THIS WEEK — Mercury is now in Aquarius, and on Monday it enters new territory for the first time after the recent retrograde. Since the Internet came along, it seems like everyone has heard of Mercury retrograde, though there are nuances.

“Aphrodite Urania as patroness of the arts” — Griepenkerl, 1877-78

What happens today is that what’s called the ‘shadow phase’ ends, and the retrograde cycle comes to an end. If you’ve been experiencing frustrations with technology, with communications, with money or with getting your plans in order, you’re likely to get some relief.

More significant is that you use this two-month phase of what I will call ‘Mercury clear’ to initiate your new projects. This is a much better time to make major purchases, conduct negotiations and enter agreements than any time around the retrograde.

The purpose of astrology is to use time well. It’s less like some magical process and more like a table of tides. No sailor would set out for sea without knowing the tidal conditions, and we have astrology to help guide our complex lives — mainly by providing a map to the environment of time.

On Tuesday, Venus will enter Aquarius. There are a few ways to read this, though my favorite is that it represents agape, the Greek word for brotherly love. Except here, it’s in the style of the goddess. This is love that’s about friendship, and is inclusive of more than two people. It may include groups of friends, or any style of loving where the theme is communication and bonding rather than solemn commitment.

Your horoscope for the week is below.

Lovingly,

Vision Quest, our beautiful 2016 annual edition, is available for immediate access. Listen to a free audio sample or read a written excerpt for your sign.

Listen to free samples here: Sample 1 | Sample 2 | Sample 3

Aries (March 20-April 19) — For the next week or so it will be easier to speak with people about subjects that are usually difficult or impossible to bring up. At the same time, it’s also easier to avoid any subject by glossing it over. The choice is yours. Regarding the first possibility, you wouldn’t know something is easier unless you try it. So you might ponder what you’ve wanted to discuss with intimate partners or close friends that you have not been able to, or if there hasn’t been an opportunity. This might involve sex, or it might involve money. The benefit you have now is that others will be more comfortable with taboo topics, and you are more comfortable in the territory of your own private business. This wide and unusual opening will not last forever. Take advantage of it while you can.

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — Take your time with whatever plan you’re working up. It looks as if you’re not quite ready to go public or to bring in more collaborators. That time will arrive soon enough. The only people who need to be involved are the ones who are ultimately responsible, even if that’s just you and perhaps a close adviser. There is also some psychology involved that I suggest you consider. Usually our relationship to success, to moving up in the world, and to recognition is mingled with our feelings about our parents. This could involve how successful they told you that you’d be, how successful they are, or whether they’re jealous of your accomplishments. If you take the time to consider this now, you won’t have to do it some time in the future, when the stakes will be much higher.

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — You may feel this week as if a cloud has passed over you, and you can finally see the Sun and the sky. It’s been a while. You’re someone who lives for new experiences, and you have plenty of them to look forward to. I suggest you go consciously into fresh territory in your life. There are things you’ve wanted to explore for a while — they might involve spiritual or intellectual interests, or someplace you want to go. Encourage your curiosity to expand. If you want to go somewhere, look at photos of the place. If you’re curious about a topic (for example Tibetan Buddhism, a Supreme Court case, or scientists’ visions for the future) get a book on the subject and start reading. Your mind is a fertile field right now, and what you plant will grow.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — You’re probably wondering when all the shifts and shake-ups will settle down. It would help if you see the larger process, which is that you’re gradually gathering a new group of people around you — one that will be more stable and supportive. For this reason I suggest you not only go with the changes, but trust them. You can even use the process consciously. For example, write down all the things in your life that you would change if you could. Once you have an idea what you want to change, it’s easier to see the opportunity to make the change when you have it in front of you. One thing to remind yourself is that you’re creative, and this is running at a high point lately. You can afford to trust yourself, and to be more daring than usual.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — Be careful not to let your fears run away with you. The thing about fear — and this cannot be said often enough, or to enough people — is that fear is usually fantasy, directed at something that’s neither true nor real. The problem is that it seems so convincing. The other problem is that bad things actually do happen, though not nearly as often as we expect them to. What I suggest you do is to guard your inputs. You’re unusually sensitive to influences coming in through media — television, films and even music. I suggest you experiment by indulging only influences that are positive and creative. Another way to say this is to assess the nutritional content of what you indulge in with your senses, and what you soak your mind in. If you consume what is healthy, loving and wholesome, that’s how you’ll feel.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — Depending on how you look at it, your astrological picture is one of being able to really feel where someone else is coming from, or a study in boundary issues. The thing to remember is that people depend on one another; we have to, for many things. We’re also subject to one another’s moods and life experiences. You’re now wide open to the influences of others, and as such, you need to manage all that influx. You can have empathy and still have clear boundaries. Contrary to popular belief, these are not walls but rather bridges. Said another way, you don’t need to block people as much as you need to have clear lines of communication. That is where your most dependable power comes from. The more understanding you possess, the more influence you will have over the flow of events.

