Aries (March 20-April 19) — Slow down and figure out what’s bugging you. No matter what, the situation is going to burn up energy, so you may as well get some good information about how to resolve it — and only you can provide that. Even if you sit with an excellent therapist for an hour, you’re still going to be the one who comes up with the goods. The role a therapist might play is to guide you away from denial and into affirmation of what you’re feeling. Your astrology strongly suggests there’s an ancestral angle, meaning that you’re addressing something that probably goes back a few generations. This is the perfect week to dip your bucket into that well, with so many planets in Scorpio, and much of North and South America celebrating Days of the Dead. Make amends with your ancestors. Let them take back what’s rightfully theirs. Thank them for giving you life.

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — You have quite a bit going on, and all of it’s relevant. Work, partners, projects and the world are all vying for your attention. You may need to sway into the direction of taking care of everyone else before you take care of yourself. Yet don’t go too far doing that; you have enough energy and presence of mind to be able to focus on your most basic physical and spiritual needs. Plus, there are enough people around you to get some help with things you don’t personally have to do. Stick to the tasks for which you’re most deeply needed, or that only you can do, and find someone qualified to do the other ones. You don’t like to spend money willy-nilly, though engaging professional help (such as from the neighborhood leaf-raking specialist, or the local wash-and-fold service) will take off some pressure and give you room to maneuver.

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — This will be one of those weeks where image counts slightly more than substance, particularly at work. Just make sure that you don’t tell any lies, and listen carefully to what others are saying, as the real message will probably come from between the lines or in signal form. Meanwhile, you have plenty that you want to get done: you’re bursting with ideas, and you have the energy and resources to make them real. So set your own agenda this week, while you keep up appearances and then maintain bare necessities. In other aspects of your life, that’s to say, the more creative zones, you’re onto something worth pursuing. It seems to be something where social, recreational and professional all meet up as one idea. In any event, you have absolutely no excuse to live a life of drudgery, or to experience a single minute of boredom. That’s just ridiculous.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Count these as the best days of your life. Perhaps you’ve seen better and maybe you will in the future, though there’s something happening now that you may already be noticing. Or maybe you’ve overlooked it in the din and chaos of contemporary life. Stop and tune in. Feel your way through every day, and be grateful for the people who are around you. There’s more though: you’re in a moment of self-actualization, where someone who was growing and developing inside can emerge into the world in full color. You’ve been through very nearly everything the past few years, and you’ve learned more than you know. Be bold about expressing yourself and your ideas, and live like your life is an experiment. Invest yourself in your most glorious plans. You have the commitment, the energy and the talent to make them real.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — In astrology there are points called the lunar nodes, and at the moment they are moving through your sign and your opposite sign, Aquarius. This describes the many ways in which you’ll be bringing your life into balance over the next year. This week, though, the planet Mercury meets the nodes at a right angle (technically called Mercury square the nodes). Mercury is reminding you how necessary it is that you express your feelings. This aspect also describes a turning point; and, inwardly, a tipping point or decision. Take this slowly, because it has the kind of potency to influence your life for a long time. Certain factors in your chart describe a tendency to slip into denial, yet others caution that you must be absolutely real with yourself at all times. Make sure the people you’re getting advice and information from are committed to honesty and accuracy; if so, they can help keep you focused.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — You have the ability and opportunities to recover any financial ground you’ve lost this past year. Yet you’ll need to tune out people who you know have a tendency to lie or confuse matters, or to waste your time. Stick to your own agenda. You don’t really need help, and you’re plenty motivated to do the right thing. Yet you cannot be afraid to make difficult decisions that are based on a thoughtful, balanced look at the facts. Many issues that have been difficult to pin down and more difficult to describe are now plainly obvious, which means you can finally do something about them. Just don’t let anyone make your decisions for you, no matter how well intentioned they may seem. You must guide the course of your own life as best you can, and draw in the strength and confidence that comes from doing so.

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — Concentrate your energy, and focus on your very most important priorities. You may need to do some thinking about what those are, and one may mask another. After you’ve sorted everything out, you may decide the real issue is not so much about relationships or about money, but rather a spiritual matter that’s nearly impossible to put into words. The subject is how you feel about yourself, which is not supposed to be a matter of opinion. But in this world, with so many factors that seem intentionally designed to undermine self-respect, it’s something that you must focus on consciously. It would be great if we didn’t need to come up with reasons to respect ourselves, and eventually you’ll go beyond that. However, for the moment, look at all the reasons you can come up with. Consider your willingness to help those who need you, and investigate your devotion to truth.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — You seem to be living on two levels. One is plainly obvious; you know who you are and what you need to be doing. At the same time, there’s something about your relationships that’s veiled in obscurity. You may feel that how people see and experience you limits your potential. In that sense, you may feel like you’ve outgrown your current partnerships. That’s always a possibility, though if you investigate that potential, you may discover that the people who care the most about you are willing to give you the space and time you need, and support your process of finding yourself. Still, it will take some courage to get out of your safe zone and to truly trust that people will be there for you even as you transform yourself into any shape or size you need. Be who you actually are. Never use your relationships as an excuse for not doing so.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — Look closely at your life, and ask yourself whether you’re happy with the direction that events are progressing. Take the time now to point yourself on the correct trajectory, which may involve making a series of small moves over the next six weeks or so. All of these decisions will add up to something, particularly if you start to make the connections. Note that a close partner is in a similar decision-making process, and may be leaving certain facts out of the conversation. It’s important that you not be angry about this. Nobody is intentionally hiding anything from you. Leave lots of space for others to share their personal truth, even if it seems a little late in the game. Actually, that’s not true: it would seem that a close partner is just finding the words to express their point of view, and this has not been easy. So take this one step at a time.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — Once again your aspects are encouraging you to focus on justice, and make sure the right thing happens. This theme may come up over and over again; there’s plenty of injustice in the world, so much that it’s getting annoying. You may not be able to do much to fix the world, though there’s plenty you can do in your immediate environment, and among the people you know. Let this influence every decision you make. You have more influence and even authority than you may admit, though you might have to go against the grain or risk rubbing someone the wrong way to use it. At a certain point, it’s necessary to set aside the petty grievances of the ego, the little ways in which people claim to be hurt, and their resistance to change. That is, don’t tolerate these things in yourself, and don’t give them any needless emphasis when others bring them up. Just do what’s right.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — Your whole experience of life depends on how you feel. This is true of everyone; though especially for you right now, your reality is “receptor mediated.” As the receiver of your own thoughts, feelings, sensory data and experiences, you decide what they mean, and you will make that decision based on how you feel. In the end, that works out to how you feel about yourself. Note that narcissism, egotism and being conceited have nothing — as in, nothing — to do with feeling good about oneself. Those are the toxic substitutes. Embracing and accepting who you are is a calm, steady inward state that does not require proof or demonstration. You will have proof enough when you see the world more benevolently, and you understand that your role is to help any way you can. In another era, your current chart would be about ambition. You’re in an excellent position to be of meaningful service.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — No matter how bright or dim you may consider your prospects to be, the time has come to face the future with open eyes and an open heart. This point of arrival is described in your long-range astrology, what’s happening right now, and a series of developments into next year. Stand on the solid ground of your sense of purpose. Don’t be deterred by the many people who live like there’s no tomorrow, and if there is, it doesn’t matter anyway. Rather, have the trust in existence and the faith in yourself to work for your vision. Take some time and some thought and clarify what that is. Imagine what impact you want your work to have in 100 years’ time, and then work your way back into the present moment. What would you do now, to get that result one century from now?

Aries (March 20-April 19) — The Sun enters Scorpio Monday, which will come as a relief — particularly if there’s been too much talking, and nobody saying anything. Scorpio offers you substance, and a solid basis for your exchanges with others. This might be emotional exchange rather than light whims. It’s about actual sex rather than whatever happens on the internet. And Scorpio will guide you through the changes that you want to make, starting from the inside out. That’s the thing about actual growth and progress: it rarely ever starts from some external action, like going on a diet or getting a new outfit. The commitment to change must come from a deep place, even beyond something that lends itself to easy understanding. There’s a mystery involved; and once you embrace that and stand face to face with the unknown, you will learn things that you never imagined possible.

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — The sign Libra is the angle of your solar chart associated with work and service. At the moment, you have lots of resources to draw upon. Your ruling planet Venus is already there, about to align with Vesta, the planet of service and devotion. And Mars has just arrived, giving you plenty of energy. The overall theme is fostering cooperation. This is a rarely acknowledged trait of Taurus, which is one of the original go-it-alone signs of the zodiac. That’s what makes you such an effective leader. As you get called into service, consider two things: One is that you need to use some diplomacy. People need to be lured into cooperation these days, and are easily offended. Second, remember to seek help and support from your peers, and from people who are older, wiser and have more experience. Then take what you learn, put it to work, and pass it forward.

