Category Archives: Monday Morning Horoscope

Monday Morning Horoscope #177 for May 20, 2019

Aries

Aries (March 20-April 19) — In order to confront a situation or problem that you want to resolve, you’ll need to relax a little and not be so judgmental of yourself. The expectations you place on yourself get in your way, particularly a kind of perfectionism that has no meaningful way to express itself in the world. Yet to “relax a little and not be so judgmental” may feel like a loss of some kind. That is true: the “loss” is giving up being emotionally aggressive with yourself. This is a choice, and then it’s a choice you make over and over again until it’s habitual and the natural way to proceed. Steer clear of anyone you consider judgmental, because they can have a way of taking on the role that you might ordinarily have for yourself, which will be a distraction. Remember at all times that you’re entitled to feel how you feel. That also includes if you don’t like how you feel, in which case you can take steps to shift your inner environment. Get your full Aries reading by Eric here.

Taurus

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — Investigating a financial matter will take you someplace you were not expecting, into a new region of self-understanding. The topic may start with money, though you can follow the trail toward a spiritual matter that has been trying to get your attention for some time. By spiritual, I mean relating to the essence of your existence. You have, at the moment, the power to scrape away the beliefs about yourself that others imposed on you. This is part of a long process, though your tools are especially sharp and useful now. It’s not merely that many of those notions were untrue. Some were intentionally so, and it is the intent that you are after, because this will help you connect with and motivate the quality about yourself that you were being steered away from. Uranus in your sign is jolting you to experience yourself in new ways, and make fresh observations based on those experiences. Get your full Taurus reading by Eric here.

Gemini

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — Everything will be clearer when the Sun enters your sign on Tuesday, though you don’t want to take that clarity too far. The answers you’re seeking may not be based on the real questions you need to be asking, and in that case, clarity can be a false friend. Therefore, if you find yourself in the state of mind where you think you understand exactly what is going on, pause, and see if you can suspend that thought. The other side of false clarity is sincere curiosity. People who are “absolutely clear” about reality tend not to be so curious; it would challenge their foregone conclusions. The kind of curiosity that would benefit you most would be about yourself. Here is a quote from a gem called The Book on the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are: “Problems that remain persistently insoluble should always be suspected as questions asked in the wrong way.” Get your full Gemini reading by Eric here.

Cancer

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Mars in your birth sign is providing you with encouragement, motivation and energy. You may feel like you can take on the world, though for the next week or so this is something you’ll want to do gently and thoughtfully. Mars is provocative, compelling and difficult to control. With Mars in your sign, just your presence will have a way of pushing people, and getting them to notice qualities in themselves that they may not like. Mars is currently involved in a complex aspect pattern that is connecting your presence to every important facet of your life: your household and family; partnerships of all kinds; and your professional aspirations and reputation. This is a good time to maintain inner awareness, which will help you be more sensitive to the internal conditions of others. People close to you are going through deep transformations, and more is influencing them than you may imagine. Get your full Cancer reading by Eric here.

Leo

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — Now is the time to keep no secrets from yourself, and at the same time to share relatively little with others. There are many things you’re seeing, feeling and experiencing that would make for interesting discussion at parties, or social media posts, or emails to friends, though I suggest you maintain a policy of containment — particularly about creative ideas you have. You have much more brewing inside you than you may imagine, and you have not even made contact with a small fraction of it. The less you say to others, the more you will be able to keep your focus on what you need to do, and want dearly to do. The place you may want to open up is where you sense that someone you meet is a person of genuine depth; someone who seeks self-understanding. However, do what you can to let them do most of the talking. Open up mainly by listening. Get your full Leo reading by Eric here.

Virgo

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — The image in your chart is that if you let go a little, and relax into your feelings, you’ll burst into flames that will never go out. What if that’s true? What if submitting to your reality will start you on a journey you’ve never been on? Well, you may be feeling some inhibition at the same time: like there is some authority figure poised to unload on you if you’re too sincere, curious or creative. However, your astrology is rife with mixed feelings and crossed signals. Rather than trying to sort those out, listen as an observer, and then speak to yourself in a calm and supportive voice. Remember the child you once were, and how you felt about life, and all the things you wanted to do, but somehow could not. You are tapped into a deep source of energy, and energy must go somewhere. As always, the question is, will you direct it in a constructive or destructive way? Get your full Virgo reading by Eric here.

