taken deeper, so you can investigate their source. There’s no reason why, today, you should be walking around worrying about the same things that troubled your ancestors two or three generations back. There’s no actual reason why you should be stuck in their hang-ups, their political views, and their turf wars over what is true and what is not. If you are seeking independence, foster that first as your ability to see, and then question, the influence of the past on the present. Life is not about living up to anyone’s expectations, or expecting the world to live up to yours. It’s about something a lot better.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — On New Year’s Day, there’s a Full Moon in your fellow water sign, Cancer. This is a reminder, valid through the year, to emphasize having a good time. You have invested plenty of energy into your work, reputation and career, which seemed to reach a frenzy in the second half of 2017. I’m not suggesting that you slack off, but rather set yourself into cruise mode rather than climbing mode, and devote some of the excess energy to the pleasures of living. You are a Pisces. Pleasure-seeking is a form of spirituality to you, perhaps the most important one. There are plenty of influences guiding you to be pure and wholesome, to maintain a good image and to be grounded. Those need to be counteracted by your conscious choice to have fun. In this project, discipline will come in handy. Work before play is a useful ethic, as long as you remember to do both every day.