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — This week, Mars and the Sun move in your favor, taking over two important houses in your chart: one devoted to creativity and play, and the other devoted to work and productivity. This is the perfect combination. Many other factors are working in your favor to make this one of the most exciting phases of the year, where you can get plenty done, and have fun doing it. Other factors suggest you will have the energy to help others with what burdens them, though without having to sacrifice anything. Therefore, while you’re busy crushing all the important tasks that will come your way, be generous with your time and your wisdom when it comes to assisting others with what they might need. You might find a way to create what’s called ‘an efficiency of scale’, and let your efforts multiply. You have plenty going for you. Do what you can, and what you love.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — If you had been waiting all your life for a beautiful planetary alignment, that’s the one that’s shown up now. The Sun, Mercury and Jupiter are in Scorpio, your fellow water sign. All those planets are resonating with your watery nature, and they’re also in the angle of your chart that’s about fun, exploration, pleasure, play and taking creative risks. You can afford to push your luck, and prioritize play over work. This will be productive: you’ll gain a sense of perspective, and you’ll therefore have a better idea what you need to do and what you don’t need to do. The world around you is in a somewhat frantic state. People are forgetting to have fun, and how to have fun. You remember; you are being reminded, and you have some lavish options. Those will potentially develop into work opportunities, reminding you how much it means to love what you do every day.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — Planets are on the move. Mars has entered the communication zone of your chart, meaning that you’re likely to have stronger opinions than usual. You could dial your energy back halfway and still make your point brilliantly, though really there’s nothing to argue about. Even better, the Sun enters Scorpio early Monday morning, joining Jupiter and Mercury. This begins a year where the emphasis of your life is on your home and private world. Design your living space into the perfect environment to think, to create and to love. This inner refuge becomes more important as the world goes insane. You’re someone who is fully involved in life, and you need both the space and the time to rest, repair and regenerate. You also need dependable, wholesome sex, on your own terms. Yet that cannot get in the way of your deep, biological need to be totally at home, in the place you call home.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — The planets in their courses are emphasizing two themes: one is taking care of money, in the form of doing what you can to bring in a little more of the stuff. That’s done with motivation, focus and spotting opportunities. This will be true even if you work a day job where there’s no room to maneuver. Once you have the impulse, the opportunities will be there. Second, you’re being encouraged to do something un-Virgo, which is to un-bottle yourself and pour your wine into the glass, where it can breathe. By that, I mean that a rare, beautiful alignment in Scorpio is encouraging you to reveal your deepest secrets, whether you share them with a close confidant or (better still) put them into writing. You need a record of this time in your life. And you will thrive if you open up your energy and truly enjoy and appreciate the interesting people around you.

 

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Libra and Scorpio Birthdays 2017-18

Sex and Relationships — and So Much More

Dear Friend and Reader:

With planets moving into Scorpio, and a provocative New Moon in Libra, the subjects of sex and relationships are coming into focus. Whether you’re mainly tracking the issues in the news or in your personal life (or both) chances are you’re feeling the energy.

Are you dealing with it consciously? Do you find yourself triggered, or alienated, or engaged, or aroused?

While Eric always designs the sign-by-sign birthday readings to cover many parts of your life (including career, family, creativity, various types of healing and more), relationships and sex — two core facets of being human — always get careful attention as he looks at your coming year.

Right now, anyone with a Libra Sun, Moon or rising sign can get instant access to the first two astrology segments of the 2017-18 Libra Birthday Reading when you order (the tarot segment will publish shortly — at which time the price will increase again).

And if you have a Scorpio Sun, Moon or rising sign, you can pre-order the 2017-18 Scorpio Birthday Reading for the lowest price that we offer — only $33, for two 30-minute astrology segments plus a tarot reading — for a limited time at that price.

Mercury began its quick trip through Scorpio earlier today. Jupiter entered Scorpio last week, and will travel through these waters for about a year. While these transits mean slightly different things to people with strong Libra or Scorpio signatures, in both cases it is deeply personal. And it’s only one feature of the major astrology shaping your next 12 months.

What will you do with the opportunities coming your way? How will you solve the challenges you face?

Get clues, solutions and perspective — all offered in down-to-Earth language and with Eric’s signature mix of motivational coaching and sensitivity — in your 2017-18 Libra Birthday Reading or your 2017-18 Scorpio Birthday Reading.

Yours & truly,

Amanda Painter

P.S. Both of these readings make incredibly thoughtful gifts for your Libra and Scorpio loved ones.

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Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — Mars enters your sign this week, joining forces with Venus, your home planet, and Vesta, an influential asteroid. You will need to strike a balance between driving the story forward, and letting the story unfold. You have equal ability to go for it, and to be open to what you want coming to you. Remember that you have these options, particularly if one or the other is not working. As for Vesta, her presence in your sign is a reminder of your role as one who holds space for the right thing to happen. You don’t have to influence the outcome in any way other than to keep the area clear, both physically and mentally, and be a kind of guardian for truth and justice. You might be called upon to intervene; your mere presence and awareness might be enough to guide key events to the right outcome.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — The Sun’s ingress into your sign early Monday begins a truly extraordinary time in your life. Jupiter arrived in Scorpio earlier this month, to stay for a year, followed by Mercury. There hasn’t been this much mojo coming through Scorpio for many years; you might have the feeling of remembering all the good things you’ve forgotten, discovering how much you’ve learned, and feeling like you’re standing your full height. I suggest you make peace with the fact that you’re an influential person, one who has the power to make the world a better place. You also set an example for how to live fully. You don’t need partners or to be part of a tribe to be a whole person. You are complete unto yourself. It would be better if you stood apart, and held to your own course in life, and then met up with others from that position of strength.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — This week, the Sun enters Scorpio, and it will soon make a conjunction to your ruling planet Jupiter. This is affording you protection, and it’s waking you up to the truly beautiful potential that you possess. Once that happens, be sure to stay awake, and dare to do the impossible. The thing is, you just might succeed; especially since just about everything (as in every last thing) that we now take for granted was in fact considered absurd, ridiculous or stupid right up until the time it existed. As previously mentioned (and as will be mentioned several more times), Saturn is passing through the late degrees of your sign for the next six weeks, forming a conjunction to the Galactic Core. This is a period of achievement. Finish the projects you’ve started the past three years, clear your runway, and get ready to take off for new horizons.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — This week, Mars enters the angle of your solar chart associated with fame, reputation and success. This is called the 10th house, about which I have my own theory. More than anything, it’s about accountability. That’s to say, it’s about taking responsibility for your life and for the wider life that surrounds you. The world does not need more celebrities, and it could do with far fewer people oriented on power. We would all be better off with people who set the example of integrity, and who understand the awesome power of decision. People respect you, and they look up to you. Therefore, go the extra mile and make sure that your actions are exemplary. Mars and other transits will contribute to your feeling more visible, and therefore more vulnerable. There is nowhere to hide. You are in a rare time of life when you must be known for who you are, come what may.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — This week’s astrology is a study in ethics. Your solar chart describes you in a position where you can do just about anything you want. You’re in a position of unusual influence, and people see you that way. You’re visible, and you know how to make that work for you. Yet Venus, Mars and Vesta, moving through your 9th house of spiritual matters, law and justice, are urging you to be judicious. Take a balanced view in all things, and consider everything to be a matter of relationship. That is: today, every choice you make influences many people around you. You have the ability to make that influence positive, constructive and cooperative. You can also go off on your own and pretend that nobody really matters, which is not really your style. Yet with the Sun, Mercury and Jupiter going over the top of your solar chart, you’re in an unusual state of being, and you must take unusual precautions to ensure you do the right thing.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — While it’s rare that anyone is satisfied with every aspect of their life at once, you’re coming close. A series of transits, mostly featuring a grouping of planets in your empathetic water sign Scorpio, is providing you with some actual successes, which will magnify as the week progresses. To the extent that you’re succeeding, you’ve earned every ounce of that good fortune. To the extent that there are things you need to repair or correct, keep a positive attitude, and know that something is not really a problem unless it has a solution. More than anything, look toward the future. You are getting a glimpse of what’s possible, which means that you’re looking at potential you can actually manifest. Mostly, this will happen based on the decisions you make. Be sure to only consider the options you really and truly desire, and then choose the ones you want the very most.

Aries (March 20-April 19) — You will need to burn chaos for fuel, and you’ll get pretty good at it too. Keep your engine cool; don’t rev the accelerator. Rather, dip into any disorder, surprise turns of events or the unexpected arrival of people, while holding your center and focusing on the task at hand as best you can (and you can). Trying to maintain perfect order and organization will not work. You might tidy your desk to feel better, or not; though let your mind run a little wild and let your conversations veer off course. Then, the gems will emerge from the swirling mystery that is your life at the moment. If you need to maintain boundaries, I would propose two: focus the quality of your work, and do your utmost to come in on time. If that looks like it might not happen, negotiate with clients or bosses well in advance.

