Aries (March 20-April 19) — As Mercury changes direction this week, you will be guided to put the emphasis of your life on work-related projects. Yet you’ll benefit from leaving the window open to the creative zone of your mind, drawing from the same pool of ideas you would to do your most exciting personal projects. Said another way, to work effectively, the formula is to blend work and play. That means being more daring, and breaking the mold on certain stuck or boring thought patterns. You may encounter a situation where there’s a temptation to do things the same old way, though the more you try to do that, the more you will revolt. Your mind may become a kind of incendiary device; these get most of their power not from the explosive itself but from the tightness of the container. When you experience a real idea, you’ll know it from the way the walls and windows rattle.

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — You’re ready to expand into a whole new direction, though you may encounter some resistance in the form of your usual, seemingly inescapable self-critique. You in particular will always tend to be your harshest critic, which is in part a product of conditioning you can unravel. In case I haven’t done so lately, I’ll pass along an idea given to me by a wise old Taurus in my life, which is to never judge your own performance. Rather, do your best work, and let others decide how they feel about it. While some things, such as writing or photos, seem subject to self-critique, this is not as dependable as it seems. You miss the impact of what you create on minds and emotional bodies other than your own. You can’t really assess what you’re producing unless you experience it for the first time, in that moment, which you cannot do. Therefore, do not judge yourself; just keep experimenting.

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — Mercury stationing direct on Tuesday morning, after a nearly four-week retrograde phase, will give you a boost of confidence. Yet at the same time, other factors look like they could undermine your self-assurance. Once there was a spiritual teacher named Alan Watts. He wrote, “The desire for security and the feeling of insecurity are the same thing. To hold your breath is to lose your breath. A society based on the quest for security is nothing but a breath-retention contest in which everyone is as taut as a drum and as purple as a beet.” Wow, that sounds like it was written yesterday, though it’s from the mid-20th century. The remedy to this emotional mind is, in part, not to take yourself, or your feeling of supposed security, all that seriously. Keep your sense of humor. Remember that all things have a beginning, a middle and an end; track where you are in that process.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — This has been an interesting few weeks for you in two seemingly unrelated aspects of life: your finances and your self-esteem. Yet astrology strongly suggests that they are closely related, if not one and the same thing. If you study the relationship, you’ll notice interesting things. People tend to feel more confident when they have money in their pocket, though they often miss that their economic situation is related to their confidence. While there are exceptions, you will learn a great deal from seeking an understanding of this relationship, particularly over the next six months. As you build one, you will strengthen the other, with the seeming side result of cultivating maturity. This should be more meaningful to you than popularity or being entertained. Go for the deeper material and the longer-lasting values. Know what is truly important to you, and find strength in pursuing that as a life mission or calling. What you gain, you will never lose.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — What you’ve learned the past few weeks has provided you with gems of wisdom that you will be able to bank on for a lifetime. In long hindsight, once some time passes and you have some perspective, August 2017 will be a before-and-after turning point on which your whole life seemed to pivot. What happens over the next few days will remind you what you learned and reinforce the teachings that have been offered to you. You may have missed a few subtle points or ideas for how to proceed, and you may also be making a few final decisions for how you’re going to advance in the short term. Make sure those decisions are based on new information, which is likely to be flowing in abundance. The point of gaining knowledge is to use it, rather than merely collect it. The only way to confirm whether a theory or approach is valid is to do an extended real-time test.

Virgo Birthdays 2017:

Find Your Passion for Growth

“If you’re getting the message to grow and to become, find your passion for growth. Passion means feeling, beauty, angst, love, confusion, pain and discovery: the things you discover in every meaningful endeavor.”

— Eric Francis Coppolino in the 2017 Book of Your Life reading for Virgo

Dear Reader with Virgo Sun, Rising or Moon:

What messages to “grow and become” did you receive between the two August eclipses? Are you still trying to figure that out, or maybe planning your next steps?

Recent weeks have been interesting and intense for just about everyone, though it’s possible they’ve felt especially curious for you.

This Tuesday, you’ll have the unique experience of your ruling planet, Mercury, stationing direct in the same cryptic, hidden-away section of your chart where the total solar eclipse occurred on Aug. 21.

All of it comes together to begin your next year in dynamic ways — ways that will ripple out and develop in the months to come, aided by other significant astrology in the process. For example, major planets are gearing up to change signs (among other things).

Eric will get into all of this and more in your upcoming 2017-18 Virgo Birthday Reading.

“Your readings are soothing, grounding and remarkably spot on, especially in times like these. I very much appreciate you and your work.”

— Alison

Created to help you steer through the next 12 months and beyond, Eric presents the two astrology segments (at least 30 minutes each) and tarot reading in accessible, inviting language. He’ll offer motivation and inspiration for all the challenges and opportunities you may encounter in your intimate relationships, family structure, career, creativity, spiritual and sexual healing and much more.

“You guide but also ask the listener to engage with their lives. Humans don’t just get transformation for free and you are very precise in telling us where to look.”

— Shelley Stearns

How will you activate your potential and passion to grow and become? You can start by pre-ordering your Virgo Birthday Reading — at the lowest price we offer: just $33 for some of the clearest, most immediately useful astrology you can find on the internet.

Note that the price of the reading will increase before the full reading publishes, and then will increase again.

May Mercury smile upon you in all that you do.

Yours & truly,

Amanda Painter

Planet Waves Astrology Editor

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — In anything you may do, ask yourself whom you’re serving. What is the cause that you’re supporting? To what is your energy devoted? To be happy as a Virgo, what you do must transcend yourself. Yet Mars in your birth sign is strongly suggesting that you have to act in certain self-serving ways. You’re approaching a point of maturity that’s requiring you to find approaches to life that sustain your own cause and that serve the greater good. What you do must work for everyone on some level. There are times when you’ll be called upon to make a sacrifice or to offer yourself in truly selfless service, though when you’re in tune, this will always come back to you in the form of learning, knowledge or the opportunity for further participation. Don’t be deterred by people who are in denial or committed to being lost; that’s just a game, and it’s one that you don’t want or need to play.

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — There’s only so much progress you can make when your primary devotion is to making sure your life is carefully planned and organized. Most real advances come through some form of disruption. This might include an unexpected turn in the story line, plans that don’t work out and which then need to be revised, or realizing you’re confused and need to snap out of it. Therefore, hang loose, and don’t cling to what you think is supposed to happen. Rather, let the momentum of the next few days carry you, and then see where you end up. Events over the next 24 hours, as the Full Moon stretches across the most sensitive angle of your solar chart, will reveal that things are not as they seem. As the fog gradually clears, you’re likely to discover that you’ve accomplished far more than you may think, despite any plans to do something different.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — Popularity is not everything. Seeming proper and acceptable are worth even less. These things are so empty that you’d be well served to toss any worries about what you think people think, and to experience yourself with no concern about how you’re perceived. This is a stretch, though it’ll set you free to think, feel and do things that violate the rules in some way, or which may be appealing to you but frightening to those who are less bold and curious. That’s the place to hang out; that’s where the action is. The fact that something you want might seem inappropriate, embarrassing or risque is exactly the reason to experiment with it; this in turn will require you to go against protocol in some way. That’s one clue you’re doing something real, and relevant to your growth. To be who you are, you must be willing to challenge who you are.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — All the emphasis of your solar chart is now shifting to your 10th house of reputation and achievement. That also means accountability. You might, however, be over-emphasizing the responsibility aspect of things, which could hinder your ability to get things done. If you proceed with foresight rather than merely worrying about the impact of what you do, you’ll make a lot more progress. Consider what you intend, and be mindful about unintended consequences. Said another way, at the moment, there’s a limit to how impeccable you can be and still get anything done. One helpful key is to notice when your own concerns seem like those of your parents. For example, you know you can succeed at what they might never have dared to try. You might bend a rule that they would never even consider messing with. Most of all, you’re far likelier to strive to achieve something difficult even if you’re uncertain or insecure.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — One theme of the post-eclipse phase of your life is ethics. You can think of this as the careful evaluation of what is right or wrong, based on your personal values. You can drive yourself crazy splitting hairs, and sometimes that’s necessary and relevant. There’s another side to what we call ethics, which is a related concept: ethos. You can think of that as the spirit of the law, rather than the letter of the law. That’s what you want. The truth, or what is correct, is rarely quantifiable, though you can feel it — and you can feel when that elusive thing is not there. For your purposes, there is such a thing as true and valid, though you will be able to sense it more than you can prove it. Therefore, be sensitive to what you’re feeling, including a certain kind of resistance that you know hints you’re investing your energy where it does not belong.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — Regarding a financial matter, you will need to study the exact figures before you have a sense of what’s going on. Be bold about going to the numbers, and looking at the various sub-totals and the bottom line. This is not an area with any room for guessing, and what you think might be true is likely to turn out to be different from what is actually true. You cannot be too accurate; you should get the same result whether you add the column from top to bottom or bottom to top. Once you have the data, you’ll be on much more solid ground, and you’ll feel more confident as a result. In fact, you’re likely to discover that not knowing the bottom line eats confidence like a caterpillar eats leaves. You’ll also have enough information to establish the best MO for what you want to do, which should rightfully include a budget that you stick to, more or less.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Many changes filter through the astrology this week, which will settle the accounts on what has occurred during this most eventful month or two of your life. You’ve lived with considerable uncertainty and resistance, which you’ve endured so persistently that you got used to it. Allow things to settle down without any special need to stir them up again. Take some time and do what you want to do, rather than what you seemingly have to do. Most of all, allow and invite what you want to come to you, rather than thinking that you always must go to it. The Pisces Full Moon takes place Wednesday morning, and is just elegant in both its mysteries and what it reveals. Keep in mind that from the viewpoint of others, you’re not so easy to understand or pin down to one point of view, though you can trust yourself, and people will trust you, for many other reasons.