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — If your attention has been dominated by emotional or family matters, it’s time to start having more fun. It would seem that, going back to the beginning of the year, you’ve been encountering complexities that you wanted to get beyond but which seemed to be holding you back. Now you’re being set free to experience many other facets of life. To use this freedom, you need to make two decisions — one is either to get out the door, or to be among your people, or to pick up creative projects that you’ve been distracted from. The other is to leave behind the emotional states associated with solving complex problems. Your experience influences how you feel, though it also works the other way. Gently let those old attachments go, especially any lingering affinity for struggle or emotional confusion.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — Mars moving slowly through your sign is bestowing an unusual kind of confidence — the kind where you may feel as if you belong anywhere you go. This is some rare astrology, and I suggest you use it wisely. You have an agenda, you have goals and you have plans for self-improvement. The time is perfect for you to use what I would describe as unusual personal power to go past boundaries that have held you back in the past. This may involve penetrating your own psychology or emotional resistance, or working your way up in the world. Doors that were blocked in the past are now open, but you have to put your hand on the knob and turn it, to prove this to yourself. Others can be helpful, though you need to seek out their assistance in a respectful way.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — You will feel better, and better able to make progress in your life, if you can let go of something that’s troubling you from the past. It may be some half-completed goodbye or a development you have not fully come to terms with yet. Doing so consciously will help you restore your energy and simplify your affairs. We live in a time when very little that happens in the past is actually resolved. As a result, it tends to collect; then it’s difficult for people to focus their minds on the present and the future. You’ve reached a point where you know you must come to terms with certain points of history. The question is how? The answer is: consciously, and a little bit every day. The more honest you are with yourself, the better you will feel.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — Strive to be fair with others. I know fairness isn’t a big hit these days, but that doesn’t detract from how necessary it is for you now. You can begin by making sure you hear and understand all sides of an issue. Know when you’re being arbitrary, and take a step back. It’s fair to say, “I don’t see where you’re coming from. Please explain it to me.” Or you can say, “I follow your thinking up to this one point. Get me over the hump.” Following someone’s logic doesn’t mean that you agree with them. What it does is to open up space for potential compromise. There is an added benefit, which is giving people the feeling of being heard. That reduces stress in the environment. And of course, if you decide someone is right, the real benefit is that you learned something helpful.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — You’ve been on a roll with good ideas the past few weeks, though the best is yet to come. Keep mulling over the possibilities, though pay attention to the subtle levels of your mind. You know how ideas sometimes float in seemingly from nowhere? Those are the ones you want. If you wake up from a dream with the sense of seeing a problem in a new way, write down the details. You have a powerful intellect, though what you need to tap into now is your intuition. To do this, focus on listening to your own mind, and notice how you respond to the thoughts of others. Something perfectly ridiculous, or unrelated to the topic at hand, can spark a clever idea in your mind. I would, however, remind you of one guiding principle for what you’re doing: service.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Later this week, the Sun enters your birth sign. So many other planets are currently in Pisces that you may feel a little overwhelmed or disorganized. The Sun’s one-month presence in your home corner of the sky will provide a unifying influence. It’s time to come back to your astrological roots: you’re a creative, pleasure-seeking person. This is true even given the responsibilities you have, and your desire to be an authentic success. Your creativity and desire to feel good can guide and motivate you. Ultimately, you will only be happy succeeding at what is truly right for you, so those are healthy guides. Working well, and intelligently, are essential to honor. Your sense of devotion and commitment are as well. Focus on feeling good and those things will come as naturally to you as sunshine and water.

“Girl with a Book” — Jose Ferraz de Almeida Junior (1850-1899) — date unknown.

THIS WEEK — Monday there is a spectacular New Moon in the sign Aquarius. Looking at the chart for this event (at 9:39 am EST or 14:39 UTC), the picture is one of connection, of purpose, and of easy access to the energy you need to fulfill your desires.

It’s essential to take a dual approach, of passion and reason. Let your passion motivate you; let reason guide you. Maintain a balance and know when you’re doing one or the other.

In a similar way, make use of both old and new approaches. You might be able to tap into a traditional method of doing something, rather than having to invent something new. But if the situation calls for it, your ingenuity should be running strong.

You might take as your motto, “Anything is possible,” or if necessary, “There’s no problem I can’t solve if I put my mind to it.” Make sure you describe any situation you face in a way that indicates it can be resolved. If you find yourself looking at something without a solution, seek a new description of the problem or issue.

This chart suggests a phase of time that favors deep thinking rather than superficial thinking, and doing things for a true purpose rather than for appearances.