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — There’s an old expression that if you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life. I do not concur. Sometimes the more you love what you do, and the more you respect the outcome you’re striving for, the more effort you must apply. To do anything well requires discipline (not easy for everyone, though essential for you), some struggle, and enduring times when you would rather be doing other things. Don’t let anything deter you. It will indeed be the love of your work that brings you through any challenging phases in the process, and the excellence of the results that you get. There’s one more thing, which is your growth factor. That’s undeniable now; you’re emerging in the second half of 2017 quite a different artist (using that term in its broadest sense, as a contributor) from the one you were around your birthday.

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — Others may try to impose structure on you, and you might let even them. Just don’t let it become a struggle; let it be a dance, or a friendly game, devoted to a purpose: getting the job done. Use the tension between the two approaches — yours being random, and that of others being more orderly — like a battery that produces a steady current. One thing you will need to monitor is your anger level. Anger is a natural emotion and, more than managing it, we all need to learn how to use it. In some ways it’s lurking behind much of what is motivating you at the moment. What often compounds anger is the feeling of being powerless, which you are not. That’s the particular dial to watch: any feeling that you’re ineffective, incompetent, a victim, etc. None of that is true, though there may be a moment or two when you feel that way. If you do, immediately tap into the childhood condition it’s connected to and you will regain your equilibrium.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — You might work from home this week if you can, if you usually work in the office. You might work out of the house, if you usually work from home. Experiment with your environment, and keep experimenting, particularly with what you do best in whatever particular location you choose. You’ll tap different aspects of your creativity in different places, even facing out of different windows or at different desks (if you work in a large office and there are some vacant ones). Also focus on making improvements to your home: there may be a major tidying project you’ve been putting off. If you do that now, you will get results and have the special satisfaction not just of a job well done, but also of a space beautified, reclaimed and made available for both pleasure and productivity. Speaking of: I won’t give the full “keep writing” rant this week; I’ll save ink and leave it to those two words.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — You can tap extraordinary powers this week, though you will need to orient your ship and its sails with the wind and the currents. It will be possible to go absolutely nowhere, or to sail across the sea in record time. Therefore, focus on your orientation. Here are some possible examples. One is the place where your daily life meets up with your larger and longer-term plans. Anyone who has aspirations to do anything beyond what they’re currently doing must work this territory: the one where little old today meets (or seems not to meet) the far away future. If you’re even conscious of this, you will be able to make better decisions. It will help if you perceive the future as real and, therefore, your actions now having a guiding influence there. As for the relationship between the present and the future: that reminds me of something John and Yoko once wrote in a letter to their fans, where they reminded us that the sky extends all the way down to the ground.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — Let your momentum carry you, even if you seem to get blocked or stall out. If that happens, slow down and work through the obstacle gently with patience and persistence; then come back up to speed. The thing to remember is that you don’t need to push so hard. If you drift in a direction you don’t want to be going, be careful not to veer too hard the other way and over-correct (a common cause of accidents). Rather, make a series of gentle corrections to bring yourself back on course. Potent forces are at work in your life. This is the last week of Mars traveling through your sign and, as it happens, the Moon will make a conjunction to Mars on Tuesday; that’s a long way of saying you’ll really be feeling this planet of hot, assertive, driven and in some ways sexual energy. In the Gemini reading, I’ve provided some ideas about how to use anger as a productive rather than destructive force, which begin and end with being aware you’re feeling it, and not going into denial.

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A Lifeline for These Times: Your 2017-18 Libra Birthday Reading

“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:

When the entire world seems to be losing its collective mind, having somewhere to turn for solace, sanity and a way to make sense of it all is crucial. Resources that enable you to see how your life fits into the bigger picture — and which give you a sense of your potential, and how to make the most of it — can truly be a lifeline.

To that end, Eric recently recorded the two astrology sections of your 2017-18 Libra Birthday Reading (the tarot segment will be ready shortly).

This means you can get instant access to an astrological lifeline that has been crafted specifically for you — whether you have your Sun, rising sign or Moon in Libra.

Eric designs these readings as a kind of life-coaching, spiritual healing, cheerleading and strategic problem-solving hybrid. You get a clear sense that you belong on this planet at this time for a reason — and that activating your soul’s purpose is entirely doable, even if you face painful challenges. Eric’s birthday readings address these issues with clarity, sensitivity and an eye to the greater energetic landscape — so you can see your path more clearly and take your next steps with confidence and peace.

With Jupiter now in your house of what you value (including your self-esteem), you’ll be well-positioned to access and integrate two other major planet sign-changes that directly affect Libra: Saturn entering Capricorn in December of this year, and Chiron entering Aries in April 2018. With these planets ringing the bells of your home-work axis and your self-partner axis, the next 12 months of your life (and beyond) are sure to be dynamic.

“Wow, you have just blown me away. So precise with what l am going through Libra Sun and Libra Moon and you haven’t even looked at my chart! Well done, Eric.”

— Judy Newland

I hope you’ll take advantage of this opportunity to order your 2017-18 Libra Birthday Reading — before the next price increase (which will occur when the tarot segment is recorded).

Yours & truly,

Amanda Painter

P.S. If you’d like to check Eric’s accuracy and review your past 12 months, you’re invited to listen to last year’s Libra reading, as a gift — before you purchase your current reading.

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Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — It’s been a while since Venus was in your sign. Though much else is buzzing around your solar chart for the next few days (for example, many alignments between planets in Libra and those in other signs, particularly Aries), you now have something helpful and special and beautiful: the goddess herself, sitting with you taking tea right on the front porch. My take on Venus is that this planet accounts for those with many talents. When you meet someone who can do ten different things beautifully, you will usually find a well-aspected Venus. And this you now have, positioned in your chart where you can have direct access to it, and let those gifts you have shine out. Just one caveat, one potential fly in the ointment: be careful not to feel like a victim of the work that you do. In other words, if you’re a gifted person and your current job does not allow you to express yourself, deal with that directly. Do what you can — and plot your way out of that situation now.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — You can adjust your public image without compromising your integrity. Remember that any presentation to the public is indeed that, and will differ in some ways from who you are privately. There are ways to do this that are true to your purpose and to yourself. The question of presentation is really one of emphasis. It’s a matter of what you choose to say, to a given audience, for the purpose that you need to say it. This will never be a complete story, though it can be accurate in that it represents something of the complete person you are. This veers into deception when you distort some element of yourself in a way that’s not representative of your deeper truth. One gift you currently have — and it’s one not always so easy for you to access — is the ability to reinvent yourself. Your ruling planet Mars moving through the last degrees of the mutable sign Virgo is giving you genuine flexibility. One way to use that is to choose your words carefully. Remember: Jupiter is now in your sign. You are always speaking into a microphone.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — The next eight weeks are a formative, even critical, period in your life. In that time, the mighty Saturn will move through the last degrees of your sign. This has not happened for 29 years; it won’t happen for another 29 years; and in any event it’s happening now. This movement describes the end of a process that began three years ago. Saturn in your sign is about fundamentally coming to terms with who you are. That’s the simplest, most direct and most accurate way to say it. You’ve been through the lemon squeeze; you’ve had some trials and tribulations; you have probably moved up a few notches in the world; and you are most assuredly at least three years’ worth of effort better at what you do. The next two months are a time of completing this process, before you move onto the next level. Make sure that all of your contacts with others are complete. Take care of the details. Remember you are the one and only leader of your life.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — Float your ideas, rather than launch them like a rocket. You will have the latter impulse in a pretty strong way, especially early in the week: you may just feel this need to thrust yourself out there, come what may. That would probably not work out so well, one result of which could be a loss of control either over your personal affairs or an idea that’s dear to your heart. Hence, the cooler, easier-going approach: develop something till it’s pretty good, like a second or third draft, and pass it around and get feedback. Test your idea out on a select audience, or run it past some people you consider mentors or masters of your particular craft. Make revisions, though staying true to the original impulse or motive that’s guiding you for as long as it seems relevant. Be aware that you don’t have to rush. For the next two months, your ruling planet Saturn will be moving through a sensitive part of your chart, heading for your sign. You’ll want to be ready, or even over-prepared, by then.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — You seem to be alternating between past and future images of yourself. Both are relatively true, and both are available now — as is an even better vision. The key is to know where you stand; in the flow of time, and in the flow of your personal development. By image, I don’t just mean a vague mental concept; rather, I mean a vision for yourself that you use as a sketch plan, model or template for further development. There are two main elements to work with. One is the image you have of yourself as relates to your friends, your community and whatever you define as your public. The other relates to the most direct, intimate, one-on-one partnerships and collaborations. This whole theme is worth a book chapter, though the short version is that these two concepts of yourself need to be in harmony with one another and, in turn, in harmony with something much deeper.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — A rare alignment of planets, all focused on the small but deeply meaningful Chiron in your birth sign, points to an unusual turn of events where your career or professional life is concerned. To call this an opportunity would be putting it mildly, though it’s less like your ship coming in and more like your chance to shoot some dangerous rapids along a wild river. That’s the more fun kind; nobody would argue with winning the lottery, nor would they argue with the truth that they did not earn it. You must be at your best this week, which means getting rest and proper nutrition, and steering well clear of people who you know to be sources of drama. Where people in authority are concerned, you must proceed within protocol and with the utmost respect; you are aspiring to be one of them. When you must break protocol, or exceed a limit, or go in a new direction, do so fully consciously, and keep an open dialog with those to whom you are in any way responsible — especially yourself.