Aries (March 20-April 19) — Your next step is what we might call the real work. Recent events have set free a kind of inspiration that you rarely experience, and a push in the direction you want to go. Now, it’s time to attend to the practical realities of turning ideas and feelings into something tangible that will provide a place to live and work, food to eat, and a purpose to serve. Over the next week or two, you may experience a series of events that help you tune and refine your plan, though the real learning and the real refinement are all in the actual expression of what you want to do. You know enough theory; you have all the concepts you need. Be sure to persist in the face of any negative or contrary opinions. Understand that what you do is part of who you are, and must be welcome in any relationship.

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — You may be walking a kind of tightrope between what you simply must express, and what you’re afraid people will think. Creative expression is never without risks. Anything that does not in some way shake up awareness, cause a little stir or raise a few questions is entirely too dull to be considered relevant. This would apply to any aspect of your life where your inner world in some way intersects with the community around you. You don’t need to aspire to be controversial; rather, take any discussion, including seemingly negative reviews, as a positive sign. The thing to remember is that there is no compromising who you are. You may be able to have your concepts of appropriateness for different situations. That’s different from anyone expecting you to change for their benefit. You can, however, change to suit your own needs and desires; that’s your choice.

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — You may be wondering what exactly you need to say, and the answer may be nothing. From the look of your solar chart, you’re still figuring out how you feel about a situation involving your family, your household or some very old matter that you’re aching to resolve. If you pay close attention to what comes out over the next 10 days, you’ll be able to move beyond this. Yet right now, you may be too overwhelmed with your feelings or with your own opinion to see the truly salient facts for what they are. The facts are all you need, unclouded by opinion or interpretation. This may not be as easy as it would seem, particularly if you’re angry or hurt. Yet getting over those things are included in the healing process; to dwell on them is a trap. As for the facts, try asking five different people what they think happened, and take notes.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Lately I’ve been suggesting that the astrology associated with Cancer as your Sun or rising sign is about writing. This not only remains true; the effect is even stronger now, as Mercury retrograde builds to a peak. There would seem to be a specific subject, message or theme that you have to develop, whether this is personal writing, a practical project or art for its own sake. A series of unusual events this week and next will compel you to tap into your deepest talent and personal resources to say what you need to say. You will also be persuasive at convincing people that you need more money, whether this is a fundraising project, crowd sourcing, grant writing or a discussion with your boss. You must start by feeling your own value, and then assessing carefully whether the people around you actually notice that quality you have. That’s the most important operative information.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — It’s already been a week since the total solar eclipse. Yet the degree where the eclipse happened, the next-to-last degree of Leo, will be the scene of some significant events during the next week or so. Most notably, Mercury retrogrades into Leo and forms a conjunction to Mars. This happens just as the Full Moon peaks and then Mercury stations direct. The setup is perfect for asking yourself about your motives, and considering whether you think they’re legit. If you’re not asking yourself about what’s driving you, it’s likely to do so in an unconscious way; for example, as self-sabotage, or as anger that just goes off randomly and without a specific focus. You are too powerful for such nonsense. The way to honor your power is to know yourself, and seek to understand yourself more deeply every day. Act on what you learn, and sincerely make amends where necessary.

“Your readings are soothing, grounding and remarkably spot on, especially in times like these. I very much appreciate you and your work.” — Alison

Last week’s total solar eclipse is about to be followed by Mercury stationing direct in the same degree. If you’re Virgo Sun, Moon or rising, that likely means the effects of the eclipse are still developing for you. What will you make of this profound energy? Your 2017-18 Birthday Reading by Eric Francis will contain insightful and accurate guidance that you can use to understand your personal gifts and ignite your potential.

Your birthday reading will include two audio segments of astrology and an additional Tarot reading — well over an hour of top-quality interpretation, delivered in a friendly and accessible way.

“I don’t think I have read anything so achingly beautiful in my whole life as this Virgo reading.”

— Rev. Jody Lotito Levine

Pre-order your Virgo birthday reading today while it’s still at the lowest price. This reading also makes an excellent gift for the Virgo in your life.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — You’re about to experience the most interesting effects of Mercury retrograde and the solar eclipse. Many things come together over the next week, meaning that you’ll see patterns you may have entirely missed until now. So, in honor of that you might focus on noticing the way the different elements of your life story form constellations. Who, for example, is appearing from the past, and what are you learning when they show up? Are you carrying around old grievances, or are you letting them go? Don’t take your anger too seriously. There is, however, one thing that may actually be troubling you, even though you haven’t given it a name yet. If you tap into your deeper anger, you will know it, and that’s the time to make a point of resolving the matter. Pay specific attention to any way that parents or parent-figures show up, particularly as those with intractable opinions. Among other things, you simply must be more flexible than that.

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — The hotspot in your chart is that fine line between public and private. It’s a confusing and even chaotic place these days. We’re constantly being assured how secure our confidential data is; at the same time identifying data is hacked all the time, and we chronicle our lives in public forums. This is a metaphor for your mind at the moment. You tend to keep things private, but this just doesn’t seem to work, or work in your favor. Needing to maintain secrecy is stressful, to the point where it’s really worth asking why you even want certain kinds of privacy. At the same time, you’ll benefit from asking why you want people to know certain facts about you. If you work this territory consciously, you will gain the benefit of establishing much more practical boundaries, which are associated with the purpose that they serve. This will work, if you remember that all boundaries are temporary.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — No one thing determines your reputation. Anything that seems to do so, and also seems to be based on one event, perception or belief, reaches beyond the situation in many directions. In any event, you’re the one who must keep an open mind, and take a balanced view of yourself. Others cannot do this for you. The only viewpoint that can influence you in a deep way is your own. This is the time to step back from being your own worst critic, whatever aspect of your life you happen to be judging. There’s a little joke in here: once you’re able to view yourself with some equanimity, you’ll see how funny it was that you could have ever judged yourself. Until then, you might be struggling. You will find peace of mind, not through asking to be forgiven, but rather through asking to learn forgiveness — and practicing a little more every day.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — It will soon be time to take your professional or career plans up a few notches — but not quite yet. Rather than taking action, make a list of your goals, and organize them in order of your priorities. Then, consider the steps you would take to meet each one of them. Most significantly, spot the ways in which taking one action will advance your efforts toward two or more objectives at once. Rather than have a fixed strategy, follow along with the play-by-play of your own life for the last week or so of Mercury retrograde, and notice all the amazing things you learn. The real kicker will be figuring out how you would do something vitally important, if you entirely disregarded the negative expectations that seem to be coming from one of your parents. This may be an influence from the distant past, or as recently as yesterday; it’s still influencing you, though you’re in an excellent position to see this for what it is, and set yourself free.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — What seems to be an ethical matter actually boils down to a distressing lack of vision. The question is not whether what you’re thinking, or wanting, is “right” or “wrong.” The issue, if there is one, is really about whether your life is interesting enough. You seem to be looking down the wrong end of your binoculars, when what you really need is a wide-angle lens. You need perspective and some distance on the situation, and more than anything, to approach your own life with a sense of humor. Remember that true intelligence is flexible and has a light touch. It’s less about final judgments and more about noticing how events are flowing now, and in what direction you’re headed. Be open to information that might lead you to change your mind, shift your perspective or cause you to refocus your priorities. This is a conscious act, fueled by curiosity.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — For the next 10 days, you’ll need to be both conscious and cautious around financial matters, contracts, shared resources and tax issues. The planets are describing a situation where you need more information than you currently have. You also must be cautious of certain facts that are incorrect, and of disinformation that’s in some way designed to confuse or deceive you. You can drill in all you want, though there are certain bits of data that will only come out in their own good time. That, it would seem, is related to the final days of Mercury retrograde coupled with the Full Moon. Meanwhile, it would be wise to reserve judgment on any people and situations that are still clouded with mystery, which seem stuck or where you sense you’re not being treated fairly. By all means prepare yourself with whatever information is available, though there’s plenty more to come.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — If you’re not quite able to make sense of your relationships, you might console yourself with remembering how few people can. Take a step back and take in a much wider picture than you may be doing now. You also don’t need any pressure directing you toward an outcome; there are times for that, though now happens not to be one of them. Among your human interactions, the most meaningful and available are, at the moment, connected to the work that you do. You’re likely to be in one of the more productive, fulfilling and interesting phases of your professional life. You’ll enhance that by experimenting with where new ideas can enter your creative life. There’s rich potential in anything that seems to go wrong or get bungled, or where confusion is a factor. When you get to the point of a question, or where you’re facing the unknown, hold that pose for a while, and pay careful attention to what you notice.