Libra

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — You may have the notion that you must give up one of your most cherished goals, though you are really in a transformation process. Current aspects are driving you to rethink and update all of your priorities, intentions and aspirations. This is something you must do from time to time, and now is an excellent opportunity given how many elements of your life have changed during the past year. What I suggest you be careful of is letting other people set your goals for you. It could easily happen, on a sly or subtle level. Therefore, make sure that when you feel like you want to accomplish something, it’s really you that’s doing the wanting. Not, for example, a partner, or the lingering residue of a parent, or the seeming conditions of society. Think this through carefully. Look for evidence of what you truly want, including a track record of having reached for something several times in the past and still wanting to do so today. Get your full Libra reading by Eric here.

Scorpio

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — Pay attention to the ways in which your beliefs are driven by emotional reactions such as anger or resentment. Emotions place a dense filter over what you perceive as real, as valid, or as existing at all. And they are famous for being sticky; that is, prone to attachment. This colors your perception of the past, of the current moment and, based on the movement of Mars in your chart, your vision for your own life. The more intensely you’re driven by your emotions rather than an objective assessment of what is true, the more you will seem to collide with various factors in your environment: the will of other people, circumstances at work, and how you feel physically and psychologically, among them. For a clue, listen to the words you use. Pay attention to what feelings make you inclined to speak, and more significantly, notice what you don’t talk about. As you listen, notice whether it’s the past that is speaking through you. Then, see if you can find the present. Get your full Scorpio reading by Eric here.

Sagittarius

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — You’re poised to make a discovery about a close partner, which may have you feeling exuberant. Then it’s likely that your doubts will take over. Try not to let this happen, or at least, notice from the sidelines if it does. Your doubts are not reality; they are a level of thought or perception. You don’t need to call witnesses to prove your case. Your experience is the best teacher that you have, by which I mean your ongoing, unfolding observations about your reality rather than what you know from the past. This almost always presents a special challenge, which will compel you to pay attention: in particular, to what is said to you, and how it comports with what you think someone means. When in doubt about a person’s meaning, ask them to explain themselves, and then give them what is called the benefit of the doubt. Then, observe the relationship between their words and their actions, as carefully as you observe your own. Get your full Sagittarius reading by Eric here.

Capricorn

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — Much of the dense astrology of our times is originating in the sign Capricorn, and you may be particularly susceptible to it. For this reason, I suggest you find ways to vent your energy that are positive and that do not involve dwelling on yourself or your personal situation. You have many options open and available for creative expression and having fun — and express is the thing that you want to do. Look for friendly, interesting ways to direct your feelings, which allow you to stay connected to yourself (writing rather than bungee jumping; painting rather than watching a football game). Make sure that your hands and your heart are involved: that you’re shaping or touching a physical substance, and that you care about what you’re doing. Do your best to avoid lowering yourself to the level of certain conflicts that seem to be finding their way to you. You have better things to do. Get your full Capricorn reading by Eric here.

Aquarius

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — You may be living with a near-constant feeling of something irritating you: something you cannot give a name to, or put your finger on, but it’s there. It may surface in the form of anxiety, restlessness, or what you think of late at night. Your astrology describes the pressure as coming from activity in your neighboring sign Capricorn. Those familiar with astrology know this is a 12th house effect: something lingering or lurking in a psychological blind spot. In fact, you are going through an important series of inner shifts in preparation for rebirth into a new phase of your reality. You cannot rush this process; it’s necessary to take it one day at a time, for real. Remember this when you’re about to write a future commitment into your day planner or enter it into your device. Leave yourself as much room as possible to experience today’s challenges, goals and feelings today, and be open to what comes tomorrow. You don’t need to predict that. Get your full Aquarius reading by Eric here.

Pisces

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — This is one of the most exciting, challenging times in many seasons. Despite whatever obstacles you may seem to face, you have the creativity, the talent and the commitment to use them to your advantage. This must be a conscious choice, however. There are potential distractions in the environment: for example, engaging in any form of public debate. That will take you off of the path of your inner journey. Beware of any potential siphon of your energy, drain on your time, or source of needless conflict — particularly if it involves who you are or what you do. Focus your energy inside your home. The Sun is about to enter the most personal, inwardly focused angle of your chart, and an unusual conjunction to Mercury on the first day of the Sun’s new sign is saying that beautiful things are possible. If you have not done your spring cleaning, it’s time to wash the curtains and wipe down all the window sills. Get your full Pisces reading by Eric here.