Your horoscope for the week is below. Here is your long monthly reading for February and here is your short monthly reading as well. Here’s your Monday Morning Horoscope from last week.

W/love

Astrology for the Life You Live — and the Life you Want

At long last, the Vision Quest audio readings are done and published, added to the written readings published a few weeks ago. On this page, you have links to samples of all 24 audio presentations for the signs — seven minutes of the 60-minute astrology readings, and seven minutes of the 30-minute rune/artifact readings.

Eric Francis in Blue Studio.

These readings go to an unusual depth. They cross-reference, which gives you exponentially more potential to use them. But they are not for everyone.

They are for people not afraid to go deep; they are for people who take the art of relating as such — as an intimate art. They are for people who are seeking better things. They will help you if you are feeling stuck, or looking to open up a new horizon.

They are written with the ethics of therapy. I see my role as showing you the landscape and the possibilities, but not predicting your future or telling you what to do, or what to think.

If they are for you, your intuition will tell you that — and to help, I’ve provided a sufficiently thorough sample of the whole project, which I’ve given some 20 hours per sign.

Signup links are below each image. You may order by sign or receive all 12 signs here.
Navigate your reading samples by sign:

Read more…

‘Miracle Hour’ Premieres on Planet Waves FM

Weekly Radio Program Based on A Course in Miracles

I want to tell you about a new radio program that premieres today, called Miracle Hour. It’s a weekly program based on A Course in Miracles, and will usually publish Mondays on Planet Waves FM.

You might be familiar with the Course — a channeled work that came through starting in 1965, and which was published in 1976.

Since then it’s gone through many printings, been translated into numerous languages, and been the mainstay of writers such as Marianne Williamson and Hugh Prather.

I began working with the Course in March 1986, and have taken it with me on my journey as an investigative reporter, astrologer and seeker. Until now I have not said much about it — though you might say I’m getting the guidance to open up about it and my experiences with it now.

In the first edition, you’ll hear my overview of what the Course is, and how it came into my life. Because I look at things from many angles, my approach will do just that; considering a religious teaching from a theological standpoint, as well as describing my experiences and those of others who have worked with it.

If you’d like to hear the first episode, you can go to this direct link.

Aries (March 20-April 19) — Pay attention to what conditions you put onto people you might date or otherwise engage with. One might involve health. It’s not healthy to count people as potential disease vectors, or to set a standard of purity. Yet it’s also necessary to be aware and have open discussions about the topic, which happens way too rarely. Anxiety can burn up love and trust. Speaking openly has a way of fostering these things; so I suggest you pluck up the courage to have the conversation in a friendly way, not in bed. The kitchen table, a cafe or a walk in the park are much better locations for intimate and potentially sensitive discussions. Be open about your life and ask any questions you might have. This applies to any subject that truly matters to you. Honesty really is the best policy. It takes courage, but not as much as you may think.

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — Only you can set yourself free. This holds even if others convinced you of things that were not true. One revelation of the past week and of the upcoming few days is that you must determine what is relevant for you, from personal experience. To do that, it’s necessary to question your values rather than assume they’re true. You can ask, “Is this valid for me?” And once you have an answer, keep asking, because as you grow — which is accelerating right now — your perspective changes. As that happens, your concept of the future will evolve; and that, too, is transforming rapidly. You have old goals that you need to let go of, and new ones that are sprouting from the forest floor. Make sure they get light and water, because some are destined to be tall and mighty trees.

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — Monday’s spectacular New Moon in your fellow air sign Aquarius is reminding you that you’re the inventor of your own life. Now that you’re free of certain commitments and entanglements, you can look toward your horizon and feel the potential that you have. It’s true that in many ways, we live in hopeless times. But you have more than hope. You have intelligence, you have ideas and most of all, you have a talent for strategy. All these things are blossoming for you right now. What will help you the most is to have flexibility. What you’re planning or seeing in your own future will take different forms once it manifests, and it will help if you’re able to adapt your plans ongoing. If you encounter an obstacle, remember: you can go over, under, through or around.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — You’re in an excellent position to make long-term strategic moves where money and investments are concerned. Your solar chart describes you as mainly wanting one thing — financial stability. The best way to gain that is to remember that the only constant is change. Therefore, design something that has the ability to adapt rapidly to a world that never stays the same for a long time. I would remind you that one of your most valuable assets is collaboration. The group of people who now surround you are a rare and beautiful constellation of souls. What I suggest you tune into is a protective spirit that is present among those people — by which I mean protective of you. When someone demonstrates their willingness to look out for your best interests, respond in kind, and with gratitude.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — Monday’s New Moon in your opposite sign Aquarius is calling your attention to a relationship. But it may not be a relationship in the romantic sense. It could involve an organization or informal group with whom you are turning over a new leaf. While one-to-one encounters are vital to your way of life, there’s a dimension of you that deeply needs and craves connection to community, with a purpose. It is this purpose that would guide your choices, and I suggest you keep an eye out for the feeling of actual meaning. In other words, this is not about going out or having a good time. It’s about your tribe, your support network, your professional community, or an artistic community. You need to be part if it, and it needs to be part of you.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — You are being pulled by an irresistible force in the direction of your true purpose. This may have the feeling of unfamiliarity or uncertainty, and if so, let that feeling be your best friend. You may not be accustomed to it; you may need a rational explanation, or the confidence that you have the answer key at the back of the book. What you have now is the opposite phenomenon. To make contact with a mystery is to open the potential for direct knowledge. As Mark Twain said, don’t let your schoolin’ get in the way of your learnin’. I would say: don’t let spirituality get in the way of your spirit. When you find an idea that’s compelling, apply it to your life holistically. Everything you learn allows you to reassess and question everything you’ve learned in the past.