Aries (March 20-April 19) — If you encounter resistance, check your own beliefs. It’s likely that any strain or pushback is coming from within your own mind rather than from your outer environment. One would think that the ability to alter one’s thoughts would be the easiest thing in the world, with a tool as flexible and as brilliant as the human brain. It turns out, however, that changing one’s thoughts is one of the biggest struggles that most people go through. However, your ideas and your beliefs are indeed changing, particularly where relationships are concerned. You don’t have to do much to facilitate this, except to not put up tons of resistance, or cling to your beliefs on the level of a religious fundamentalist. Jupiter is about to enter Scorpio, which you’re fortunate to have as your 8th solar house. That means you can go as deep as you’re willing to let yourself be free.

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — Move carefully this week, not walking on eggshells but treading lightly on the Earth. Jupiter ingressing your opposite sign Scorpio will place emphasis not just on your relationships but on your presence in the world. Everything is about to be magnified, and amplified, and made more vivid. You’re about to discover what a large world you inhabit, and how influential you are in it. Yet you must handle this power carefully, like a musician standing on a stage with an electric instrument that sends the slightest touch of her hands reverberating out into the environment. Notice the new dynamics of your surroundings as they take shape. Start by speaking softly, to get a sense of how your voice fills up the space you’re in, and influences people’s feelings and ideas. Then, experiment with turning up the energy, a little at a time. And remember, you are still you, no matter what is happening around you.

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — Honor what inspires you, what makes you curious, what stokes your creativity and passion. These things all work together to support your journey in the world: curiosity, creativity and passion. When in doubt, revert to being curious. You have unusual access to apprehend the world with the stark fascination of a small child. That means letting yourself intentionally be a little naive, and approaching the world as if you know nothing about it. Once you start judging things, you stop learning about them; if you hold open that conclusive part of your mind, you’ll leave plenty of room for direct experience to pour in. What you’ll discover is that you can trust your curiosity, and that it will dependably lead you to interesting places. Some will be beautiful and others will not; choose what you want as a conscious act. You don’t have to fixate on anything you don’t want to.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — At least early in the week, your feelings are not the best indicator of whether something is trustworthy or not; you will need to validate your hunches other ways. Yet as Jupiter enters your fellow water sign Scorpio on Tuesday, and then the Moon enters your birth sign soon after, your intuition will light up. Mostly this will come through feelings in your body, physical sensations from the neck down. Pay attention to these messages. Notice which way you naturally move, and which way you have to push yourself to move. Try flowing like water and taking the past of least resistance. As you do this with your emotions and your physical body, your mind and your ideas will follow. This is an essential order of operations; you have plenty on your mind, and going through your mind, and it’s all begging for expression. The way to go is feelings first.

Order today and get your complete 2017-18 Leo Birthday Reading by Eric Francis.

Order your 2017-18 Virgo Birthday Reading here for immediate access.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — While most of the world is busy going insane, I suggest you focus on food. Pay attention to what you eat. Shop more carefully, and dial back your tendency to eat out. You’ll feel better, save money and raise your awareness. Slow down your life to the point where you have time to prepare a couple of meals every day, especially breakfast and dinner. At the moment, food is central to your wellbeing and indeed to your success. Emphasis on food will lead to an emphasis on your home space. You will branch out into taking better care of your kitchen, bedroom and bathroom, which is a central theme of the next four seasons of your life. You must claim your home as your own. You will know you’re doing this because it becomes the place you want to be the most, the place you feel truly yourself, and the place where you feel safe.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — Venus and Mars continue their long, unusual conjunction in your birth sign. On the most basic level, this is about making peace with the essentially hermaphroditic nature of your sign: you embody both male and female properties in a rather bold way. For a while, the conjunction had you morphing them into one thing. Now that the conjunction is separating, you’re starting to sort out these distinct facets of yourself, and make peace with them individually. How will this play out in your relationships? That’s a good question, which you will get some feedback on as both planets make oppositions to Chiron, the planet of healing, which is in your relationship house. The important thing is that your path of exploration cannot be dictated by another person or their seeming requirements of you. Rather, you get to be who you are, and notice how they respond — and then respond to that.

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Libra Birthdays 2017:

Fire Up Your Potential, Become Your Own Safe Harbor

"I am absolutely impressed with my Libra birthday reading! It’s like Eric was talking directly to me. Everything he said is what has been happening. The last year has been a tremendous challenge in pretty much all areas of my life, but the birthday reading gives me hope that I really am on the right track. Thank you for such a great birthday reading Eric! Longtime Planet Waves fan."

— S.R.

Dear Friend and Reader:

Your sign is known for its ‘balance’ — but how do you find anything like that when the world around you is so out of whack, frightening, confusing and painful? It seems to come down to cultivating an inner sense of equilibrium you can return to no matter what throws you off — and which enables you to engage with the world in meaningful, helpful ways.

Eric just recorded the two astrology sections of your 2017-18 Libra Birthday Reading (the tarot segment will be ready shortly).

Timed to pave the way for the recent Full Moon in Aries — your opposite sign and relationship house — this reading carries the signature of that energy.

More importantly, Eric designs these readings to highlight and activate your potential; to offer you a safe harbor in this storm we call ‘life on planet Earth’; and to help you consider both your challenges and recent lessons from a new, creative and empowering perspective. What you get is practical motivation and inspiration you can use right away — in your most intimate relationships, your career, your community and your healing process.

With Jupiter soon entering your house of what you value (including your self-esteem), you’ll be well-positioned to access and integrate two other major planet sign-changes that directly affect Libra: Saturn entering Capricorn in December of this year, and Chiron entering Aries in April 2018. With these planets ringing the bells of your home-work axis and your self-partner axis, the next 12 months of your life (and beyond) are sure to be dynamic.

It’s up to you to navigate the upcoming shifts, but you can do so with an expert guide by your side when you order your 2017-18 Libra Birthday Reading here.

"Eric, thank you. Your service has reached farther and deeper than you know. Turn up the flame on the human blowtorch, baby. Yeah!!!!"

— Eryca Willinger

Eric once famously called Libra "the human blowtorch." Whether you see yourself that way yet or not, I’d like to invite you to try out this reading and see what it brings out of you. If you’re new to Eric’s work and would like to check his accuracy, you can review last year’s reading here at no cost.

Yours & truly,

Amanda Painter

P.S. The Libra Birthday Reading is ideal for anyone with Libra rising or a Libra Moon, too! It also makes a fantastic gift.

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Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — This week, Mercury and the Sun form a stunning conjunction in your sign. This is a bold reminder that your life is your own. You must make your own decisions. You are responsible for your own sense of security. You make your way in the world, as the leader of your life. Yet it’s essential that you not be stuck in the feeling that you must “go it alone.” As an autonomous person, you have the privilege and the responsibility to ask for the help that you need. You have the privilege of fostering your family of choice, if you cannot get what you need from your family of origin. In fact it’s essential that you find new ways of relating to people other than those you learned in your childhood environment, and it’s up to you to spearhead that project. Events this week will bring certain matters into focus, giving you the opportunity to do just that.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — No matter how people may perceive you — or are experiencing your supposed intensity, your passion and your need to be free — hold your center. Don’t believe the hype, and take all feedback with a few chunks of pink Tibetan salt. Focus on your creative, sexual and emotional center (they are the same thing for you). Jupiter is about to enter your sign; this takes place on Tuesday, and it represents a significant change in your life. Let that change begin with your awareness and your own experience of your presence in the world. By that I mean tune into how you relate to the social and physical space around you. Notice how people notice you. Experience what it’s like to be seen, and how people respond when you pay attention to them. Jupiter will expand not just your influence, it will also expand the ways your senses and emotional body experience the basic fact of your being alive.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — Commitments and responsibilities are making you rise to the occasion of your vast potential, especially professionally. Contrary to the rumor that Sagittarius is all about the broad strokes and the big picture, but hates the details, you are a taskmaster at the moment. You have the ability to manage many complex tasks that absolutely must be done right. Somehow you are not only balancing these two seemingly separate aspects of the world, you are integrating them. This may feel like bouncing back and forth between focusing on your wider mission, and then moving to some specific elements that need attention, and then back. Keep going with that process until everything integrates seamlessly. Note that Jupiter’s sign-change this week will bestow you with a kind of clairvoyance. This might manifest as eyes behind your head, or the ability to ‘remote view’ and see what is outside the reach of your vision or hearing. Pay attention to what comes through.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — Express yourself truly. That does not mean being a jerk or giving yourself permission to self-contradict every hour. Rather, this idea means being true to who you are, and to what you know. If you’re in harmony with that, you’ll also be true to what you don’t know, and maintain awareness of when you don’t have the answers. Over the next day or so, you’re likely to focus some important goals in a new way, which will give you some direction and clarity, particularly in your professional life. This is, in part, about how you state your own objectives, by which I mean the phrasing (which counts for a lot). It’s then up to you to proceed with the utmost diplomacy and organize the support you need to set your goals in motion. Don’t count on others for leadership: that’s your role and yours alone. Rather, count on others to help you with the specific tasks at hand.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — This week, Jupiter crosses the midheaven angle of your solar chart, entering the sign Scorpio. There it will be for a year, providing you with an expanded sense of your potential. Before you open that chapter, however, you would be wise to conduct a review of all that’s happened during the past year of your life, particularly where your professional affairs are concerned. What have you learned about the concepts ‘right’ and ‘wrong’? What have you learned about aligning your spiritual values with your work-related goals, and your desire to grow and rise up in the world? If you’re paying attention, there will be one particular point of integrity that comes into focus, as you begin the next phase of your outer development. Aligning this inner knowledge with your outer actions is your karmic goal for the next 12 months or longer.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Yours is the sign most completely aligned with sexuality as an expression of your spiritual life. St. Francis of Assisi, whose feast day was last week, believed that all of nature was a reflection of God. You know he was right, though to you, all of nature includes and emphasizes your erotic nature, and that of your environment. Many consider this taboo, too much to bother with, or an impossible dream. You know that this magnificent thing called eroticism contains the secrets of life, of creativity and of your humanity. If you honor this knowledge, you will be rewarded with opportunities to experience it directly. One learning goal will be clearing from your mind and feelings any notions that sex is dirty, sinful or contrary to nature. The true nature of sex has yet to be discovered by humanity, though at the moment, you’re on the forefront of that particular wave. And you will love it there.