Monday Morning Horoscope #176 for May 13, 2019

Aries

Aries (March 20-April 19) — Write yourself a memo tonight. TO: Myself. FROM: Myself. RE: How not to overreact this week. Mars, your ruling planet, is about to enter Cancer; this happens overnight Wednesday to Thursday. It’s been in Gemini for a while, and is also in a condition called out of bounds, which means potentially skating out of control. This condition lasts into midsummer, so it’s time to practice anger management and also desire management. And with Mars entering Cancer, we could add insecurity management. This week and going forward, pay attention to any tendencies you may have to overreact to emotional situations. It’s all the rage and vogue these days to forgo the need for limits. Yet underneath general issues like that, there is something specific developing for you, which is overdoing your concerns about integrity to the point where you have no fun. What is the relationship between holding yourself down emotionally, and containing your sexual desire, based on a mental-level excuse? Pay attention to what you will and will not allow yourself to do. Pay attention to what you do anyway, and how you feel about it. Get your full Aries reading by Eric here.

Taurus

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — Venus and Mars both change signs Wednesday (see Aries for the details on Mars, which can describe certain factors of your intimate relationships). Venus enters Taurus, and begins a conjunction to Uranus, still new in your sign — and that means adventure. Yet this is about the adventure of who you are becoming rather than where you go. Your sign is not famous for its love of change. We all depend on you for your consistency and your persistence, but you can take things too far sometimes, working for stability above all else. Even if that usually feels good to you, aspects this week are encouraging you to hang loose. That’s not easy these days; there is so little trust, and so much anxiety. One message of this transit is that you have the ability to reinvent yourself, in ways large and small. That may not happen in a day or a week, though you may get the idea for what you want to create for yourself. This is likely to come with some instructions for how to put your plans into action, which is best done one step at a time. This week, one may be quite enough. Get your full Taurus reading by Eric here.

Gemini

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — Be careful not to get caught in anyone else’s web of intrigue or deception. Check carefully the claims people make, particularly about financial matters that influence you directly. It will be easy for you to slip into a space where you’re guided by unseen and unconscious forces if you don’t follow the visible, obvious signposts. In any event, you would benefit by pausing on any important decisions until next week, after Venus and Mars change signs. Yet be aware that there will be many moving parts in your personal environment even after these transits take hold, and you’ll need to re-evaluate where you stand with the people around you. That will take a few days, because many of them are experiencing shakeups and being reoriented in ways large and small. The emotional environment is in flux, which means it will feel like people are making decisions based on different values than usual. This includes you; make a study of what is motivating you. Then look around and see if you can determine what’s motivating others — when relevant. Get your full Gemini reading by Eric here.

Cancer

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Mars enters your sign this week, and begins a trek through the most intriguing territory of the zodiac. I’ve described this in the article above. It’s a lot to relate, though in summary form: over the next few weeks, Mars makes aspects to numerous high-potency planets in your relationship sign Capricorn and your career sign Aries. There are additional points in Libra that help complete the picture. I’m not talking about asteroids, I’m talking about “minor” planets in the category of Chiron and Pluto that describe the innermost healing our struggling society needs to work on. We see all the outer stuff, the politics and other madness in the news, with the Saturn-Pluto conjunction. The deep, personal material is addressed by planets including Chiron and Pholus. There’s no way to overstate the energy contained in this aspect pattern, and now Mars is about to get into the picture. So I am instead using understatement. Pay attention. Any aggressive moves you make are likely to flash right back at you, so monitor your thoughts, your speech and your actions carefully. Tread lightly on the Earth. Get your full Cancer reading by Eric here.

Leo

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — There is no point keeping secrets. Everything is already known. However, it is your prerogative to choose with whom who you want to discuss any facet of your life. What will not help you is carrying around an aura of being cloaked, like you’re on a secret mission. This will only stoke your anxiety, and hint to others that you’re not trustworthy when in fact you are. The next few days are likely to arrive with positive turns in your professional or vocational developments. You may receive an unexpected offer of some kind, or see an opportunity you had overlooked at first. The way the astrology plays out, you may be able to give some tangible form and substance to something that was only a wild concept. Everything about your professional or vocational life is pointing you toward something exciting, intriguing, different from the past and a little strange. At minimum, you need to invest yourself in what you find to be exciting, what feeds you, and what makes you want to get up every day and do that thing. Get your full Leo reading by Eric here.