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — You may have family, partnership or joint financial concerns on your mind, but now is the time to celebrate. You can set all that other stuff aside for a while, and consider the most positive facets of your life. It’s time to explore and to build and to open up some new territory in your creative and social facets of life. The way this will feel is like freedom, like potential opening up, like some inner horizon of who you want to create yourself to be. Regarding partnership, I would offer this: relationships need jobs, a purpose outside the ‘you and me’ theme. They also call for leadership. These two things — purpose and leadership — can help you refresh a relationship, and take some steps on a new phase of your journey. Apply this idea to new partnerships and you’ve got some special potential available.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — You want the right thing to happen. Your charts look like you’re feeling protective of someone or something, and committed to a cause, whether it is deeply personal or a social issue. You can help make progress on this, though you will have to use your head. Let passion drive you, but keep your cool. Shift into strategy mode, which means first knowing what you want to happen. Then you need to understand where your real power lies, and break down the steps to your goal. If your scenario involves your family, or your partner’s family, you might question the proper level of your involvement. Are you best positioned to be the front-line warrior, or perhaps better in more of a consultant role? Remember that the appropriateness of your role is the thing that only you can properly assess.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — You cannot reason your way out of all fear. At a certain point you must address anxiety as its own subject. Because so few things that we fear actually go wrong, you can safely treat fear as an emotion, rather than as a prediction or premonition. This is a crucial distinction to make, because if fear has relevance, it’s about the thing that you fear coming to pass. It looks like your concerns may center around control of some kind, such as over the behavior of a partner. If you find yourself keeping score, I would propose that this is not helpful. Ditto if you find yourself keeping secrets. I suggest that you would benefit from being honest with yourself — and then with intimate partners — about what is truly important to you. Right now, honesty and transparency are your best friends.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — Money flows toward structure. If you want to improve your financial position, create a structure that helps you account for your income and expenses, or update the one you have. I suggest you make a list of exactly how much you have, how much you owe, your expenses and your income. This will help you make a coherent strategy. Your strategy must be based on actual facts rather than on any form of wishful thinking. When in doubt, return to the numbers. If you set a goal, make sure you have some precedent for that thing being possible. In this way, you may grow incrementally toward the place that you want to be. It is, however, essential that you take one step at a time, and that you know what steps you’re taking.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — Monday’s New Moon in your sign seems designed to connect you with your true strength. It’s as if you can make contact with all of your talents and skills at once. If you can identify a need, you can identify a resource to meet that need. Remind yourself that you have everything necessary; and if you don’t, you can connect with it or acquire it. The real gift of this moment is to help you focus on your true purpose. If you know what it is, take the steps necessary to focus your energy on that goal. If you feel like you don’t know, I can assure you that you don’t need to look far to find it. It’s the thing that you feel the most passionate about — no matter what everyone else may think. It’s the thing you want to do for its own sake.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — If there seems to be some mysterious new source of energy powering your goals, be grateful for that, and keep doing what you’re doing. We might call this phase of your life a period of achievement. This is working two ways. You have more freedom to establish yourself in the world around you. Your clarity and sense of purpose will have a way of clearing obstacles. Yet at the same time, these activities are squeezing the best of your talents and skills from you. You’re discovering both abilities and confidence that you may not known you had, or which you lacked in the past. Stay a few steps ahead of yourself, and dream big. Gaze out toward the horizon, from as high a vantage point as you can find, and look where you want to be.

Good morning.

It’s been a week since Mercury stationed direct, though the long conjunction to Pluto that peaked over the weekend may have extended the drama a bit. The benefit of that was discovering deeper answers to questions you were asking, and working out lasting solutions to to problems you may have discovered only recently.

Keep making decisions, and keep working your way toward the heart of the matter. Current aspects favor honesty, and also experiences where passion is a feeling. Three signs join forces to create that effect — Scorpio, Capricorn and Pisces. You could not want a more rich mix of earth and water, especially with Venus moving into a conjunction with Pluto in Capricorn.