Aries (March 20-April 19) — Amidst much other exciting astrology, including the Full Moon in your birth sign, Venus and Mars form a conjunction in Virgo, the house in your solar chart addressing healing, work and wellbeing. One easy-to-spot theme here is that your intimate relationships are finding their way to a useful place: the improvement of your life. The 6th is the house that describes the process of mindfulness. The image, therefore, is of being fully conscious in your encounters with the other, particularly of the other sex. Notice when you’re projecting your ideas and your values onto the people close to you, and call those projections back in. They don’t help you. Stay in the moment, rather than letting your mind run into the future. Whether you’re in an intimate partnership or not, the completion attribute of the conjunction is about understanding that you contain male, female and everything in between.

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — This week’s Full Moon in the most sensitive angle of your solar chart is a setup for feeling like you’re under pressure that you don’t understand, and cannot identify the source of. It’s an inner pressure, and it’s ultimately about self-discovery. Yet it might not feel that way, until you experience the breakthrough and the dust settles. That’s all likely to develop between Tuesday and early Friday evening, at which point the Moon enters your birth sign (or your rising sign) and suddenly everything makes perfect sense. Until then, you will need to monitor the reactive side of your nature. It takes a lot to get a Taurus fired up, though it’s possible; and this is the kind of astrology that can symbolize such feelings. Make a conscious choice to direct your energy creatively.

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — Much of what we call love is described and indeed predicted by early childhood patterns. Some authors describe this as the “love map.” Others describe it as the childhood constellation or family pattern. We see this come up repeatedly in our relationships, which often take the form of parent-child encounters. It’s possible to outgrow this, though it takes considerable mindfulness. The good thing for you is that perhaps more than any other sign, you can actually integrate your emotions using your mind, and that’s what you have the opportunity to do. It helps that the Aries Full Moon (which, incredibly, occurs within moments of Venus conjunct Mars) is across the most expressive axis of your solar chart. If you have any mode of creative expression — and everyone needs at least one — that will feed your spiritual and psychological process. Put your work where others can see it.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — One of those things you don’t read in astrology textbooks is how career-oriented the sign Cancer is. This is not just about personal aspiration, but also about taking the initiative to change the world with the work you do. That might mean innovating new dimensions in the field you work in: for example, not just becoming a programmer, but inventing a programming language; not just being a director but opening a theater. Cancer is one of the signs we count on for its natives to change the world, so that everyone else can experience the new dimension of reality that you open up. This week’s Aries New Moon describes you at your most original and energetic. You are already doing something with an influence and potentially even an impact. The thing about Aries is that it’s great at turning the ignition and getting things started. You’re the one who brings them to completion.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — What we call the spiritual dimension of existence is not all love and light. Much of it is about learning methods of handling the darker emotions such as fear and guilt, living with deep questions, and resolving troubling aspects of the past. What we call spiritual is an approach to existence, which begins with being aware, and which continues with asking for help — whether of other people, or of your inner teacher. Over the next few days, you may go through a journey wherein you get to apply the skills you’ve learned. Think of this as a test or experiment. Do you respond lovingly, and mindfully? To what extent are you able to consider the needs and desires of others, and to perceive them as being related to your own? Are you willing to offer yourself entirely in the service of others, with no thought of what’s in it for you?

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — Venus and Mars, the planets that represent sexual and emotional polarities, are about to form a conjunction in your birth sign, which is a relatively rare event. This happens within moments of a Full Moon across the angle of your solar chart that addresses the kinds of commitments that emerge in intimate relationships, which often involve money, and others of which involve commitments associated with sex. There are two things going on in this pattern. One is the self-completion attribute of Venus and Mars getting together in your sign. The other is the potential tension, controversy or mirroring that happens when we form deep bonds with other people. This is all a reminder that whoever you relate to, and however you relate to them, your inner experience of yourself is what sets the tone. If you feel whole, you’re more likely to have whole relationships.

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Turn Up the Flame with Your Libra Birthday Reading

Awesome, so uplifting and so ‘IT’ — a wonderful birthday message. Eric, thank you. Your service has reached farther and deeper than you know. Turn up the flame on the human blow-torch, baby.

— Eryca Willinger

Dear Friend and Reader:

Your birthday season is underway, and this year it’s extra special. As the Sun made its way through the early degrees of your sign, it formed a conjunction with the asteroid Vesta, which symbolizes devotion, the sacred flame and the hearth.

This distinctive conjunction offers you the opportunity to lend your energies to what you’re passionate about — what matters to you the very most.

Your 2017-18 Libra Birthday Reading by Eric Francis will give you on-point and accurate guidance to help you optimize your power and direct it where you need it to go.

Your forthcoming solar year will also see Saturn entering your fellow cardinal sign Capricorn; and Chiron entering your relationship sign Aries. Eric will discuss all this and more, in a friendly, accessible recording you can come back and listen to as often as you need.

The Libra birthday reading will contain two 30-minute segments of audio astrology, plus a tarot reading for your year (and an extended written description of your sign).

As always, your reading is spot on and validates what I am experiencing in life at this time. The sheer acknowledgment that as a Libra I need balance, beauty and aesthetics in my life to make me tick on, balanced, in my day-to-day endeavors and consequently some very huge endeavors for the year was just what I needed to keep going.

— Ginger Aarons

Pre-order your Libra birthday reading here for the earliest price of just $33. Note that once the reading is published, the price will increase — so you’ll want to get your copy very soon.

Thank you for your business. May the light of your hearth shine bright.

With best wishes,

Amy Elliott

P.S. This reading makes an excellent and lasting gift for the Libra you know and love — and is also incredibly well-suited for anyone with Libra rising or a Libra Moon.

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Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — If a relationship seems to be manifesting in some exaggerated form, it’s probable that the seeming issue has nothing to do with what’s actually going on. It will certainly be convincing that what you think you see, or think you feel, is the real thing. There will be clues that something else is going on, including the projection of gender roles. You might hear yourself describe the way that women act generally, or that men act; you might in some other way see these qualities as being outside of yourself. What you are being called to do is experience them as inside yourself, and own your own perceptions, ideas and judgments as interior realities, and not project them onto anyone or anything. This may be one of the greatest challenges of consciousness, since so much seems to exist outside of ourselves. As A Course in Miracles suggests, projection makes perception.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — What people reveal about themselves to their peers, or how they present themselves, is different from what they imagine that they are, particularly in their erotic lives. Have you ever considered this little disparity? It’s often chalked up to there being a difference between fantasy and reality; or, ‘I would think that but I would never do that’. Yet these seeming fantasies are often more than just that, especially if people secretly identify with their unspoken desires. The question of the week is, what about yourself do you know privately, and what do you reveal openly? To whom do you reveal it? You might start with those closest to you, who you know would take an interest in the real you, rather than the official presentation. There is a matter of integrity involved. You will feel better when you treat your whole self as a whole person.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — It’s probably been an interesting week or two. Your official planet, Jupiter, and Uranus, are still in their rare 180-degree face-off. This is awakening you to your potential, and prompting certain long-overdue changes in your life. In a word, Jupiter-Uranus is about progress. The key to Jupiter and indeed to Sagittarius is about going beyond optimism. Uranus is squeezing the potential out of Jupiter like the new, improved electric orange-juice machine. That jolt of current coming from Uranus is updating your brain and reminding you to actually do something with all the skills and resources you’ve accumulated or developed. You may find yourself making fast decisions this week as the Moon and Sun approach their opposition aspect, in the form of the Aries Full Moon, which is Wednesday. Whoever you are and whatever you may do, your creative prowess is at an all-time high. Indulge your talent, your passion, or your pleasure, as you will.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — The Sun and several helpful planets are now in Libra, your house of career. This will feel good to any Capricorn who wants to rise up and make their way in the world. Yet to make the most of this astrology, you must be decisive. Two aspects involving Libra — the opposition of Jupiter in Libra to Uranus in Aries, and the Aries Full Moon — are granting you the confidence to make the kinds of professional decisions you need to make. If there’s any extra hint of hesitation, it may be coming from the idea that there’s some kind of sacrifice involved: that to succeed, you must give something up. Yes, it’s true that professional writers get used to spending many beautiful, sunny days indoors, completing their work. To master one musical instrument, you may need to give up learning another. Everything comes at a price. The question to ask is: is it worth it?