Aries (March 20-April 19) — Thomas Edison, inventor of the phonograph, the light bulb and cinema, said that genius is one percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration. You’re doing better than that on the inspiration scale, and need to invest your energy into persistence, determination and gumption. Gumption is a great concept, and you would benefit from cultivating it: shrewd or spirited initiative and resourcefulness. Your success is not dependent upon everything going right. Rather, it will be based upon how you handle challenges, and your willingness to rise to the occasion. That means focusing, prioritizing and working as much as you have to work, as well as you can, until you are making headway. Set reasonable goals, attain them, and move on to the next set. Remember your partly expressed ideas and half-finished projects that can be dusted off and developed, and which will turn out brilliantly, if you keep the perspiration flowing and listen to those inspired messages.

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — Is it even possible to feel safe on the planet at this time? Even under the best conditions, life on Earth is tenuous, dangerous and there are no guarantees. Your sense of safety and belonging are closely related, and they stem from staying close to your purpose. By ‘close to’, I mean expressing, exercising and focusing your specific callings, and making no excuses why you cannot. There’s no safety in holding back. It builds neither confidence nor competence. You need both, so it’s time to take the dive even if you don’t think you’re ready; it’s time to squeeze the juice even if you don’t think you have any (you do). Most of all, teach yourself how not to hesitate, by practicing every day. If you want to trust your abilities and indeed yourself, you must continually cross over that place where you tend to get stuck, till the seeming barrier is gone.

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — You seem to be obsessed over some event that happened in the past. It might even help you to get to the bottom of your question, though you don’t need to work so hard, or to distract yourself from what needs to be taken care of today. You will get the information, the solution or the resolution that you’re after. Yet you would be wise to ask yourself how you think the discovery you seek would benefit you. It’s OK if you don’t have an answer. Pursuits or quests often start with one motive or necessity and end up another place entirely — and this may be one of them. Here’s a clue from your astrology: within the coming 24 hours, you’ll have information you want. You may not notice it; you may not believe it; you may miss its significance. All these are good reasons to keep an open mind, to listen carefully and, most of all, to read carefully.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — If you’re seeking cool and calm, you’re unlikely to have much of it. If you’re seeking adventure, you’re likely to have plenty, particularly in the form of self-discovery. Let go of being convinced of who you are. Rather, be open to new levels of understanding, which will be coupled with deeper levels of respect for yourself. Any such discovery would likely come with the stunned sensation that you didn’t really have a clue. The other effect could be a cascade of decisions that you know you need to rethink or revise, based on new information or a new understanding you have about yourself. This will come with some sense of urgency or the bona fide recognition that you must live up to your actual value in the world. Remember these words from A Course in Miracles: Every decision you make stems from what you think you are.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — You have incredible potential, but have yet to devote to yourself fully. You’re driven forward, and at the same time, seem to have an odd attachment to the past, or to your ideas from the past. Step one in rising above your foundations is to recognize this when it happens. Notice when your expectations are specifically based on what you’ve done before, or what has happened to you before. This is the snag, and it’s one that’s taken for granted nearly all the time. Yes, it’s true that “the past is the best way to predict the future,” though that’s the thing you must get beyond. If you want to accomplish what is unprecedented, you’ll need to do what’s never been done. So in a sense, the past becomes the record you plan to break, the mistake you’re not going to make again, or the activation of what was previously latent potential. You will like living this way.

Attention Virgo: Just one day after Monday’s exciting total solar eclipse, the Sun moves into your sign — bringing that energy signature front and center into your life, while it’s still fresh. Its effects will continue to reverberate and develop for months to come, interacting with a whole host of astrology central to your year ahead. Eric will be covering all the most compelling areas of your life in your upcoming 2017 Virgo Birthday Reading: relationships, career, creativity, family, healing and more. You’re invited to pre-order it now, while it’s at its lowest price.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — You’ll have a better idea what is happening, and what just happened, when the Sun enters your sign Tuesday evening. Still, it will take a few weeks to scope out your situation, with most of the relevant information coming when your ruling planet Mercury stations direct on Sept. 5. Events at that time will clarify the entire subject of Monday’s total solar eclipse in the most sensitive area of your solar chart. Until then, you may feel like you have to live with partial information or a sense of lingering mystery, though you can put that to work for productive reasons. There is indeed something important that’s demanding a review. It’s likely to pertain to a highly cherished goal or professional objective. The question may be: are you willing to involve yourself totally in what you want to achieve? You cannot be fully committed part of the time.

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — Allow your maternal instincts to guide you, to motivate you, and to calibrate your ethics. This means to be guided by the lunar principle rather than the solar. Both are necessary, though the world is currently being fried in solar radiation and a toxic version of the masculine principle: conquer at all costs. The lunar principle chooses to love and to nourish as a matter of grounded physical and emotional necessity. It’s about taking care of anyone young, vulnerable, hungry or cold. You might take this as your mission for the next year or two — or for as long as you live. You may be called to serve in seemingly random or fated ways. Be open to these opportunities; do what you can to set aside the feeling of inconvenience, open your heart and do what you can. You will inspire others to get involved. The message of today’s eclipse is to boldly lead by example.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — It’s time to wholly abandon the notion of ‘power’ as you previously thought of it. Monday’s total eclipse of the Sun occurs in an angle of your chart associated with all kinds of influence, authority, organization, and accountability. Some confuse that with power in the executive sense; it could certainly show up that way. Yet the eclipse is describing your forming a whole new relationship with these subjects. At the heart of the matter is understanding the way that your parents wielded their authority over you, because that was your model. Did you have a say? Could you influence the flow of events? Most significantly, what was the balance among the people around you; for example, how did your parents work out their power-sharing agreements? You will learn much from understanding these dynamics, including many things that you need to forget. And you’ll see just what you need to address in more sane and equitable ways.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — One of the core questions in the life of any Sagittarius concerns the details versus the big picture. You’re a big-picture person until you need things to go absolutely, positively correctly — at which point you morph into Micromanager-in-Chief. This works as long as you’re aware of the seeming dichotomy. The sign Virgo plays prominently in your astrology, as a standing feature of your chart, and particularly now, as the once-in-a-lifetime eclipse streaks across the American continent. It is indeed time to emphasize the details, though you must never lose track of what they add up to. An artist installing a large mosaic must focus on each individual tile or stone, though the final vision must be kept in mind, and infused into every tiny piece of the whole. This will take practice, and it will take devotion. You may discover a whole new approach to the big picture versus the details: there is no conflict.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — The theme of your life is justice and fairness. You must equate yourself with these things, as ideas and as necessities. First and foremost, this involves shared finances. Total identification is essential: you are the model, the source and the inspiration for all that is right and true. That may mean making some adjustments: for example, listening more carefully, to the point of breaking a sweat when you figure out where someone is coming from. Yet the most meaningful thing you can do is see the folly and the fallacy of jealousy. To the extent that this is part of your character, you are debilitated in your ability to be fair. This also impinges on your ability to be honest, since jealousy requires concealment. Let go of your tendency to keep score in your relationships, and devote yourself to giving more than you receive. There will be other phases of your life; other modes in which you exist; for now, this is a crucial layer of your growth to master and embody.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — Monday’s now-infamous eclipse of the Sun occurs in the relationship angle of your chart. The Moon and the Sun meet up in Leo, your 7th solar house. This imparts two messages: one is wiping the slate clean. Another is an opening up to new possibilities. Yet there’s a process being described by Mercury retrograde in another important relationship house, the 8th. This is where you work out the details: the financial contract, the sexual agreements, and the secrets that you share. Before you go on, it will be necessary to resolve some old business. This doesn’t need to take a long time, but it requires your full attention. It may be about an existing relationship, though it’s more likely to address a pattern you’re becoming aware of. That awareness is your first prerequisite; next you must want to have things be different; then you must act on that desire, which mostly describes how you speak to others, and the expectations that you have.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — You are here on a mission. It’s not an easy one, but it’s certainly a meaningful one. Being on a mission is different from being on vacation, or being an explorer. The miracle of this phase of your life is that you’re learning to coordinate the various aspects of your purpose: recognizing it, for one thing, and taking it seriously, for another. In our time of total chaos and confusion, this may seem more difficult than it really is. You start by getting out of your own way. You continue by surrounding yourself with cooperative people, and only cooperative people. Then you persist, day by day. In the end, your whole experience of life, of your work, of your mission and ultimately of your success — however you define it — comes back to self-respect. You may know this; you will really, truly get it when Chiron leaves your sign and enters Aries next year. Pull this aspect of things into focus now. It will pay astonishing dividends.