Virgo

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — Be mindful about what you say and do in the public eye. There are elements of your most intimate and personal life that could be punted into the public sphere — and few people understand the problem with this. We live in times when we’re stalked by cameras and GPS, and we know that anything we type into the field of a seemingly private text message could end up going viral on Twitter 15 minutes later. The living hell of having no inner sanctuary is not fully recognized by most people alive today; the memory and the feeling has been practically erased. But imagine if you could sequester yourself in a nice hotel room for a few days, with no access to the internet, with only a good book, a notebook or sketchpad, a few pens and pencils, and maybe a musical instrument. How would it feel to have an interval of nobody monitoring your thoughts, nor you broadcasting them to anyone? How would you feel? Can you even imagine not being interrupted? Who would you become? This may be what you’re searching for. Get your full Virgo reading by Eric here.

Libra

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — Be sure you’re the one who speaks for yourself this week. You don’t need any proxies to represent you. Don’t send anyone anywhere to do your bidding. You are the person best suited to advocate for yourself, and to stand up for your own values. Yet consider this: you don’t need to do anything other than be who you are. Your example is what teaches, and what makes the strongest statement about you. With Mars so prominent in your chart right now — and undergoing a kind of initiation process (see above article) — the best thing you can do is notice how you influence your environment. By that I mean: when you walk into a room, feel your own presence and how others respond to you. Most people are insensitive to this; I suggest you become a student of your own aura, what you project and how others respond. Watch their faces. Listen to what they say. Observe who notices you, and pay attention to whom you are attracted. And listen carefully before you speak. Get your full Libra reading by Eric here.

Scorpio

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — What do you believe? Do you even know? Belief is a strange thing, because usually it’s veiled as certainty. When you peel back the surface of certainty, what you usually find is that people merely believe something, with little basis for understanding why, or what that belief implies. However, be it known that such a removing of the layers reveals many things that are not usually visible, and which it may be inconvenient to find out. For one thing, you might discover you were wrong about something significant. Then you would need to learn the truth. Fortunately, you’re in an excellent position to do just that. But it starts with recognizing that you merely believed something you thought you were certain about, at which time curiosity and hunger for the truth would supplant any disappointment. Whether you take part in this process or not, something of this nature will become a central feature in your life in the coming days and weeks. You can benefit and even profit from the process, though it may be a little weird. Get your full Scorpio reading by Eric here.

Sagittarius

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — You’re probably getting the message that it’s time to be honest about your need for intimacy and your sexual desires. You might also be figuring out there is something that irks you a little about being too close to people — some element of your individuality that you might have to sacrifice, or your urge to have space around you. In truth, you can compromise neither. So you will require some other method of preserving your personal integrity while getting the human contact that you need. One question it will be worth asking is what role sex plays in your ideas and direct experiences of intimacy. Said another way, how do you relate to your own sex drive? Do you own it fully, or do you let others own it for you, partly or fully? This is a topic too complicated for many people to go into today, though I suggest you open up the discussion with yourself. Aspects over the next few weeks are likely to put you in contact with your deepest feelings, including some inner conflict that will be looking for a way to resolve or express — not itself, but you. Get your full Sagittarius reading by Eric here.

Capricorn

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — You will need to measure your words and your responses this week, particularly with intimate partners and those with whom you do business. Mars enters your opposite sign Cancer, and begins to make a long series of complex aspects that may get you into emotional water that is over your head. However, you are equipped with a warning system that will help you know when you’re in the right place and when you are not. It comes down to one thing, really: are you having fun? You are inclined to identify many aspects of life as duty or responsibility, and allow the fun aspect to be subtracted. But right now, this is your canary in the coal mine. It’s true that your life is somewhat complex at the moment, and you may not see a way through the maze, or out of the past. Yet one sensibility will serve you: your ability to experience pleasure, which means to laugh, to be curious, and to create your life, if only in seemingly small ways. For your purposes now, they are all equal. It is the feeling that counts. Get your full Capricorn reading by Eric here.