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — It can take a long time to get the details of a relationship right. It’s easier, though, when you come from a spirit of generosity, and when you don’t keep score. Everything does not have to be even-steven, and as a person who has a lot (you do), you can afford to be gracious and forgiving. You can afford to set aside your expectations and observe who a person really is, and how you feel about them. It helps to receive what is offered to you and, as a gift to someone you care about, help them feel like they are a generous and abundant person. Let this be especially true in the most local aspects of your life. Rather than thinking about what’s going on at a distance, or what might happen far in the future, focus on your immediate environment, the people who surround you, and the needs that they have.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — The theme of finances, and of being true to your values, persists at full strength this week. Let’s take the second one first. You are someone who must live your truth. It seems optional for many people you know; for Pisces, it’s a specific life calling. There would seem to be an issue in that so much of what you hold dear does not seem to be in demand, or to sell for a high price. Yet that’s true of almost anything that is, today, considered precious and is in demand. You must use your intelligence, your creativity and your charm to make sure that you do what you value, and that others value what you do. This may be the second most important skill of any artist or talented person, after the primary work itself. You must have fuel to burn, a roof over your head, and a sandwich in your hand.

Aries (March 20-April 19) — Pay attention to who you meet this week, and don’t be intimidated by the great and the mighty. There’s an alchemy to your relationships at the moment, something that’s been gradually coming into alignment for a long time, and it describes encounters with unusual creative potential that might seem to manifest spontaneously. This is where being in the moment and setting aside any form of being star-struck come in. Recognize that every human being on the planet is, in a sense, your peer. However, it will help if you proceed with genuine respect, being honored to meet everyone you meet, whomever they may be: the powerful, the seemingly meek, the young, the old. Know as well that your presence has an influence on the world around you, even if you never see the results. You bring something distinct to every encounter, including the ability to actually present yourself as who you are. That will work brilliantly, as long as you bring all of your listening skills to every meeting.

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — The creative process is said to be more about perspiration than it is about inspiration. You start with an idea, and you work on it till you have a clue whether it does what you want it to do. Yet there are also moments of intervention: for example, an experience of contact with a teacher or mentor; a collision with a member of your audience who says something (whether positive or negative) that gets you thinking in a new way; or some discovery that you might make. This week is rich with such teaching moments. It may also be rich with people you connect with and cultivate relationships with that last many years. Here’s the one thing to be cautious of: don’t be repelled by the seemingly weird, eccentric or non-ordinary people you may meet. Talent, success and brilliance often come in forms you’re not expecting or have never heard of. People who have indeed made their way in the world have almost always done so by emphasizing aspects of their character that others may feel are off-putting. For maximum benefit, set your judgments aside.

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — Remember that you’re no longer a child in a world of almighty adults. You are a capable, intelligent and resourceful person who is not, in truth, at anyone’s mercy. Yet you may feel like that from time to time this week, and it’s essential that you pause, catch up with yourself, and respond to others with your full mind. You may have moments where you misjudge your own intelligence as being less than what you really possess. You can sidestep that by not making any judgments at all; stay in the moment, listen to your senses, and ask any questions that you may need to. If you think of life as a process of exploration rather than as a planned trip to a specific destination, you’ll have a lot more fun. You’ll be able to indulge the creative freedom that is your birthright. Do what you can to guide all relationships with collaborators or potential collaborators in any form into the most daring and adventurous territory you can. The chances are, they’ll welcome the opportunity.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — The theme of writing has come up repeatedly in my readings for your sign, and we’re now at a peak of that energy. However you can do it, take time to yourself regularly, and sit with your notebook or a computer, preferably with your email and browser turned off. There are thoughts in your mind that you must get into language. This week, with an astounding three different opposition aspects happening (Mars opposite Neptune, Mercury opposite Chiron and Jupiter opposite Uranus), you have the perfect conditions for provoking your mind to action. The thing you may need to avoid are relationship dramas; remember that these are strictly optional. This will be good practice turning down the volume on the usual chatter that clutters up your creative bandwidth. It may help if you focus on a single project, develop that one idea, and drive it to completion, whether it involves the written word or some other form of personal expression.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — Minor planet Ceres has entered your birth sign, which describes you taking a step up in the world. While Ceres (of ancient Roman fame) is usually considered in the context of food, she’s also associated with rising to a different social class. Don’t be in a rush to do this, however. Rather, notice the ways it’s already happened. When one transcends a limit of some kind, there’s not usually a pyrotechnics show. Rather, doors unlock and spaces open to which you did not previously have access. So, therefore, give them a try; reach out to people you’ve wanted to connect with; and do what you want until someone tries to tell you that you can’t. Your solar chart is set up such that accessing one place or group of people will open doors to the next and the next. You don’t need every opportunity, though. You only need the ones that you want the most, so it will help if you have an idea what your agenda is.

 

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — You’re rapidly approaching a series of transition points in your most important relationships, both personal and professional. You need to keep your wits about you, because Mars in your sign is now opposite Neptune. That’s suggesting you honor boundaries and limits, and remain sober (literally, avoid alcohol or mind-changing substances) when you expect to be in a serious conversation of any kind. You have a habit of underestimating your intelligence, then overcompensating later. You can avoid this by listening carefully and observing what’s happening in your environment at all times. Use the full faculties of your mind, and remember all that you’ve learned so recently, and much other knowledge that you’ve worked so hard to attain. One last: Try to set aside any tendency you might have to be passive, and take the initiative of getting the conversation going. Ask a question, express an opinion, introduce yourself. Say the one thing everyone else is afraid to utter.

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — The astrology this week is so interesting, with so many things happening, that it’s difficult to describe or even suss out. Yet the Sun newly placed in your sign is conjunct a meaningful asteroid called Vesta. That gives you clear direction: hold the space around you open, and observe what happens. You don’t have to do much, or say much, or be anyone other than who you are. Your mere presence in any environment has an influence, and is a privilege that presents you with specific opportunities you would not have somewhere else. That’s a cue to take advantage of any and every place and time in which you find yourself, and to work quietly with the assumption that you belong everywhere that you happen to be. You don’t need to worry about final outcomes. At the moment the astrology is like a six-way cloverleaf with traffic moving in every direction. You can take the ride and see where you end up in a few days from now.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — Never judge your own performance. Any musician will tell you there are nights where you feel like you just cannot play, and you crushed it. There are other nights when you feel like a master of the world, and didn’t really pull it off. And all of these experiences are added to your repertoire and contribute to your skill. All you can really do this week is the best work you can, without any need to evaluate it. The one thing you can focus, though, is your sincerity. That’s your most important boundary in an environment where everything is in rapid motion, where opinions are flying, and where there’s no actual way to control the outcome. Your sincerity will guide you, and it will be a cue to others that you’re on the level. Correct any mistakes you might make. Quickly make amends if you hurt anyone. And plunge into life, with whatever creative tools you might use, and express yourself boldly.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — This week, Jupiter in Libra and Uranus in Aries align in a rare opposition aspect. For a Sagittarian, this is pure inspiration, as if you could compose a symphony based on the clattering of pipes or write a brilliant drama from a few moments of dialog you overheard on the subway. There’s so much action in the sky this week that to tap in anywhere will be like trying to capture a waterfall with a spoon, though you have a distinct advantage: Sagittarius, ruled by Jupiter — the star of the show — is a large sign, associated with the very largest planet. You contain a cosmos of your own. If anyone can handle this energy, and make the most of it, it’s you. Yet you need to focus your awareness and be attentive. There are many factors in the environment that insist on both mindfulness and a spirit of participation, rather than merely observing. Of course, it will be interesting to watch, and there will be plenty to stoke your sense of humor. Much more is available.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — We’re just on the heels of the Libra equinox, and the Sun has entered the angle of your chart associated with accountability, authority and public recognition. It’s also conjunct Vesta, one of the great goddesses of Roman times, associated with the stability of the established order. It’s as if you’re standing guard over something of vital importance, holding space for the right thing to happen. While you’re doing this, there’s every kind of movement, madness and a kaleidoscopic dance of the energies. Yet everything is involved with everything else. All the seemingly different bits are part of the same grand pattern. You don’t need to control any outcomes. Rather, be willing to take responsibility for your own destiny and your own choices. Practice the art of respect, and of self-respect, and allow yourself to become part of anything you want, or anything that seems available. Even things that seem out of reach, though, are only a wormhole away.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — The one thing that could block your experience of this week’s rare and brilliant astrology is a too-serious attitude. Therefore, hang loose, and keep your sense of humor. Let go of some of your formality and adherence to protocol. You have plenty to spare, and can do with far less. Let yourself approach the world more like a child than an adult, which means allowing yourself to be impressed and amazed by things without analyzing or categorizing them. This will free your mind and open your heart to the magic that’s in the air. You may also notice the extent to which you judge yourself, and get a glimpse of how good your life can be when you suspend that habit. You don’t need to explain everything. You don’t even need to understand everything. Most of the very best things in life defy both explanation and understanding, and don’t need a theory to back them up.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Despite the prevailing madness of the world, you may find that people’s idealism is running at an all-time peak this week. And not only that, you’ll be able to make contact with it in meaningful ways. So stay positive, and resolve to have fun doing what you do, being who you are, taking the opportunities that arise. There’s a special theme in your charts related to money. You’re a person with great ideas, and others have resources. This week represents many potential connection points between you and them. Now is the time to focus your business plan, even if in short form, and talk to potential investors, donors, contributors or collaborators. If you’re looking for the perfect timing of a fundraising letter of some sort, this is it. If you’re seeking help organizing your finances, now is the time. There’s a spirit of generosity in the air, and a rare moment when people may feel that the truth has the possibility of prevailing over deception. Be bold, be open, and be sincere. All of this can be yours, if you keep a clear head, stay alert and awake, and do the right thing.