Aries (March 20-April 19) — So what are you doing with your freedom? I mean really doing, with your creative freedom, your relationship freedom, your ability to move around the planet and to associate with anyone you want? What’s on your list that you hesitate to act upon, and what gives you pause? Finally, what’s standing between you and your ability to choose? It might amaze you how little seeming security you trade for how much lost opportunity. Now it’s time to trade some of your false confidence for some actual curiosity and adventure. What are you waiting for? You’re being called over and over again, and you’re jumping in place. If you’re even vaguely deterred by what others might think, forget it. The opinions of others matter less than ever, as they should. This applies to any fear of others judging how uninhibited you are, how sexual, how strange, how talented or not — just forget it.

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — You’re in an excellent negotiating position, as long as you don’t get obsessed with being a good boy or a good girl. At a certain point you must exceed the perceived expectations of parent-figures, particularly (in the instance of your current circumstances) any father figures. Give them a new job. Shift the relationship. Let yourself out: let them see how beautiful and intense you are, and get that out of the way. Once you can live without feeling like you have to hide your beauty, you’ll have more energy and far more self-assurance. You don’t need to hide your passion, your longing for life or your need to make your own decisions. It’s the hiding that burns up your energy. It’s your negative expectation that prevents you from coming into yourself and living fully. At a certain point, all father figures must know exactly who you are.

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — It’s time to dig into the corners of your home and clear out the clutter, the old vibes, the dust and the dust bunnies. Wash the curtains, clean the rugs and organize the closets one at a time. Mercury is retrograde in your 4th house — your living space — and Vesta, the goddess of hearth and home, is involved. That means your efforts at refreshing your home space will be met with divine blessing and, if you persist, will be rewarded by creative breakthroughs. However, if you can avoid it, don’t think of the goal; get into the process of vacuuming and using as much Dr. Bronner’s soap for as many purposes as you can (skip the cleaning chemicals — soap and hot water is the best exorcist of the past). Know that you are taking part in a divine ritual that will turn your home or studio into an ashram devoted to your talents and creative ambitions.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — This is the time to assess your resources: all of them, beginning with the fact that you’re alive at this distinctly strange time in history. Then consider every talent, every idea, the space you live in or have access to, the tools of your trade and, most significantly, your friends and supporters. Do a total inventory. It’s time to take full ownership of who you are, what you’ve developed within yourself, and what you have available to use. The astrological occasion is unusual activity in your 2nd solar house, Leo. The 2nd house is resources; Leo is the gold standard. You have quite a bit available to you, and the question is, are you aware of it all, and have you connected it to your aspirations and intentions? Now is the time to get these things into alignment and make efficient use of them; or, said another way, to use what you have and what you know.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — Mars and the Sun are streaking through your sign, on course for a rare total solar eclipse that takes place Monday, Aug. 21. You would have to be living in a cave under a rock on another planet not to know about this, though you may have questions about what it means for you. Simply stated, it’s time to take hold of your life and live as if it’s your own. If you’re tuning into the astrology, you’ll probably feel a bit daunted by the possibilities and also by your desire to stretch, grow and, in general, change things up. You had best think big, since it’s rare to have this kind of leverage point, where you can actually attain a degree of progress that truly makes a difference. The more you cooperate, the more creative and less destructive this will feel. Yet no matter what there is the necessary component of letting go of elements of the past — which you will not miss.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — Mercury is retrograde in your sign, which indicates that this is a time of review, repair and reorganization. Yet, you’ll discover there’s a lot more happening if you’re willing to fully engage the process of dealing with the past, in whatever form it might be lingering in your life. That could include a relationship that needs to be resolved; it could involve some financial cleanup, or potentially a creative or career project. Whatever element of the past we may be hinting at, set about the process of working it through. Make it a priority and stick with it, prioritizing it over any social or recreational plans that you may have. Of course, get out and have fun; but make sure that you have the kind of fun, and company, that nourishes rather than depletes you — and set that as a conscious priority. It’s time for all the parts of your life to work together.

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — Your public image is one thing; your social reality is another. Image is, by definition, a kind of illusion. The people you have contact with, share with, learn from and explore life with are the real thing. And that real thing is evolving rapidly right now: new people are coming into your life, and previous ones are departing. This is part of a much deeper revamp of your desire, your dreams and your sense of purpose. And on the deepest level, this is about you and nobody else: decisions that only you can make, because only you know what they are. The vital thing is that you respect your own desire to become whatever it is you want to become — and that you not hesitate on decisions. I hear from Libras all the time about how they just cannot decide. What I’m here to tell you is that this is a skill you learn through practice, and that now is a particularly rich moment to engage your intentions.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — It’s astonishing how many people are still worried what mommy and daddy think. That extends to all forms of surrogate parents, such as partners, the government, bosses and even children. There’s a reason for this. To liberate yourself from all those influences is to take responsibility for your choices, and for your successes, and your failures. Once it matters not what power others seem to hold over you, you’re on your own; that’s the cost of living on your own terms. This may seem lonely at first, until you figure out that companionship is not about control or being controlled. In fact, neither is leadership. You’re entering a time in your life when everything must be entirely voluntary, which means abandoning the charade that it’s somehow not. You may think you have loyalty to people, though that is meaningless unless you have fidelity to your own purpose and reason for being.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — You’re experiencing a series of openings, which will require you to be flexible and to exercise both your talents and your options. Decisions you make now will influence your life for years to come, and the most significant of those is how you feel about yourself. Your most important choice in this lifetime is to focus on your purpose. If you seem to be lacking information about what that purpose is, you need to pay closer attention to yourself. Personal meaning is not about being pulled by external forces, though they may seem to have an influence. It’s about feeling your own inner movement as a source of guidance. The question is not what should you have faith in, but what do you already trust? If you’re wondering where to go, ask yourself where you’ve always wanted to go. Remember that the ‘external world’ is symbolic. It represents things that already exist within you, and that get all of their meaning exclusively from you.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — It may seem impossible to get on the same page as someone close to you, even though the mutual desire is there. The thing that must happen is an objective conversation about where everyone is at, with no thought of money, jealousy, the in-laws or, for that matter, the outlaws. The discussion had best be cool, factual and held someplace besides the bedroom. It needs to be a private space, since sensitive subject matter will come up, though it should have a neutral feeling: a quiet or closed restaurant, a hotel room, or any space where there are relatively few past impressions. This conversation must be about what is important to everyone, now. Then once that’s on the table, you discuss the potential points of agreement, and the points of departure. Once you know that, you will know exactly what to do. Remember: the future is unwritten, if you’re not bogged in secrets.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — Next week’s eclipse in your opposite sign Leo describes a total reassessment of your relationships, and your ideas about them. Every wheel is in spin, every variable is in play; though, most of all, you get an opportunity to clear the stage of your life and create something new. There’s enough energy in your environment that you’ll see the possibilities before you engage with them. Doing so is not the full activation of destiny. You get to experiment; failure to notice this is a fallacy that has a lot of momentum right now; that is, the idea that every choice is permanent; that accepting a date to coffee is a lifetime commitment. The true state of the world is transient. Once you can dance with that, you can explore some exciting possibilities, and gauge whether and in what ways they affirm your existence and your pleasures. The world is opening up for you; greet it not with fear, but with love and respect.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Mercury retrograde in your house of relationships is like watching a movie of your entire past — recognizing that it’s an illusion of light. It has only the substance you grant to it. It’s evident that, as you assess your history, you will see the possibilities for the choices you might make. Vesta’s presence in this house is urging that you not worry about making final decisions, but rather that you hold open space for the possibilities. You have not lived out many of your most exciting potentials; you don’t even know what they are at this point. Yet you’re soon to find out, particularly if you live not for relationships but for the sake of existence itself. That always means existence now, which will flow into life as you want it to be. Notice the people who are obsessed with the past, with nostalgia, and other forms of “the way things once were.” There are plenty of them, and you need influences other than those who would choose to live using the rearview mirror as their divining oracle. The frontier ahead is far more exciting.

Aries (March 20-April 19) — Most people will do nearly anything to be part of a group, which leads to some dangerous possibilities. Many of them are psychological and spiritual, though it’s clear that people will do things as part of a group that they would never do as individuals. The time has come to stand apart from certain people in your life, and the things that they do. You are well beyond the point of needing either conformity or approval from your peers when you express your personal intentions and desires. What you want to do would indeed be curtailed or hemmed in by seeking approval, whether you seek different forms of relationships, expressing yourself as an artist, or doing what feels right as a lover. If you want to get out of the habit of looking for validation, today’s eclipse will be a boon.