Aquarius

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — You have work to do. You may face some seemingly daunting tasks. Yet you will be well served to engage in two yoga practices that will be helpful. One is to remove obstacles from your path. With many decisions you make, you will have the choice to add a block of some kind, or to get it out of the way. Second, prepare for the future. I don’t mean the distant future so much as the immediate one, weeks or months ahead. Know what responsibilities and challenges you face, and prepare your life to meet them. Make sure you’ve allocated resources to take care of certain important situations you know you will have to address. Consider your time and your health as your most valuable resources, and use them wisely. If you have to push to get something done, do your best to remove other commitments from your schedule. You cannot get up early and stay up late every night. Remember that anger is a vast waste of energy. You don’t need it, and there are more efficient and creative uses of your personal resources. Get your full Aquarius reading by Eric here.

Pisces

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — You are a Pisces, which is presumed to be the most pleasure-seeking sign. Would you really want your life to be an exercise in hedonism? Probably not. Pisces can be the most self-sacrificing tribe of the zodiac, the least realistic, and the most driven by a nagging sense of responsibility. Then there is the infamous guilty conscience. You must keep all of those factors in balance now, beginning with a healthy dose of bold honesty with yourself. Then, make sure your basic responsibilities are met from day to day. At the same time, keep the level of pleasure, recreation and creativity flowing in your life. Call this the Pleasure Principle — the thing that greases your wheels or floats your boat. Use it to guide your way through the world. If you find yourself faced with work, focus on doing it in a way that is fulfilling. If you’re concerned about money, find the sweet spot between what works financially and what works creatively. You need both. Most of all, be real about who and what you want, and what you want with whom. Get your full Pisces reading by Eric here.

Monday Morning Horoscope #175 for May 6, 2019

Aries

Aries (March 20-April 19) — It’s helpful to treat every day and every opportunity as a new start. Old habits and outmoded values only have power because we give it to them, often by tuning them out and refusing to be conscious of our motives. Many of these are inherited from our immediate ancestors, which is something to be aware of on a day-to-day basis. It may seem a little strange walking around thinking, “what would my great-grandmother do in this situation?” particularly when she was your age. That is, however, the question to ask and to ask meaningfully. If you give yourself a few points of orientation on the past, it will be easier to find yourself in the present. Meanwhile, be aware of the temperature and pointedness of your words. Mars remains in Gemini, and with that going on, it’s possible for you to come off a little more harsh and driven than you may feel inside. Know your priorities. Know that you don’t have to argue for them, defend them or even talk about them. You only need to be true to yourself. Get your full Aries reading by Eric here.

Taurus

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — The recent New Moon in your birth sign took place on the backbone of the fixed signs, right at the midpoint of Taurus. This placement suggests strongly that no matter what doubts you may have about the world and about existence, you have faith in yourself. You might need to find it. You might need to remind yourself of it. Faith in yourself means being present for your feelings, your desires and your needs, rather than denying them in any form. That will lead to being present for your ability to see your options and make decisions. Think of it this way: You don’t need to find your power, your love or your truth. Rather, look for the blocks to your awareness of their presence, and focus on removing those obstacles. It will help if you don’t put new ones in your way. This is one of the most important life skills of all. It can take training to know when you’re doing it (for example, spotting thought forms such as, “Unless that happens, this cannot happen”). Stop and trace your logic. Mars in Gemini says you may be seeing one option when there are really two, or seeing two when there are really many. Get your full Taurus reading by Eric here.

Gemini

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — Mars in your sign is aligned with Jupiter, Eris and Pluto today, opening awareness of some opportunities that were present all along. You may suddenly have the feeling that you’re able to connect. It’s possible that you’ve discovered a way to connect with your strength in the face of what has, at times, felt like overwhelming power, or some influence you cannot get away from. The first issue to address is the extent to which your belief upholds its supposed potency. The second is to notice the ways you tend to hand over your power and influence over your life; then stay aware enough before it happens to not do it. There exists a question of whether you think you have to negotiate for what is already yours, or for the right to want what you want. While other people are in the equation, the content of your thoughts, and your basis for decision, is your business. The challenge you face is not letting anyone blow you off course, and that means being in accord with yourself first, and with other people second. To some degree both are necessary, though there is an order of operations. Get your full Gemini reading by Eric here.