Aries (March 20-April 19) — Notice whether relationship partners are caught in a past issue or scenario, without necessarily recognizing it. If so, gently ask them what is happening and call them to the present. You might also recall what was going on in your life one month ago, around the time of the infamous total solar eclipse. There’s something here about completing the transition that you were involved in at the time, and which you might have forgotten, had it not been for the reminder coming from a partner or collaborator, even if indirect. Take this opportunity to do a review of the events leading up to the eclipse, which was on Aug. 21, and those in the weeks immediately following. One thing to watch is your balance between work and recreation. Lately, the planets are gathering in the angle of your chart associated with work and daily effort. You may need to ease off on that a bit, and nourish some of the other parts of your soul.

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — This is a productive and creative time in your life, though you may feel like you’ve gone off the deep end and that there is no coming back. That’s not exactly true, though why you might feel this way is clear from both your solar chart and what you’re experiencing. As the Virgo New Moon approaches (exact Wednesday, Sept. 20), there are certain tasks or projects that you can bring to a close, which will help consolidate your commitments and simplify your schedule. The equinox a few days later will further assist you in this process. Once you get things down to the essentials, it will help if you take a break from accepting new projects for a while, until you’re well rested from the impressive tasks you’ve taken on. Remember, too, that what you do is not just about your body and your schedule, but rather your creative output. That’s a synonym for mental and emotional processing and output. Next chance you get, give your mind a rest.

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — From the look of your solar chart, there seems to be some stress in your household or family situation. The Moon’s conjunction to Mars and Mercury on Monday will make things seem worse than they are. Don’t get emotionally involved where you don’t have to. That may be difficult, and you might literally need to end the phone call or go out for a walk. Wednesday’s New Moon in Virgo will help clear the air, and give you some forward momentum. Yet you still may feel a bit mired until the Sun reaches Libra on Friday. The Sun’s presence in an air sign will give you just that — some room to breathe and stretch out. At that point you’ll see the benefit of taking some real space for yourself. You need a break from your home being a gathering spot of any kind for others, which may entail doing some space clearing, some extra cleaning and directing friends and relatives elsewhere.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — It’s not easy to take care of oneself on the planet at this time. We have finally succumbed to the convenience of all these labor-saving devices, to which we are now nearly total slaves. The last few days approaching the New Moon (on Wednesday) and the equinox (on Friday) come with many invitations to disengage, as best you can. The New Moon will encourage you to wrap up a phase of business that extends back to midsummer, and when autumn begins on Wednesday, you will be feeling the nesting instinct good and strong. The Sun enters the angle of your chart associated with your home and personal space in a conjunction to Vesta, the goddess of the hearth. That’s a bold symbol, and a direct invitation to be in your home, and to claim it as your own. You need some peace and quiet, and to be in the company only of the people you choose — so choose well.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — It’s been about one month since the solar eclipse in your sign. This event represented a significant mile marker in your life, though the theme of the world right now is inundation. It’s easy to forget these things, and to return to prior patterns, even if they are outmoded. Your astrology this week is reminding you to keep the commitments that you made to yourself. That will start with remembering what they were, so take the time to do that. While the effects of a new phase of life can take a while to set in, an eclipse in your sign is powerful enough to make an actual difference, and to correspond with some immediate progress. When the New Moon sweeps through the neighborhood midweek, you’ll be reminded of this fact. And when the season turns two days later, you’re likely to feel the surge of energy and confidence that arrives when the Sun enters a cardinal sign.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — With Mercury, Mars and the Sun moving through your birth sign, and the New Moon approaching, you’re likely to be feeling the heat. That might be in the form of life being busier than even you are comfortable with, though with the lurking pressure to get it all done. Here is a clue. You only have to get certain things done — not everything. Be selective; use boundaries such as time and money, and consider your priorities from a spiritual perspective. Then do the most important things first, one at a time, and the others will follow in the momentum that you create. Wednesday’s New Moon may come with some unexpected and potentially positive financial news, though you will want to review offers, contracts, and tax documents carefully. If a partner is involved, make sure they understand the scenario and have a voice in making any decisions, which can wait until after the Sun changes signs on Friday.

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — Many planets are working their way through your 12th solar house, Virgo, which is like having an entire lane of traffic hidden in the blind spot of a mirror. There’s all this activity; you just cannot see it; it’s buzzing away somewhere in a dimension off to the side. But you can sense it: at odd hours, at 4 am if you wake up, as lurking anxiety or as some sense that your true feelings have gone missing. The forthcoming New Moon in Virgo may first amplify the effect, then create a release, like a hormonal shift. The thing to do with this astrology is to pay attention to the usually veiled aspects of your life, such as the dreamtime, your imagination, your subtle senses and where your mind wanders when you’re daydreaming. These are not idle thoughts: they contain energy and information, and at the moment, it’s coming on in a strong, if sublime, kind of way. Take notes, because this stuff easily slips back to where it came from.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — It’s essential that you conduct a review of your business, professional or career plan, and assess what has developed over the past month. A close collaborator’s point of view is essential; and in the absence of one, a personal partner who may have a stake in your success or a valuable opinion. There needs to be an airing out of all the details of the projects in question, and an assessment of the story arc. Plenty has changed since mid-August, and you want to plot the orbit of those movements and developments. You have lavish opportunities to develop your plans, and some public or client base that’s eager to hear from you — particularly if you get your message right. So, consider all of this, and put your imagination to use conjuring up what might be or become. Consider that over the next week or so, the theme of your chart will shift to the theme of “feed the people.”

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — Beware of the toxic influences of others, particularly anyone who attempts to threaten your integrity. You are a person with a mission, striving not just for an agenda or an accomplishment but to take your game up to a whole new level. You possess a wide diversity of skills that mean something as individual entities, but mean even more when you multiply them by one another. Be aware that your process of aspiration (it’s a process, and also a journey) may stir up certain insecurities implanted in you by your family. You may get to that point where you have to choose between worrying or any other form of anxiety, and your substantial drive to get the job done. If, for example, you express your power in some way, and feel a stab of insecurity, you will have to decide what to do, right in that moment. What you can learn here is how not to be a slave to someone else’s fears.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — You tend to make spiritual questions more complicated than they are. Is enlightenment or liberation attained through studying thick, dusty, ancient texts, or by following self-improvement techniques to the letter? Or do you finally get down to the “love or fear” question? In our society, so obsessed by allegedly improving everything all the time, we usually lose our grasp on how simple the very basic elements of life really are. To be spiritually connected is to be kind, respectful and, above all, of service to a world in crisis and in pain. That’s not a requirement for ‘success’ in the way we usually think of it, though for you, an intentionally helpful approach is essential to your peace of mind. In a few days, the Sun will cross the achievement and reputation of angle of your chart; and the question is not just what do you want to accomplish, but why, and for whom?