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — You may have some experiences this week that will help you see through a group dynamic that’s taken shape in your life. Any activity that involves what feels like a ‘family’ will help you clarify your early experiences and how they have shaped you as an adult. The moment you’re aware of the connections, you will be on top of whatever game is implicated, and you may make a discovery that will serve you for a lifetime. Remember that when people get involved in groups, they tend to subjugate their individuality, and as a result do things they would never otherwise do. If you spot this tendency in yourself, that’s the time to raise your awareness and to start making decisions. There may be considerable pressure to do what’s not right for you, though this is nothing compared to the rewards of living with integrity.

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — If you say less, you will be saying more. It’s your natural tendency to give the longer version of the story, and to provide the background information too. This is especially true with the Sun and Mars in your house of communicating. However, your ruling planet Mercury is slowing down, and you would be well advised to focus your message and to say only what is necessary. This way, you’ll have greater impact. If you must say a lot, put it in writing, and don’t publish it right away. Spoken words have a tendency to disappear, which gives them relatively little impact. The written word is an enduring thing, though this would rightly be in some form other than tweets or other social media posts. You do indeed have something to say, and you deserve the opportunity to make it count.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Venus in your sign is inviting you to immerse yourself in the best that life has to offer. We’re in the season of eclipses — a lunar eclipse occurs today, and a solar eclipse is coming soon. Eclipses help you break old habits and establish new ones. That’s an invitation to spend your time doing as much of what you love as you can. Do the things you rarely seem to have time for, but which you know nourish you. Speaking of nourishment, any habits around food that you cultivate now have a much greater chance of becoming established. One message coming from your solar chart is to eat as many meals at home as you can. This will save you money, reduce your intake of unwholesome ingredients, and help ground you in your home — which for one born under your sign is essential.

Leo Birthdays 2017:

Entering the Leo Birthday Eclipse Zone“I have just listened to your Part 1 and Part 2 readings and I am amazed at how accurate it has been. Like you have a telescope watching me shed a skin and transform into a totally changed person in the last 10 years.”
— Pauline Jones

Dear Friend and Reader:

If you have a Leo Sun, rising sign or Moon, I want to ask you something: How are you feeling about your vision for your life, and in what ways are you ready to take action toward it? What do you want to make room for, and what are you ready to leave behind?

With a partial lunar eclipse on Monday in your opposite sign Aquarius (your relationship sign), the door opens to one stage of potential transition.

In two weeks, on Aug. 21, a total solar eclipse in Leo signals the second stage of whatever life-shifting process you’re engaged in.

The reverberations from these two eclipses will keep rippling out and developing through the next six to twelve months — and Eric’s 2017 Leo Birthday Reading is designed to guide you through it all.

This is a unique year for you, Leo. In addition to these eclipses (and the double New Moons in your sign this month), Eric plans to discuss such astrological heavyweights as Chiron finishing up its journey through your 8th house; ever-surprising Uranus; and Saturn leaving your fellow fire sign, Sagittarius — plus more.

Are you navigating changes in your relationships or family paradigm? Do you find yourself at a career crossroads? Are you seeking clarity, encouragement and new perspectives on your creativity, self-esteem, sexuality or healing process? You’ll find ideas and reassurance in this reading.

“The past few years have been very difficult on many levels and it has been the readings I get through you that keep me going. Always, absolutely right on, every one of them.”

— Rhonda

Your reading is now priced at $44, and we’ve just published the first astrology segment; so you’ll want to order your 2017 Leo Reading very soon — before the price increases again.

I’m excited to see what you do with this year, Leo, and I hope you are, too. And remember: if you love a Leo, let them know: give them the gift of their special Leo Reading this year.

Yours & truly,

Amanda Painter

P.S. If you’re new to Planet Waves and Eric’s audio readings, I’d like to offer a special gift: listen to last year’s Leo Reading for free, to review your year (and Eric’s accuracy) before you make the quantum leap forward.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — Monday there is an eclipse of the Moon in the angle of your chart that describes your relationships, and the environment that surrounds you. Suddenly it seems that environment is changing in significant ways. Mostly this will come in the form of letting go of old friends and getting some new ones. It’s essential to go through this every once in a while, especially if your goals, your sense of purpose, or your idea of who you are becoming are changing. Essentially, you need friends who are not threatened by your willingness to change and grow. There’s no way to overstate this necessity. You are indeed evolving rapidly; and having people around you who in some way object or are made nervous by that fact is a perfect way to thwart your own progress. If someone really cares about you, they will honor your need to grow.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — This is an interesting week in the history of Virgo. Mercury, your ruling planet, is about to station retrograde in your sign. This happens Saturday, Aug. 12, though the effect will be full strength through the week. What’s so original is that Mercury is making a long conjunction to Vesta, a beautiful and complex asteroid whose themes of service and devotion relate to your sign. Two themes emerge: one is about holding space for the right thing to happen. You don’t have to make it happen; your role will be to facilitate. This may mean serving as a translator in a moment of sensitive communications at a time of confusion and misunderstanding. Without taking sides, serve the role of keeping the channels open and clear. Second, there’s something personal here about how your relationships happen. One keynote of Vesta is unusual relationship patterns. Most of the seemingly normal things that people do are not really for you; and if you can accept that fact, you get to experience your own distinct and unique form of beauty in love and bonding.

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — It’s been a while since anyone figured out that feeding the people is a key to bonding, cooperation and respect. That’s what your charts are about this week. Venus, the Libra planet, is crossing your 10th house of responsibility and authority, which for you is the sign Cancer. You are a caregiver in any leadership role, though particularly this week — with Venus conjunct Ceres, the goddess of food — you must look after your flock. Figure out a way to actually provide food for the people you work with, whether your colleagues or those who report to you. Bring food, order some in, or take people out to a meal — whatever works for you, as long as you’re the one who is doing the nurturing. With food comes a conversation, and with Mercury in such interesting form (see Virgo), there will be plenty to talk about. Focus on making the world a better place, starting here and now.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — Mars and the Sun continue to streak across the most visible area of your solar chart this week, while a lunar eclipse is about to happen in one of the most private areas. In old-school thinking, this is a reminder that you must balance devotion to your professional life and your personal life. I would offer another idea, which is that you must be the same person in private spaces as you are in public. You cannot divide your character, despite the popular perception that this is possible. You are one person, living one life. Your inner truth and your outer truth are one thing. Therefore, toss aside all excuse-making, and anything designed to enhance your image, and be absolutely sincere in all that you do. You will gain strength by revealing your vulnerabilities. And you will go deeper into this rarefied thing known as integrity, which is the very substance of life.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — This week, Mercury stations retrograde in the angle of your chart associated with accountability, responsibility and leadership. This is an indicator to take things slowly and in incremental steps. You need to be aware that you’re not working with full information, which is typical of the week that Mercury stations retrograde or direct. There’s always some key data that will be shaken out of the cosmos, and you need to pause major decisions until you have a grasp on what that is. You may feel like you’re acting in a sincere and noble way, only to discover you did the opposite of what was necessary. Take this approach through the whole Mercury retrograde — the really interesting information comes to light at the very end of the process, during the first week of September. It will be worth doing this, even if it seems inconvenient. Both your reputation and the common good are at stake. So: one calm, calculated day at a time.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — Belief is fragile, and it verges on useless. Why is that? Believing something tends to extinguish the quest for truth. What’s worse, most beliefs are of themselves not based on reality, on facts, or even on accurate perceptions. This week, Mercury stations retrograde in the angle of your chart associated with religion, spirituality and all processes of learning. You have Virgo in this angle, which describes your tendency to want the details before you offer your trust. That would be a wholesome approach to life this week. Let yourself ask the big questions. Don’t be in a hurry to have answers; let the mystery stand, and feel the strength that doing so gives you. Your quest through the Earthly plane of existence is driven by your questions, and it’s suspended by accepting false answers. A new phase of your quest begins this week. Be bold and stay hot on the trail…of whatever you may seek.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — Monday there’s an eclipse of the Moon in your sign. This may influence several facets of your life, though none more than your commitment to the work that you do. You are inspired to do good work because you care. You know that money is a relatively small influence for you, though you need to be mindful of cash flow. So make sure that you’re doing what you love to do, just in case you have to do a lot more of it. The other aspect of existence covered by this eclipse is your overall health and wellbeing. You simply must commit to this as a way of life. You must eat real food, drink pure water (coffee and soft drinks do not count) and get actual rest on a nightly basis. This is about longevity, and it’s also about efficiency. If you work yourself into exhaustion, your efficiency goes down; and if you’re well rested and prepared, it increases rather dramatically. You know all of this. Put it to good use.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — There’s a mysterious angle of every chart, called the 12th house. This is the zone of the chart that covers parallel realities, like dreams and experiences on drugs; it includes cinema and any form of illusion; and if we look to Vedic astrology (the kind practiced in India), the 12th covers “the pleasures of the bed.” Today there is an eclipse in this area of your chart, which will stir up your deepest desires, your fantasies, and maybe some psychological clutter that you’ll want to look at before you toss it in the dustbin. Fortunately, at the same time, Venus is moving through Cancer, which is encouraging you to take a physical and emotional approach to your desires, rather than just sending some saucy texts. Let yourself out of your container. Let yourself be the physical, sensuous, erotic person that you are. If you make yourself available to people you trust, everyone will benefit.