Any irritation you may have experienced during the Moon-Mars conjunction that lasted from Sunday into Monday will give way to the feeling that you’ve come around a corner. Try not to bring any emotional residue of the past with you. If you can manage that, aspects reveal deeper feelings which make room for honest commitments.

When you’re asked something, try responding honestly, and letting your feelings show. When you need something, ask with the feeling of faithful expectancy. That is not arrogant. If you were to study only politics, you might think that average folks all hate one another — but that turns out not to be true. In fact we all have a stake in one another’s success.

With Jupiter conjunct the North Node, you’re reminded that what is good for you is probably good for everyone. You can afford to be generous, so offer yourself and pass forward your own blessings and abundance.

In that spirit, I’m happy to offer you a preview of all the work I’ve been doing on Vision Quest. If you visit this page, you can listen to previews of both your astrology and rune reading for the year.

As one reader wrote today, “Your readings confirm my process over the last so many years. This reading confirms a turning point that seems to be happening.”

Your horoscope for the week is below. Here is your long monthly reading for February and here is your short monthly reading as well. Here’s your Monday Morning Horoscope from last week.

Keep your light on!

W/love

Astrology for the Life You Live — and the Life you Want

Dear Friend and Reader:

At long last, the Vision Quest audio readings are done and published, added to the written readings published a few weeks ago. On this page, you have links to samples of all 24 audio presentations for the signs — seven minutes of the 60-minute astrology readings, and seven minutes of the 30-minute rune/artifact readings.

Eric Francis in Blue Studio.

These readings go to an unusual depth. They cross-reference, which gives you exponentially more potential to use them. But they are not for everyone.

They are for people not afraid to go deep; they are for people who take the art of relating as such — as an intimate art. They are for people who are seeking better things. They will help you if you are feeling stuck, or looking to open up a new horizon.

They are written with the ethics of therapy. I see my role as showing you the landscape and the possibilities, but not predicting your future or telling you what to do, or what to think.

If they are for you, your intuition will tell you that — and to help, I’ve provided a sufficiently thorough sample of the whole project, which I’ve given some 20 hours per sign.

Signup links are below each image. You may order by sign or receive all 12 signs here.

Thank you for your business.

Lovingly,

Navigate your reading samples by sign:

Read more…

Aries (March 20-April 19) — Pay attention to your sexual energy. Some profound exchanges are possible now; more emotional, meaningful and beautiful than usual. Rather than thinking this must be with one special partner, you can treat everyone you meet — and share energy with — as the love of your life, at that moment. Treat everyone with equal potential and feel the people who can feel you. You will know because your emotions and even your senses will be richer and more resonant around anyone you have the potential to connect with deeply. If someone is your certified partner, the approach to take is a wide-open space of empathy. Embrace whatever it is that the person loves. Be the person with whom they are utterly free to be themselves. Vibrate with ‘whatever turns you on turns me on’. Cast jealousy to the four winds.

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — Remember that the most important leadership the world needs now is on ethics. Our entire society seems to be coming unhinged about what is right and what is wrong. Traditions that have served humanity well for centuries are being discarded. Ethical leadership means following your deep inner guidance on all matters of truth and justice, which is likely to be coming through at full strength. Once you know what is right, it’s essential that you not violate your inner guidance. This is the form your leadership takes. You may also be faced with the question of what to do with tradition — such as in a discussion about religion. This need not be controversial. Always look for the universal truth that connects all spiritual traditions. Usually it is obvious, and has a way of making people feel happy.

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — Keep your thoughts and ideas moving. Mercury is now direct, after yet another challenging retrograde phase. You may have noticed a subtle shift over the past week, which led to some unusual discovery about yourself or some unusual breakthrough this past weekend. Don’t fixate on that. Take it with you as you travel, and hold steady in the river of your emotions. Keep looking ahead. If you’re going to pause, I suggest you get to a high place and get a view of your surroundings. I mean this literally, as in a tall building, a mountaintop, even a hilltop or the view from the roof. You are in a rare moment when you can see the future, and feel what is possible. You can catch a glimpse of where you might go. Once you have a strong preference, the plan will manifest.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — It’s as if an energetic gateway is opening inside you, which will allow for many unusual possibilities this week. They may be with a close partner or loved one, with whom you might deepen your connection. This promises to be as fun as it is deep; as beautiful as it is meaningful; as creative as it is transformative. If you are an artist or creative person of any kind, the same wave of energy could lead you to a whole new level of your work. You will be guided more by your feelings than by your concepts. Using music as a metaphor, this is about playing intuitively rather than composing intellectually. To do this, stay close to your vulnerability. Feel your passion and don’t hesitate to put your feelings into words. If you get the urge to be daring, go with it.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — You will be able to move mountains at work this week, though you would benefit from treating everything and everyone creatively. In any situation, ask to be connected to its highest potential. You seem destined to establish something of lasting value, which means focus on the quality of what you’re doing rather than the amount. Go deeper into any question, and find out what is really motivating you. You may arrive at a point where you face the question of either following the established way or provoking a revolution. You don’t need to make any radical changes, though. You might think of the formula as encouraging evolution: progress that seems modest, but which is real and authentic. This will be your formula for success. As you push your roots deeper into the ground, your branches will reach higher into the sky.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — Aspects this week describe a profound emotional breakthrough. This is being inspired and driven by your need to feel free within yourself. This has been an ongoing project, but you’ve arrived at a tipping point. It’s as if you’re now catching up to everything that you’ve learned and desired in theory. Now you must make it real, and bring inner changes to fruition in your outer life. It’s as if you’ve taken a long inhale, and now it’s time to exhale some new truth, some new desire, some new phase of your journey on Earth. You don’t need to do a lot, or to make many changes. Start with something small and let that gather momentum. This is the time to take an artistic and experimental approach to life, rather than a romantic one.