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — The message of your astrology for the foreseeable future is unraveling all those automatic, pre-programmed patterns that you’ve been practicing since way back when you were a fetus. At the moment, the spotlight is shining on the ways you negotiate any agreement where there are shared resources, such as money, sex or the material exchanged in an intimate relationship. You must reckon with the fact that your opinions, your actions and the style in which you express them have an influence on your mutually shared environment. And, in turn, your environment has an influence on you. Your emotions multiply in the context of your relationships. So does your karma. So you have to decide what, more or less exactly, you want. Where are you going to make your investments? What is the purpose of your shared enterprises? As the Grateful Dead used to sing, “If you plant ice, you’re gonna harvest wind.” You can also plant sunflowers, zucchini, hemp or quinoa.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — This week, the Virgo Sun forms an opposition to Chiron in your sign: the last of seven such events going back to 2011. Soon, Chiron leaves Pisces and enters Aries. What you have is a rare opportunity to make a study and review of your relationships since the Chiron in Pisces era began at the beginning of the decade. Much has changed, evolved and developed, all of it starting with your relationship to yourself. Chiron has been urging you to thread the needle of your own growth process, and to place that priority an order of magnitude above your personal relationships. Some teachers say that “relationships are everything,” though, if that’s true, it’s only because they point you back to yourself. Under the influence of Chiron, you are working directly with an inner source, to which all outer experiences and encounters must ultimately answer. This week brings a kind of final exam.

Aries (March 20-April 19) — Before you try to solve everything at once, look for the one thing that might really be a problem. Put more time into thinking than anything else, retrace your steps and your mental process, and figure out what you actually need to fix. If you begin by tearing things apart, you’ll make them worse. If you take a step-by-step, pure-logic approach, you’ll get a much better result. The chances are that your thinking is more the problem than some device, system or service. So begin with your own awareness of the facts, and your own mental state, and move from there. If you’re feeling time pressure, note that this may be an illusion or based on a misconception of some kind. Construct an actual schedule plotting from the final time something must be done, and working your way backwards through the steps on the way to getting there.

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — There are many kinds of strength, and one consists mainly of keeping your heart open. You don’t have to be a hero, save anyone or anything, or prove your power in any way. Rather, bring your sensitivity and willingness to listen, and perhaps some of your confidence, and quietly await information about what to do next. If you’re in a situation where you’re waiting for the perfect suitor or candidate, you might consider coming up with a standard that’s easier to attain. Any need for perfection, since it’s not really possible to attain, is likely to be a ruse for making no choice at all. Make sure you’re applying your own criteria, rather than striving for what you believe is in some way acceptable to others. Once you’re thinking for yourself, the scenario will be much simpler and you’ll see a path to your goal.

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — If you find yourself stuck in a family situation, drama or household scenario, ask yourself: who are you angry at, and why? This isn’t necessarily for public consumption, though you need to know, because that’s what’s motivating you. And if you don’t know that, you don’t have much to work with if you want to resolve anything, or make any progress. Remember that you’re not angry for ‘no reason’, though it will help if you trace your thought process and your history with these people. You may find that others are trying in some way to dissuade you from how you feel or what you believe. While you don’t need to defend yourself, you must understand why you, personally, are concerned, because your primary responsibility is to protect your own interests. Don’t let anyone tell you what you would really do, if only you were more loyal (to them). It’s a false argument.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — If you want to feel better, focus your efforts on understanding what you eat, and what it does to you. You may be experiencing some kind of dietary disruption, perhaps due to travel, change in work pattern or via the direct intention of cleaning up your act. Take advantage of this shift, and start developing new habits. You don’t necessarily need to do this by the book, and even if you’re well-read, where diet is concerned, the ultimate call is usually intuitive or instinctual. Your body makes most of the choices, though now is an excellent time to get your mind into the dialog, at least as an observer. Even if you don’t go so far as to keep a food diary, logging what you eat and how you feel each day, pay attention to what you do; and be aware of such rudimentary facts as caffeine interferes with sleep.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — Venus in your sign is giving you a boost of confidence that comes with being recognized and appreciated. You may, however, be falling short of appreciating yourself, instead filling in the blank with some kind of harsh self-critique. You’re not helping yourself by doing that, though you may believe the harder you are on yourself, the better person you are. While that could be debated, it’s not a formula for feeling good about who you are. It’s not a formula for self-respect. Consider that you could respect yourself for correcting your mistakes (rather than, for example, striving to be someone who never makes any). Ask yourself honestly: under what scenario would you have the opportunity to learn more? Gentle correction is the best way to proceed, which includes seeing the potential benefit in any error, and the potential unintended consequences of any seemingly good choice.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — You might ease back on any endeavor involving labeling yourself. This is a temptation in a world where everything seems to be based on some official identifier or identity that proves something for some allegedly urgent reason. It carries through to the contemporary mania around branding everyone and everything. Soon we’ll all be ready to go on the shelves at WalMart! Seriously, though: whether you’re working on an actual marketing project, or are proffering yourself for some reason, or are just inclined to tag yourself, look carefully at what you’re saying. Does it really leave you enough room to be who you are, to expand your enterprises, or fulfill your purpose? You might start with those things, and let the naming take care of itself. Credibility is earned in far more ways than presentation. Anyway, you want to be a whole font, not just a logo.

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — People often project their parental issues onto their boss. And for their part, those with people reporting to them do indeed play a parental role, in the form of looking after, supervising and perhaps even taking care of their team. These dynamics may be prominent in a number of different forms this week, so keep an ear out for them. What you want more than parent-child relating is the adult-to-adult mode. Any party to the discussion (for example, someone in a parent or child role) can make the move to bring the interaction to this level. That’s done by making straightforward requests, fulfilling what you commit to, and being willing and open to negotiate. Parent-child dynamics have less flexibility; adult-adult dynamics are entirely subject to creativity and choice, though that requires a choice to respond creatively. Use simple exercises, such as, "What are our options?" or "What is an appropriate goal?"

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — There are some people who are subject to trends and public opinions, and there are those who make these things. At the moment, you’re on the more influential side of this equation. What you do sets patterns; and then those patterns repeat, take root and expand. Who you are and how you feel affect the people around you. What you demonstrate is what may be considered possible. And your take-no-prisoners approach to ferreting out the truth is an example to some and an annoyance to others, which is fair enough. Therefore, persist in establishing patterns. Try not to get stuck in what came before, or where people’s minds are seemingly lodged. Rather, stay with the messier, more adventurous process of formulating new ideas. To that end, allowing your curiosity to drive you more than your intellect is the path to fun and freedom of thought.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — There are two sides to your nature, where work is concerned: the big-picture visionary, and the obsessed taskmaster. At the moment, your astrology is leaning heavily in the direction of wanting to get everything done, impeccably and immediately. That’s well and good, except your other role is more important: being the idea person. It’s likely that someone close to you can herd the kitty cats and tie up the loose ends of projects. If you cannot delegate the stage management task, you can ease back on it, mainly keeping track of time, of the time things actually need to be done, and who is doing the doing. Ensure that your communications are efficient and complete, so that you save misunderstandings and thus conserve energy. The mental posture you need is the big wide scene, the long arc of time, and your gift for orienting on the future you want to create.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — Every now and then, the charts describe a metaphor of going to a higher place to take in the view. Perhaps visit a hilltop, or take in an interesting vista from the highway. You might visit the observation deck of a tall building, or even tool around in someone’s Cessna. Whatever it may be, let it involve taking yourself to a place where your eyes can see the horizon. That scene implies that there is one, and that there’s also something you can see. There’s some parallel related to a talent you possess and may have developed. In order to see and experience this for what it is, you’ll need a higher perspective, which could come in the form of an experience, or of allowing your imagination to draw yourself into a positive and fulfilling future existence. You don’t ask too much from life, but rather far too little.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — Let events this week nudge you forward, or perhaps lift you into flight. You have support coming from many different directions, which is excellent if you remember that you’re the pilot of your own craft. Now that you’ve established the credibility or validity of what you do, you may be discovering that these endorsements didn’t matter so much anyway. You are who you are, and that is your real success. Still, there are advantages to having a measure of popularity, especially if you recall that your most important fans are the ones closest to you. Any potential admirers ‘out there’ matter rather less than those who provide you with love, energy, ideas or coffee. Though no other astrologer would ever say this to an Aquarian, never fall for the belief that you’re boring.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — The world seems much more available when people meet you halfway. Your chart describes this beautifully at the moment, with Mars in your relationship house representing those who might seek you out for some purpose. Your role is to understand what that purpose is. While everyone gets a fair hearing, the balance factor is that you don’t have to assume everyone has the best intentions. Don’t assume anything: rather, allow people to announce themselves by their actions and to a lesser extent, their words. Yet you must be perceptive, and take the small cues and early signs as being meaningful. Consider that people are signaling to the world who they are at all times, because they cannot help but do anything else. You do the same, though as your own inner being, you can consciously choose what you broadcast and what you project. Orient from that point of awareness.