Aries (March 20-April 19) — In times of high pressure, chaos or confusion, it’s not easy to pull back and celebrate life in a meaningful way. Yet that is exactly what you’re being called upon to do, or rather being given the opportunity to do. Mars and the Sun continue to streak across the sky in Leo, which is the most creative, sexy and adventurous angle of your solar chart. Yet to use your creativity is a conscious act. It doesn’t just happen. People are more typically conditioned to squander their talent, passion and curiosity. If astrology means anything, you are being encouraged, guided and boldly invited to stretch your boundaries and do something genuinely meaningful with your abundant energy. If you’re doing this well, it’ll feel a little daring, like you’re pushing a boundary or violating a taboo. Creativity requires courage, and by all rights you would have that in abundance right now.

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — To some extent, everyone is programmed to be a ‘good boy’ or a ‘good girl’. Often this means kissing up to seemingly powerful people and various parent-figures, and worrying about petty transgressions. What typically happens, though, is that people become frustrated with the rules, and either simmer in that frustration or become rebellious and go a little crazy. It’s vitally important that you see this pressure to be ‘good’ for what it is. Who exactly are you trying to please? And what little games do you play, in order to maintain your image? When you take responsibility for your choices, for your successes and failures and indeed for your entire existence, you don’t need to prove anything to anyone. Once you step outside of that box, you may feel vulnerable, though that’s confirmation that you’re going in the right direction. Your sense of security must come from within you.

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — Venus traveling through your sign the past few weeks has served to remind you of another kind of intelligence. It’s the type that computers will never know, because they can only simulate feeling. You are human, and you can feel. You may be discovering that feeling is different from emoting. To feel is to be receptive; to emote is to be in output mode, which is somewhat less subtle. Now Venus is about to change signs and enter Cancer. This will enhance your sensitivity even more; and it suggests that your ability to feel, to sense and to perceive through your senses is a vitally necessary part of your guidance system. Therefore, slow down and pay attention to what your body is telling you. Take possession and ownership of how you respond to what you experience. Notice your senses, and notice the mind that’s behind them, receiving the information from your environment.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — You have some excellent motivational power to improve your lot in life financially. You won’t need to push as hard as you usually do, or think you do. As one born under the Sun or rising sign Cancer, a measure of financial security is your birthright. Yet by your choices, you can enhance this quality, or diminish it. You can resist, with emotions like guilt, or the sense that you don’t deserve to have a good life; or you can stay positive, use your talents and spot your opportunities. Right now, the one thing you don’t have to do is maintain your momentum and monitor your direction of movement. Guide yourself gently; there’s considerable propulsion moving you forward, and small adjustments count for a lot. Look at where you are now, consider your direction of movement, and determine if you’re heading someplace you want to be. Your end goal is not money — it is contentment.

Leo Birthdays 2017:

How Will You Shine This Year?

“Thanks for reassuring this Leo, who is having a year ‘for the books’! You get to the core of things.”

— Barbara Peaslee, on a previous Leo reading

Dear Friend and Reader:

One day after the Sun entered your sign, there was a special New Moon in Leo on July 23 — special, because you get another one in a month. And that second Leo New Moon will be even more special: the highly anticipated Aug. 21 total solar eclipse (in between is a partial lunar eclipse in your ‘relationship sign’, Aquarius).

Eclipses are unique and powerful pattern-shifting events.

Or, at least, they can be — especially if you can get clear on what you want, set your intentions, and then get the ball rolling in your desired direction.

Working with this kind of energy is one of Eric’s specialties.

And he’ll be giving you the benefit of his expertise in your 2017 Leo Birthday Reading — suitable for anyone with a Leo Sun, Leo rising or a Leo Moon.
Even better, Eric will look ahead to some of the other major astrology of the year, so you’ll be better able to develop whatever happens with this eclipse for months to come.

Whether you need clarity with your intimate relationships, career, self-esteem or identity, creativity, spiritual healing or family issues, you’ll find ideas, encouragement, new perspectives and reassurance in this reading.

“Your work has always offered me food for thought, options to consider and clarity when needed. Thank you very much for what you do and how you present it.”

— Victoria Bouet

I hope you’ll pre-order your 2017 Leo Birthday Reading soon, while it’s still available for the lowest price we’re offering: $33.

Eric will record the two 30-minute astrology segments first; and then a little later, you’ll receive your tarot reading for the year, using the vibrant Voyager Tarot by James Wanless. As these segments are completed, the price of the reading will increase.

Welcome to a year like no other, Leo. I hope you’ll be in touch to tell us what you learn over the next month or so.

Yours & truly,

Amanda Painter

P.S. If you know and love a Leo, why not send them a birthday gift that will keep giving all year? You can give the 2017 Leo Birthday Reading here.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — The spotlight is on Leo now, with Mars and the Sun streaking across the sky, and two eclipses soon to arrive between today and Aug. 21. This means your life is in transition; and if that is true, then it’s essential that you stay in contact with what you want. Mars, the planet of desire, will help you focus your goals, and erase any guilt or apprehension you may be feeling about being authentically bold. To live the way you want requires courage, on several different levels. Most people are easily given to living with difficult situations rather than taking the chance of changing them. Yet because you have so much energy (Mars and the Sun are both hot and fiery), it’s essential to dial in the power of Saturn. This is about discipline, careful timing and using structure to your advantage. Incremental changes are the right changes, at least for now.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — The truly extraordinary astrology in Virgo, at the moment, is a conjunction of your ruling planet Mercury, and the distinctly Virgoan asteroid Vesta. Though Vesta is a fire goddess, she’s really about containing and directing the use of energy and intention for creative and productive purposes. True intelligence might use thought, but ultimately it comes from somewhere beyond ordinary thought. The way to access true intelligence is to step aside and let it flow through you. This takes some discipline, though you can save yourself effort by asking inwardly for what you need. You can also help yourself by considering what you know, in your heart and soul, and working with that. Remember that actual knowledge will never be contaminated by fear. If you’re feeling fear, ask inwardly for that to be removed. In the words of one of the great sages, “You will be told everything you need to know.”

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — The sign Libra is associated with the planet Venus. Over the past few days, Venus (now in Gemini) has made a series of aspects to planets in Sagittarius, which may have felt like an emotionally rough patch or, better said, a challenging few days spiritually. It would seem like you’ve been pushed by some unseen force to ask some deep questions. You’ve had to reckon with your need to address the future honestly and consciously. You may be entirely off the wavelength of your friends or partners, wondering how they can occupy themselves with such superficial things when truly profound issues are calling for your full attention. The thing to remember is that your soul’s path, and your priorities, cannot be compared to those of any other person. You are not dependent on them, their ideas or their goals. To say this even more directly, your relationship to the universe is yours exclusively.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — The Moon is in your sign at the moment, which is helping cool off the extra-hot astrology influencing your life at the moment. That’s what you need — any way you can get it. Soak your body in water; drink a lot of water; and get some relief from the heat. Most important, maintain cordial and respectful dialog with anyone with whom you’re in some kind of authority relationship, no matter which way the lines of authority may run. That’s the place where things can most quickly get away from you, though there’s no need for that to happen. You possess the foresight and the intelligence to move things in a positive direction. Yet there’s one essential ingredient: having an idea just what direction that is. If you refuse to let yourself be guided by ambition or the need for power, you will have better information to work with. You have all the influence you need. Now, you must use it wisely.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — You will need to make decisions this week where you do something challenging for our world: set aside any self-interest. That does not mean harming yourself. To the contrary, something is clearly unacceptable if anyone is damaged in a transaction. Setting aside self-interest is something different. Being willing to pay a cost, or expend political capital to get the right outcome, is different. This requires a rare form of objectivity, which will mean considering the interests of everyone who is involved. You will need to account for who is the weaker party. You will need to be alert to anyone taking advantage of anyone else. You are in a position to stand guard over an important situation and ensure that truth and justice prevail. This has nothing to do with your personal success. Of course, being in a position to do the right thing is a direct result of what you have accomplished, and a big part of why you went to all that trouble.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — Your charts describe you being driven by passion you cannot understand or contain. They might be describing sexual or emotional involvement with another person, or potentially a business arrangement. It might even be both at once, which would call for extra-special care. In essence, you must sort yourself out of the situation. The risk you may be running is being so overly involved that you cannot distinguish your needs and interests from those of someone else. If the relationship is mutually profitable and the vibes are positive, that’s an excellent sign, though it would still be advisable to have an exit strategy if you need it. The energy will continue to build until the Full Moon eclipse on Aug. 7, at which time you will be able to see your own interests clearly. But really, you want to figure out what they are long before then. And to do that, you will need to get some emotional distance, slow down, and actually think clear thoughts.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — Mars and the Sun are moving through your opposite sign Leo. If your sign is Aquarius, or if that’s your rising sign or your Moon sign, that translates to intense: fast activity, unexpected developments, and people showing up in your life, potentially with an aggressive feeling. Under these conditions, there’s just one thing you must do: take care of yourself. Remove any unnecessary activity from your schedule, with an actual understanding of the concept of “necessary.” That means a radical form of prioritizing, with no guilt whatsoever about decisions you make. You need to take care of providing for yourself all the most basic nutrients, which includes recreational time and downtime. However, you don’t need mindless diversion or entertainment, or anything even vaguely reckless. One of the most significant projects of your life right now is purging old and useless tendencies that have not served you, and replacing them with what supports your best interests.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — The essence of your life must be balance. That’s not easy in the times we’re living in; some would say it’s impossible. It may be challenging, but it’s certainly within your power to get a handle on your affairs. Much of what I’ve suggested for Aquarius applies to you: particularly the need for prioritization and conscious self-care. You need to know when you must “shed load.” That’s a term used by people who manage the power grid. If there’s a demand for energy that’s outstripping the grid’s ability to provide it, turning off one neighborhood can save the entire East Coast from going down. Right now, err on the side of saving your energy rather than expending it. Do those things that are genuinely important, and make sure you stop taking on new projects and commitments. Use the month of August to complete what you’ve begun, and to do so with care for the utmost attention to detail. Your energy allocation must include what feeds your soul as a Pisces: introspection is vital. Then there’s art or music (whether you create or experience these things). Take your time, which means living one day at a time.