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — You have no need to conceal what you’re feeling, as much as it’s your tendency to do so. Rather, I suggest you put words to all the movement and sorting out that you’re going through. Certainly maintain an active dialog with yourself, whether it’s in your diary or some other expressive outlet. Yet you will benefit greatly from choosing one or two people you feel confident with, and letting them know what’s moving and shaking within you. Sometimes talking about things disperses the energy, and sometimes it helps you discover what is real, what is meaningful, what is the most important to you. Your charts describe all forms of expression as having the power to lift your mood, to give you more room to move around and to take a weight off of your chest. Speak freely and be free.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — Your astrology is reminding you to be kind. You can afford to be. You have so much going for you, and so many advantages, especially as compared to the sorry state of the world. Rise above any petty feelings or responses that you have, particularly to close partners, and allow yourself to expand. Pay particular attention if someone makes you angry. Once you acknowledge your anger, you will feel better, which means more inclined to express forgiveness and empathy. It just helps to go in that order: recognizing your actual response, and then guiding yourself to a more enlightened level. I also suggest taking any opportunity to stand up for someone who has been cast off, disadvantaged or left behind. The quest for social justice is strong in your charts now, and you will feel much better if you do something about it.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — There is no order of difficulty of miracles. They are all equally easy, or what would be the point? Your astrology is pointing to some minor challenge that, if you meet it consciously, opens the way to infinite experience. It’s as if, in the process of solving some minor problem or meeting a routine challenge, you tap into a kind of spiritual well that contains the answer to much more than you were looking for. It would help, therefore, to pay attention to small things, even those too small to notice under normal circumstances. Consider every question you’re asking to be a metaphor for something greater; every puzzle you try to solve or problem you try to resolve the key to something larger. Tap the deeper, abundant creative energy that is currently filling your deepest well.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — Your planets are describing the potential for a passionate week. Venus in your sign hints at some profound self-discovery you will make, which is rooted in being utterly honest with yourself. This will be easy, because you might say that Venus alludes to an aspect of yourself to which you don’t always have easy access, but you do now. Let your experiences guide you to a deeper place and then remain alert and aware. In work-related matters, this same basic posture will allow you to emerge as a kind of creative prodigy. Your natural inclination is to put love and quality into everything you do. Take that to an extreme. I don’t mean be a perfectionist. I mean intentionally infuse everything you touch with the energy of the goddess, which in a word is beauty. You are her representative on Earth.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — Remember, you set an example for everyone around you. You’re likely to find yourself in a position where your leadership is required, and people are more inclined to do what you do, rather than do what you say. Yet at the moment you’re a kind of psychic transmitter. So what you feel is as important as what you do. In every situation, take the higher road, and see the best in people. Mars in the achievement angle of your chart may be giving you a competitive edge, but it’s essential that you not act that way. Treat people as your friends and allies, enlist their help when you need it and offer yours at any opportunity you get. Weave a culture of cooperation and mutual benefit, and that will go a long way for you and everyone.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Do your best to stay visible this week. Make sure people know what you’ve been up to, and make sure they can actually see and feel your best work. Whatever you’re doing is now starting to rise above its foundations and show real results. But you must do your part, and stay available and make sure that your accomplishments are known. Therefore, do not be modest. Your idea of bragging is closer to everyone else’s idea of modesty, so you can push things. You are likely to make some unusual contacts, so pay attention, and know who you’re talking to at any time. Get a real conversation going, even if you’ve known someone for five minutes. Your old friends will be even more valuable. You might reach out to people you’ve known for a lifetime, if only to say hello and ask what’s up.

Dear Friend and Reader:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Your weekly horoscope is below.