Cancer

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — You are stepping out in the world. This is a big time in your life, potentially a brilliant time, for that reason. You are being summoned to distinguish yourself, and to exercise a level of freedom, that you’re unlikely to have ever experienced before. (You may, however, know something about this if you were born between 1935 and 1942, though current developments are a pattern all their own.) This transit will gradually shift the way you live, and how you relate to the world. At times, it will be anything but gradual; there will be days when you will wake up and feel like another person, as you make choices different from any kind you’ve ever made. How you present yourself to whatever you think of as your “community” or your “public” is one of the main frontiers of this experience. One vitally important factor is that you do what you can to shift these concepts away from the online environment and into the physical one. This will take some discipline, as to some extent all of this digital involvement and exposure have made us aliens to actual physical space and existence. Get your full Cancer reading by Eric here.

Leo

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — If you had to choose any role for yourself, what would it be? That’s another way of asking, who do you want to be — rather than what do you want to do? Don’t worry if you don’t know how to be that person or be in that role. For now, work with your desires and your intentions. You will discover a sense of freedom in doing this, and that is the freedom to explore and to exercise. Remember, it starts in consciousness, and then expands to your choices. Sometimes you will be the one who takes initiative; other times, you will be presented with an option, or with a situation, to which you must respond in some way. Most definitely interpose a delay if you can, by which I mean take your time taking action; not forever, just enough to be close to your deliberation process. Move slowly enough to observe your thoughts and consciously take the available facts on board. Even if you find yourself having to move more quickly than you would like, still work with this process as best you can. Stay fully involved in your own decisions. Get your full Leo reading by Eric here.

Virgo

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — I propose that it’s time to take a close look at the issue of “belief.” This seems like the most garden-variety thing, like breathing. But when you start taking yoga classes, you begin to figure out how much you have to learn about air going in and out of your lungs. Something similar is true of belief, which is a kind of invisible issue. The problem as I see it is that belief, for most people in most situations, is used as the sole arbiter of truth. As such, it’s a terrible device or tool. Belief measures nothing except whether you’re persuaded, which generally means guided by some external factor that you accept as true. What this typically does is suspend the search for truth rather than foster it. You are unlikely to challenge what you believe, especially if you want it to be true. So the first step in this process would be to identify what you accept on the basis of belief, and then challenge it. You could start anywhere. What is most critical to the process is knowing when you are believing, and when you are doing something else. Get your full Virgo reading by Eric here.

Libra

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — Life is holding up quite a mirror for you lately. You may like some of what you see, you may not like some of what you see, and you may be totally confused by some of what you see. Ideally, you will step back and observe, as if you’re watching a movie. Do what you can to avoid getting overly involved in any drama, and even if you do, make sure you’re in contact with the part of yourself that some spiritual traditions call “the observer.” Watch yourself while you’re doing whatever else you’re doing. Listen to your thoughts as they go by. You are currently undergoing a shift in your approach to relationships, and there are some things you’ll need to let go of in order to allow in some new approaches to life. You might watch for the thing that’s the most difficult to observe: your expectations. This includes both of yourself and of others; these thoughts and behavioral patterns tend to disappear into the mists, though they also tend to run your life — and are currently being shocked into awareness. This may come in the form of disruptions to the normal flow of events, which will provide you with opportunities to discover how things got that way, and to explore how you want them to be. Get your full Libra reading by Eric here.

Scorpio

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — It’s crucial that you make a point of seeing all sides of any issue or situation, and then come up with a few more possible viewpoints. This is not a specialty of the human race, and it’s not one of your strong suits. However, it will serve as a real asset if you can get it going. Seeing other viewpoints means suspending your skepticism about whether they are right or wrong, and accepting things for the sake of discussion. You may feel that if you take someone’s point of view on board, and really consider it, you will become an automatic convert. This, I observe, is one of the main reasons people have for not even considering one another’s views. But you will not be swallowed by an opinion or perspective merely for treating it thoughtfully. Anyway, this is not about ideas as much as the people you care about. Ideas are irrelevant compared to people, though by being a careful listener, you show your respect. It’s fair to ask questions, and to inquire how people arrived at a certain belief or conclusion, but be gentle. Your temperature is running hot these days. Get your full Scorpio reading by Eric here.