Aries (March 20-April 19) — People, especially younger ones, are systematically having their courage bred out of them. Older people tend to become more reserved and conservative because they think they have more to lose. Young ones have always provided a resource of willingness to try something new for its own sake. Sadly, that’s being injected with a kind of psychic Botox. Your astrology is calling you in the opposite direction: to embrace the unknown with yearning, to directly enter what’s unfamiliar, and to view your life as a creative experiment. This is not theoretical, but rather something you would do from day-to-day, even hour-to-hour, as a yoga of the mind. Be eager to do what you’ve never done. Travel back from someplace by a different route than how you got there. Contemplate how sex is the origin of all life.

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — You may be feeling so much restless energy that it’s scaring you. Your charts are definitely sending you a message to stay grounded in whatever connects you to the Earth, and to your body. Though you may feel like getting out of the house a lot; or if activities call you out of the house, to connect with your home base every day. That might mean preparing one meal, doing some housework for the pleasure of it, or taking a bath. The idea is to make contact with the solid ground beneath your feet and in your soul. Be cautious about getting into any conflicts with relatives or if you’re in a shared living situation; make sure that you settle the matter of your psychic and physical space without being defensive. Your home is very, very important to your wellbeing right now.

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — The essence of your learning path is to keep an open mind. Know when you don’t know, which is likely anytime you think you’re certain. Get into the habit of proving yourself wrong. Assume you know less than you know, even on subjects where you’re considered an expert, and cycle some of your energy into finding out more. That will keep your mind open to the possibilities and ensure that you don’t get stuck in a point of view, which would be all too easy right now. All certainty is potentially false; and ignorance is a synthetic product, bred entirely of the desire not to know, or not to admit the truth. You must stand boldly in between the two. Use what you know; be willing to be wrong; and make sure that all new information is subject to verification.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Money is not the only measure of value. What’s far more meaningful is how you perceive your own worth, and how you go about earning the money you acquire. Are you investing your precious days in something that genuinely matters to you? Would you do what you do for no pay? These questions will help guide you to a more meaningful existence. Most people think nothing of investing their lives in activity they are doing only because they get paid. Of course, this is related to the belief that what really matters to you is not worth someone investing in. More often, though, people are disconnected from what really matters to them, which is a situation you must resolve, if it’s even vaguely true for you. Find that thing that you care about, and do it as much as you can.

Leo Birthdays 2017:

How Will You Shine This Year?

“Thanks for reassuring this Leo, who is having a year ‘for the books’! You get to the core of things.”

— Barbara Peaslee, on a previous Leo reading

Dear Friend and Reader:

Today, one day after the Sun entered your sign, there was a special New Moon in Leo — special, because you get another one in a month. And that second Leo New Moon will be even more special: the highly anticipated Aug. 21 total solar eclipse (in between is a partial lunar eclipse in your ‘relationship sign’, Aquarius).

Eclipses are unique and powerful pattern-shifting events.

Or, at least, they can be — especially if you can get clear on what you want, set your intentions, and then get the ball rolling in your desired direction.

Working with this kind of energy is one of Eric’s specialties.

And he’ll be giving you the benefit of his expertise in your 2017 Leo Birthday Reading — suitable for anyone with a Leo Sun, Leo rising or a Leo Moon.
Even better, Eric will look ahead to some of the other major astrology of the year, so you’ll be better able to develop whatever happens with this eclipse for months to come.

Whether you need clarity with your intimate relationships, career, self-esteem or identity, creativity, spiritual healing or family issues, you’ll find ideas, encouragement, new perspectives and reassurance in this reading.

“Your work has always offered me food for thought, options to consider and clarity when needed. Thank you very much for what you do and how you present it.”

— Victoria Bouet

I hope you’ll pre-order your 2017 Leo Birthday Reading soon, while it’s still available for the lowest price we’re offering: $33.

Eric will record the two 30-minute astrology segments first; and then a little later, you’ll receive your tarot reading for the year, using the vibrant Voyager Tarot by James Wanless. As these segments are completed, the price of the reading will increase.

Welcome to a year like no other, Leo. I hope you’ll be in touch to tell us what you learn over the next month or so.

Yours & truly,

Amanda Painter

P.S. If you know and love a Leo, why not send them a birthday gift that will keep giving all year? You can give the 2017 Leo Birthday Reading here.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — Sunday there was the first of two New Moons in your birth sign, both of which are extraordinary events, and are here to deliver a message. At this stage of your life, you have little choice but to stand in your power. This is not a state of mind or a mood; it’s not a thing you do. It’s a property of who you are, though perhaps the more accurate word is influence. You cannot control the world around you, and you cannot force anything to happen. But you can influence the flow of events, in ways large and small. The single most relevant thing you can do is to know what you want, and have some idea why you want it. Don’t make assumptions; check yourself, verify your ideas about life, and let curiosity be your guide.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — You may feel like you’re living your life for someone else, or are serving as a vehicle for their growth. That may be true, and it’s a meaningful role to play; others have done this for you many times. Yet it would help if you took a broader-minded look at your situation. You’re doing plenty else in the world, though on some level, it’s almost always true that one’s most important responsibilities involve serving others. Still, you seem to keep encountering a persistent mystery about your role, purpose or the meaning of your life. To answer this riddle only requires that you be a little more courageous, and a lot more honest with yourself. If you find yourself being passive or ambivalent, turn up your courage and honesty. You don’t impress anyone by being meek and mild, and you don’t help yourself, either.

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — It’s time to step into a more public role, though the chances are that without doing much, circumstances will call you there. Your challenge will be minimizing conflict and controversy, and knowing how to deal with it when it happens. First, I suggest you only be as public as you need to be, and no more. This is not the time for notoriety or influence purely for fun. Everything you say and do must be connected to a purpose, and applied with a minimalist philosophy guiding you. You’re working with more mojo than you may think, and at the same time, it will be easy to get caught in the rather nasty trap of glamour. The safe and practical way to do this will be to take a conservative approach, using the right tools at the right time.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — Power for its own sake is always toxic, both to you and to others. With the Sun, the Moon, Mars and other planets moving across the fame and recognition angle of your chart, the thing you must focus on is accountability. The world is not encouraging this right now. It seems every day like we’re in the “get away with whatever you can” Olympics. If you play that way, it will come back to bite you so fast you won’t know what got you. Therefore, use your power judiciously, and stay close to the purpose of whatever system you’re influencing. You must proceed with dignity at all times, even if that means cramping your usual style. It’s not enough to be ethical; you must have the appearance of being so. It’s not enough to be honest. You must be willingly vulnerable as well.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — Over the weekend, the Sun and the Moon entered your fellow fire sign Leo, which is stoking up your confidence and your sense of purpose. As a Sagittarius, you can handle this better than most. Yet, because Saturn has been in your sign for so long, you may be eager to push the edges of your newfound freedom. Ease back on your restlessness and carefully consider your possibilities. Understand that your potential can describe your future, if you take yourself seriously enough to recognize that you do, indeed, grow. You don’t need to impress anyone; you don’t need their permission; you do need to trust yourself. When travelers who had come thousands of miles reached the Delphic Oracle in the ancient days of Greece, they were met with the message: Know Thyself. Take that as your mantra.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — Sunday’s Leo New Moon happened in the angle of your chart associated with deep sexual and emotional bonding — and financial legacies, inheritances and marriage. You must treat each of these subjects separately, rather than allowing them all to merge into one thing. You will have more influence over your own life if you see each of the issues for what they are. Make no mistake, there are others who would prefer if you remained confused or, at least, so swept up in your own passion that you don’t bother understanding what’s really happening. You can have great fun right now, and make considerable progress in the most meaningful areas of your life; though the cost of that will be vigilance, self-awareness and maintaining clear agreements with the people around you — especially those you find most frightening.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — There are some song lyrics I love, which come out of the Grateful Dead camp: “Stake my future on a hell of a past / looks like tomorrow is comin’ on fast.” That about sums up your life at the moment, and this can be a beautiful thing. Change is upon you, and it’s likely to enter your experience through other people. Therefore, you must constantly distinguish between what they want and what you want. It will be too easy to get vacuumed into the desires of others without much thought on your part, and once that happens, it’ll be difficult to get out of those situations. Therefore, know your own desires, and make sure they’re a match for any circumstances you find yourself in. Step back or step forward according to what’s appropriate, making a conscious choice one way or the other.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — This may be one of the most productive months of your recent life, as long as you pace yourself. It would be easy to burn yourself out on activity and even on success; you will need to moderate your level of energy output, and prioritize your tasks. Taking proper care of yourself is a top priority. If you’ve committed to something there’s no turning back on, embrace that fact, then figure out a way to make it work for you. Remember what you’ve learned about leadership the past few years, and the most effective ways to take charge of your own life. You have plenty of help available, though you’ll need to distinguish between situations when the presence of others makes your life easier and when it’s more challenging. And know that you have far more control over timing than you may realize.