Lovingly,

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

An Update on Vision Quest

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Dear Friend and Reader:

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

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

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

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

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

Here is your horoscope for the week.

Lovingly,

Vision Quest Update: From the Inner Chamber

Dear Friend and Reader:

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

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

Sample rune reading from Vision Quest.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

With love, your astrologer,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Dear Friend and Reader:

Here is your overview for the week. Saturday we passed through the Capricorn New Moon, and are now in the very beginning phases of the new lunar cycle. The Moon is in Aquarius as of Sunday afternoon and all through Monday and Tuesday.

Mercury is retrograde, and has ingressed Capricorn. It’s now moving into an alignment with Pallas Athene, the asteroid associated with law, strategy, politics and daddy issues.

Photo by Eric Francis.

With regard to the latter, it would be wise to recognize your adult prerogative and power rather than submitting yourself to various forms of paralysis associated with the ways in which children lack the ability to influence the flow of events, or their own destiny. It may help to remind yourself, “I am not a child.”

The retrograde, though, may serve to remind you of places where you’ve given up your autonomy or had it taken from you. There is a reclaiming of that autonomy that’s illustrated in the alignment of Mercury and Pallas. Typically, that involves becoming hip to the politics of your environment, and how the politics of your early environment were compromising to your sense of your own power.

The idea of politics at its best is about getting what you want without resorting to brute force. That might come in the form of negotiation. In order to negotiate, it helps to know what influence you actually have — and not over-estimate it. You need to know what you’re willing to offer, what you’re willing to give up and what you’re willing to receive. Then from there, you would engage in a conscious dialog about attaining your goal — keeping the goals of the other fellow in mind. Mercury retrograde suggests taking a in innovative approach, but since this is Capricorn, just a little.

Meanwhile, the astrology seems to be illustrating yet another intriguing week in the presidential race. The presence of Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump are symbols of the two different concepts of reality that are competing for acceptance not just in the American psyche but that of the wider world.

Mars is currently in Scorpio, moving slowly as it approaches a station retrograde in a few months. Mars will be spending a lot of time in its feminine, nocturnal sign this year (that would be Scorpio), a reminder that female strength can be accessed through the libido. Listen to the chatter and gossip of the world for a moment and it would seem that women are merely the passive victims of sex and sexuality; Mars in Scorpio is urging a review of that idea.

Mars is drawing on the energy of Pisces, as it’s moving into a long trine with Neptune, Chiron and other points there — so we have an illustration of harmony between two of the signs that go together the very best, and which can create much mutual benefit for everyone. That would come in the form of passion, creativity and desire — go with the flow.

Venus has just made a conjunction to Saturn, exact the day before the New Moon. It’s now moving through Sagittarius and is conjunct the Great Attractor. It’s true that in our society and just about every other one, female is allegedly controversial and seems to be a polarizing influence. Respond how you will, call it what you will, female is a force of nature that’s here to stay, so we may as well make friends with it — that is, all of us; males and females and everything, and everyone, in between.

Here is your horoscope for the week.

Lovingly,

Aries (March 20-April 19) — You’re in a position to shape the life of a close partner, and there are several possible ways you can do that. You have actual power in this situation, and you’re driven by passion. Now, let it be passion for the right thing happening. This situation is not really about you; it’s about someone else. You are clearly involved and you have an interest in the outcome, but don’t let that get in the way of your sense of fairness. You could be influenced by envy, and you may have to consciously address or sidestep your own challenging emotions. Fortunately you know how to let things go, though there is always a temptation to cling. Remember that loving someone means supporting their happiness, if it means anything at all.

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — You seem to have come to an understanding with an intimate partner recently, perhaps after plenty of negotiation or wrangling. That is a positive development, and you can trust the outcome. In the process, something else has happened: you’ve discovered your true strength. It’s not about money, sex or beauty, but rather about a spiritual connection that you possess. By that I mean that your roots go deep. You know right from wrong, and you tend to act on that knowledge. The people in your life rely on you for this, and the closer you are to them, the more they do. Setting an example is the most important form of leadership, and this is something all relationships need. The more you do this, the easier it will be.