Sagittarius

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — This week, Mars makes an opposition to Jupiter in your birth sign (or ascendant, if you’re Sagittarius rising). You might think every idea that comes your way is designed as a challenge to what you believe. What if that is true? What if everything you learn disrupts what you previously knew? Jupiter retrograde in your sign is an indicator that you might be clinging to your beliefs, or your notion of reality, and may be closed off to new information. If that is true, then you’re likely to experience nearly anything as an unwelcome challenge. If you’re feeling that way, it’s time to lighten up and remember your sense of humor. If you’re interested in discovering the truth about anything, you need a gentle touch, and a generous helping of curiosity. Some of your best observations will come from considering odd or awkward points of view, and you will learn the most from people you disagree with. Beware of looking for facts that only support your opinions. Take the opposite approach: listen the most carefully to what challenges you. Get your full Sagittarius reading by Eric here.

Capricorn

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — All three planets working their way through your sign are in retrograde motion, which suggests you’re getting some relief from the pressure you’ve been under lately. Saturday’s New Moon (May 4) has also opened up a vent that is allowing you to blow off some steam and take life (and yourself) a little less seriously. You have a way of getting lost in your own woods, and you could find your way out by being a little more pleasure-seeking and a lot less perfection-seeking. One of the deepest purposes of Capricorn in the world is learning humility. That doesn’t mean accepting inferiority; it means moist (humility comes from the same word root as humid). To be fair, Saturn and Pluto in your sign are a little bit dry. Along the “hum” train of thought, we could add humor. That does not mean sarcasm; humor is about feeling safe. Once you can laugh, you are signaling to yourself that the danger from your environment is gone. So you might use that as a metric for how safe you feel, in whatever contest you happen to be in. There will come a time when, with any luck at all, you decide, “I was so much older then; I’m younger than that now.” Get your full Capricorn reading by Eric here.

Aquarius

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — Your creative and sexual enterprises are likely to go against the grain of the culture, and to challenge accepted wisdom. That’s not so hard these days, since the grain of the culture consists mostly of splinters, and accepted wisdom is like drinking a Coors Light that was left out all night. However, the idea is to have fun rather than to piss people off. Sure, some people may find you annoying, though I suggest you make a point of being kind to your friends. Focus on your artwork, whatever that means to you, whether it’s building ships in bottles, gardening, tap dancing or learning the cello at age 77. Whatever you do, notice inside when you feel like you’re violating some rule or policy — that’s the place you want to go; that’s where to invest your energy. As you test what seems to govern society, you will need to come up with your own codes that you live by. Your actual ethics are your responsibility and yours alone. You take the risks; you get the benefits of the results, or address the consequences. Get your full Aquarius reading by Eric here.

Pisces

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Many changes on the home front are facilitating progress in ways that will prove to be helpful and profitable. Focus your energy within your four walls. Mars in the domestic region of your chart is providing you with plenty of energy to make the adjustments you need to make. Doing this will liberate energy that will serve you professionally, so really dig into your domestic situation and make it work for you, particularly paying attention to physical space as one of your most valuable assets. Keep a close eye on your cash flow, and look for new opportunities to bring in more income — they are there, though they, too, will come from the results of effort, focus and discipline. In many different ways, you’re being challenged to be the master of your environment, your image, your personal space and the way that you relate to people. You may be feeling more hard-edged than usual, which is a useful posture for you to learn. Make sure people know exactly what you mean when you have something to say. There is no room for misunderstanding now. Get your full Pisces reading by Eric here.

Monday Morning Horoscope #174 for April 29, 2019

Aries

Aries (March 20-April 19) — These days, your life is about what you have to offer, rather than what you get. It’s true, the whole world is set up to accept credit cards, and it seems like half the people you meet wear a UPC or QR code on their forehead, the better to keep inventory of themselves. What you’re being called to do right now is not part of the economy. Rather, it’s an aspect of the global healing process, where you must essentially offer yourself for free. One challenge is that this happens entirely off the spectrum of the usual motives, and muggles tend not to understand that. The good news is that you don’t have to do much to be helpful. One thing is to provide a sense of home, a refuge for certain select people who come to you seeking such assistance. They may not know it themselves; it may not be an established part of your relationship. You might know the person well; you might have never met them. You might not even like them. It does not matter; you are the place they can feel safe and welcome. So keep the home fires burning. Get your full Aries reading by Eric here.