Aries (March 20-April 19) — This week will be full of surprises, with Mars starting off the festivities by making a square to Uranus. I’m ethically obliged to give the accident warning associated with this aspect: if you’re doing something like climbing a ladder, make sure someone spots you. If you’re chopping vegetables, stay off the phone. That said, take any sudden alteration of plans as an opportunity. Shorn of your previous intentions or attachment to outcome, pause and ask yourself, OK, what do I really want? Where can I go from here? Then choose what would be most fun, most productive, or both. Where professional activities are concerned, your leadership role will be highlighted by your ability to think on your feet. Just make sure you do a quick once-over of your plans (taking from 15 seconds to 15 minutes) to check for unintended consequences.

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — Give close partners or loved ones plenty of room to be themselves. It’s possible to take pleasure in this gesture of supporting the individuality of others. Rather than feeling like you have to compromise, be negotiable and take the opportunity to do your thing if someone else is unavailable, whether mentally, physically or emotionally. Soon enough they’ll circle around back your way. Meanwhile, your solar chart is full of aspiration and intrigue: you’ll likely cross paths with people who have important roles. When you meet them, keep the conversation friendly and light. Being respectful as a matter of daily practice opens up a special door: you can trust yourself speaking to anyone, treating them as a person rather than personage, and exchange ideas. You might use the cocktail party rule: keep the conversations short, and keep circulating.

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — Normally astrologers look to Mercury for the story of your sign, but this week we’re looking at Venus, currently traveling through Gemini. It’s making some interesting moves, too: first Venus will make a square to Neptune, then a trine to Jupiter. Translation? As my old tripping partner Scott Grace used to say, “Confusion is the state before enlightenment.” Therefore, welcome any state of not knowing, not understanding or uncertainty about your feelings. Rather than trying to make yourself sure, let the boat of your mind drift for a day or so, and you’ll find yourself in an entirely new place. Just remember that essential spiritual move of holding open your space of not knowing, with some reverence for this as the prerequisite of learning. When you discover something that’s true, you’ll feel it in your mind and your body.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Stay in contact with your desire. Try to go to the most sincere level you can; that is, not influenced by advertising, trends or what your friends are up to. Connect with what you actually want, however you may feel about it, whether or not you think it’s appropriate. This will be a sweet spot of aligning with yourself. Particularly if you’re judging what you want, whether you think it’s too expensive or like someone might judge you, stick with yourself. You have a discovery ahead of you; a mystery will unravel. Be patient, and allow yourself to be instructed by your circumstances rather than by opinions or supposedly spiritual values. This process will likely include a point of contact in the sexual realm; you know intuitively and from much experience that the truth contains a wholesome streak of erotic feeling.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — Over the next few days, Mars and the Sun will enter your sign, followed by the Leo New Moon Sunday, July 23. This is good news many times over, initially coming as relief from anxiety, followed up by an energy surge. I would suggest, however, letting yourself get a slow start on your new plans — particularly if they involve self-improvement. Mars is going to be pushing you to “do it now,” though the New Moon is saying, “begin gently and gradually build momentum.” There’s power in solid beginnings; that is, ones marked not just by a statement of intention but rather with concentrated action. Before that phase, you may find that odd things happen to existing plans, which will offer opportunities to clear the deck of priorities that are no longer valid or that no longer serve you.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — Where professional matters are concerned, take things one step at a time this week. Be certain you trust the person you’re speaking to — not merely based on your intuition, but rather based on a track record. If you don’t have experience with someone, I would urge you not to trust them with sensitive information, ideas or your professional plans. The thing is, you may be inclined to make misjudgments about this very thing, particularly early in the week. I suggest you make a firm policy of sharing information on a need-to-know basis, if at all. That said, you’re in full-on creative mode where this area of life is concerned. Let yourself dream of the abundant possibilities. Look at your current situation and imagine how you would develop it to its maximum potential. That, however, will call for leadership.

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — You have a guardian angel with you, though you won’t know unless you ask for its help. Try this, on matters that seem to be small, or that seem to be great; on personal subject matter and that of people you care about. Make direct requests, whether for protection, an outcome, or wisdom. You’re also in a position to stand up for people, whether you know them well or not. You are a natural-born advocate, and with Jupiter in your sign — beautifully aspected by your ruling planet Venus all week — you have some persuasive ability in your hands. So your advocacy can be gentle, but make sure you’re clear about your views on right and wrong. The world needs moral guidance right now, from people capable of some mental and intellectual balance. You have a good bit more than that going for you.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — Conserve your energy this week, as Mars and the Sun prepare to cross the most visible angle of your solar chart — Leo, the mighty 10th house of your solar chart. A series of events between now and next Sunday will place you in a position of authority, which I would suggest you handle gently and collaboratively. Rather than being the boss, be the coordinator. Ask others to help you supervise whatever situation you’ve got on your hands. Rather than setting goals unilaterally, get as many opinions as you can and make sure that everyone has an investment stake. If you have to take charge, then do it. Till then, key planets, including your ruling planet Mars, remain in water signs, heightening your emotional sensitivity. Get some rest, eat well and get ready for an adventure.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — Go light on emotionally charged discussions. Even if you have concerns, considerations or issues, take a circumspect view of yourself and of others. You may feel like you’re really, really right, only to get it all off your chest and wonder what the heck you were thinking (or feeling). Rather than assume you know how someone feels, listen for clues, and ask questions that draw them out. Over the next few days, planets will begin to move into fire sign Leo, which will lift your spirits, and reveal all these seemingly complex emotional situations as being much less meaningful than they have seemed. Yet don’t fall for any traps late in the week or into the weekend, as you may be feeling the pressure. How would you do that? Don’t blame anything on a relationship. Just feel what you feel.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — Consider yourself the equal of the people around you. I don’t mean this in theory, and it doesn’t just apply to those younger, less knowledgeable, or less accomplished. It also applies to those you think of as superior in any way. Now, this must be done subtly. Here’s how I mean it: If you’re a guitar player and you meet Mark Knopfler, you can greet him as your fellow guitarist. If you’re a photographer and you meet Annie Leibovitz, honor her as your sister photographer. Not better, not worse, neither above nor beneath, but as someone you share something with. This would go for the younger and less experienced ones you may meet: recognize their potential, honor their intention to succeed, and be available to them. If equality exists, it’s subtle, and it lives surrounded by terms and conditions. Keep it simple.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — Toss any notion that money is related to the meaning of life, or somehow related to success. The latter might be true in some sense, but not the kind of success you are seeking as a humanitarian-leaning Aquarian. Money is a tool, a resource and in some ways a reward. There are many more meaningful factors that will determine whether and how you find your way in the world, the most significant of which is self-respect. Though this is in short supply in the world, it’s abundantly available for you. You will know you’re there based on how you feel. The positive emotions associated with respecting yourself come from below, and from within. It’s not a cerebral thing. As planets enter your relationship sign Leo, love and admiration will enter your life — though only if you feel worthy.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — This week wraps up a long phase of high-energy points — the Sun and Mars, to name two — moving through the most creative, passionate angle of your solar chart. As they make aspects to deep and soulful Chiron in your sign, you’re likely to find new outlets for your talent and your capacity to love and appreciate life. These may come by surprise, or they may open up as an easy flow; a combination of influences may be present. Leave yourself open; leave yourself time, space and bandwidth to explore what you want. Even more significantly, bring a spirit of curiosity and expression into everything you do, no matter how seemingly boring it may appear at first. Your astrology is such that you can make anything interesting, and anything that’s already alive can morph into something brilliant.