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — It’s time to think with a clear strategy. Certain plans didn’t work out the way you intended, though better things are possible. I suggest you plot out the path to three different outcomes, rather than just the obvious one, or the one you want the most. Consider each step you must take. Your charts suggest you would benefit from consulting with someone more experienced in this particular subject than you are. Do this before you actually need their assistance or guidance. With Mercury, the Gemini planet, moving in retrograde motion for the next couple of weeks, prevention is worth a lot more than a cure. Yet on a happier note, planning for different positive outcomes will ensure that one of them works out brilliantly.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — So much is happening in the relationship angle of your chart that you may not be able to make heads or tails out of what people are thinking. Give the scenario a couple of weeks to develop, and observe what people actually do, rather than what they say they’re going to do. This will save you time, energy and distraction. Know what issues belong to others, and let them work out what is theirs. There are many positive ways you can invest your resources, and you don’t need anyone else’s help or permission. Your solar chart suggests you have some excellent ideas that it’s time to develop, and you will get results if you do. As someone wise once pointed out, writing is the art of applying the seat of the pants to the chair.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — Have you ever had the experience of typing the wrong word, but it turned out to be better than the one you were planning? Or autocorrect coming up with something so funny you use it? That’s the way I suggest you live for the next few weeks. Trust that the little things that go wrong will provide information or lead you to interesting places. If you find something odd in a file, see if it contains an idea. If you make a wrong turn and end up somewhere unexpected, notice where you are and see if there’s anything you might discover. Coworkers will be a source of information as well; trust that anyone might come up with the winning strategy, no matter how much or how little they are supposed to know.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — Every impulse described by your solar chart is saying it’s time to express yourself. Yet at the same time it seems you’re resisting, or hesitating mentally, as if you’re not convinced. Looked at another way, you might not want to take a certain kind of chance, perhaps because you’re concerned what others might find out about you. I would encourage you to set that aside and focus on what you will discover about yourself. There is plenty. You are doing a fine job of unraveling resistance that has held you back in the past — particularly an avoidance of your own best ideas, and the things that give you the most pleasure. The actual risk you need to take is being absolutely real with yourself. This will pay off.

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — The choice you face is not between saying too much or too little; rather, it’s about admitting you’re a person with feelings and authentic concerns. Society puts immense pressure on people not to feel too much. Detached and nonchalant are considered cool, but that does not translate to warm-blooded human. If you ask honestly why you tend to doubt yourself, you will likely come up with an answer that helps you resolve the question. Currently, your self-esteem seems to be invested in a relationship. Like many, you might feel that your value comes from someone else expressing their care for you. Yet your true worth comes from a much deeper place, and it does not involve any other person in the world.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — Jealousy is one of those emotions that’s considered normal even if it’s obviously toxic. Maybe it’s normal, but that doesn’t make it helpful. Is it inevitable? I don’t think so. With Mars, the Scorpio planet, currently in your sign, you have a lot of energy, drive and passion — and better still, you have the conscious ability to decide what you want to do with it. It’s fair to say that you cannot control others, but you can be a profound and positive influence on their lives. So let your mantra be, “Let the right thing happen.” Meanwhile, the most important person you are influencing is yourself. You’re in a rare moment of clarity when you get to decide how you feel and what your feelings mean. I suggest you choose consciously.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — There’s no question that you deserve love, though recent events may have challenged your faith. Yet the deeper experience you’re seeking is trust, which is so often what we mean when we say love. Put in those terms, everything is clearer. This not only involves ‘special’ people and situations, but rather everyone, and your relationship to your own life. Ultimately, you must trust yourself first. Think of it this way: In the end, you must have faith in your decision to trust others — and that’s actually about you. Strive to become the most solid person in your life. Be the person you depend on, and be your own best friend. Once you do that for a while, it will be much easier to see where you stand with others.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — What seems like a lucky break is really a blessing. There is an important difference: luck is not a reflection on your character. A blessing is something you’re more likely to receive as a cosmic gesture for a job well done, or for maintaining your integrity. You’re being called upon to do something daring, which is to think for yourself. You may have to go against common wisdom or the opinions of others. You may need to stand your ground, or decide a debate is not on the agenda. Yet it will be helpful if you carefully consider all sides of the equation rather than dig in. Observe the situation from other angles. Be open to new information. Most of all, listen carefully and be grateful for whatever advantage comes your way.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — Nearly anyone who succeeds defies the expectations of others, even the experts. Most of the truly innovative things that we now take for granted were thought of as silly, irrelevant or a false rumor (the airplane, for example). Many commodities that power society were first treated as useless waste products (gasoline, for example). Therefore, you don’t need the endorsement of anyone with special qualifications. Rather, cultivate faith in yourself, and the special contribution that you know you want to make. You see the problem clearly, and you can see the solution just as well. Now you must go through the process of working out the details, slowly and carefully. Make friends with people who will support you merely because they like you. So often this makes the world go ‘round.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Let your accomplishments speak for themselves, at least for the next week or so. You have plenty to be proud of, and you’re doing something that is rare enough to find these days: you’re taking responsibility for your own life. In the ‘new paradigm’ of leadership that is emerging with the new generation, this is the essential missing element that must be included, and you at least are convinced this is true. If you want to have power, it helps considerably if you don’t give yours away. You are remarkably close to finding the winning formula that has eluded you for a long time. Listen to people who have specific knowledge, and don’t waste time trying to sell yourself. Rather, be yourself, and do what you do best.