Taurus

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — The way most people are dealing with sex these days is to not deal with it at all. Count yourself fortunate if you have a lover or intimate friend you can communicate with, and with whom you share mutual affection and goodwill. It’s a jungle out there, and we’re living in a strange, grievous time when any form of eroticism or affection can be weaponized. Notice this when you see it happening. By all means do what you can to never get involved with the games, and to never make sexuality, love or attachment a matter of power. The challenge is that when it’s fair game to turn anything at all into a matter of power, it’s difficult to make an exception. You don’t need to be part of this whole trend or obsession. You have it in you to be impeccably balanced, honest and fair-minded. This is about serving a purpose larger than yourself, and it may feel that way. With Uranus in your sign, your role in the world is to be unequivocally true to your values, and not let anyone, anything, or any seeming social cause push you around. Note to Taurus and Sun and rising: I just recorded your Astrology Studio reading; here is how to get instant access.

Gemini

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — Mars in your sign has just made a series of challenging aspects that have compelled you to honor your truth, and to speak the truth. Usually this is considered an act of charity or extreme courage. For you, it’s a matter of basic survival. That comes down to a few elemental facts, one of which is that you cannot split your character. Yes, it seems to happen a lot — people are one person at work and think they are another person among friends and yet another at home. It’s possible, for a while, to hold two competing sets of values: for example, to believe in truth and integrity, and then toss those values aside when convenient. Integrity means integration. That means being the same person all the time. The challenge here is that so many people are wearing masks, and most of them are terrified of or angry at anyone who has the gall to be sincere. That, however, is not your business. What other people do is what they do. What you do is what you do. Bank on that. Get your full Gemini reading by Eric here.

Cancer

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Your charts have a visionary quality early in the week, as if you will be able to glimpse the future, or see through certain situations that would otherwise be foggy or opaque. The question is what you will do with the information, and when you will act on it, if you do at all. Knowledge has potency, even if you don’t specifically use it. Just by maintaining awareness of your environment, you will be stronger and more influential. When it comes time to use your strength, be forthright and persistent. That does not mean pushy, impolite or angry. The truth has momentum, and that is what you want to let carry you. Do not play your whole hand at once. This is a “one card at a time” kind of situation. You will need to be aligned with the deeper elements of your spiritual path, values or commitments. It’s crucial that you listen, and assess all of the available information that you have before taking action again. Context is everything. Keep a wide view, and know when to zoom in and look at the details closely. Then, zoom back out. Get your full Cancer reading by Eric here.

Leo

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — On May 4, there will be an unusual New Moon in the vocation and professional angle of your chart. This is where the new focus is in your life. It’s been brewing for a while, and the time — this time — has finally arrived. One caution first. You may seem like you have to make snap decisions, or seize opportunities the moment they arise. This is unnecessary and it can be detrimental. When an opening presents itself, get all the information you can, be open to residual facts and observations that come in, and then pause and set the scenario on a timer. Use the spontaneous manifestation quality of Uranus, while also using the patient, wait-and-see attitude of Taurus (that is the placement involved). Be sensitive to when something does or does not match your aesthetic. This may seem superficial — to consider whether an office is beautiful enough, or how a person impresses you with their appearance or the sound of their voice. Even if someone or something is a bit eccentric, you need to have a sensory alignment; the situation must feel good, and that will take some time to determine. Get your full Leo reading by Eric here.

Virgo

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — Mars in Gemini is moving across the most ambitious angle of your chart. Over the weekend, it passed through a foggy stretch of mental terrain, which you can now see a lot more clearly. If you’re still struggling a little, the thing to get out of the way is anything that seems like a “matter of survival.” Those are almost always exaggerated, and are often the result of a distortion. Step down the urgency and ask yourself what you really want, most probably in the form of what you want to do. The drive of Mars is a little more than you’re accustomed to (being born under a Mercury-ruled sign — the approaches are rather different). There is, however, a Mercury angle: it’s about collaborating. This begins with observing and seeking to understand where a partner, colleague or investor is coming from. You have the ability to do that, though make sure it’s in words and not in some form of acquiescence or tacit agreement. Use language like, “This is what I hear you saying. Am I correct?” and, “Am I missing anything here?” Make sure you’re understood as well. Feel free to ask people to state back to you what they think you just said. Get your full Virgo reading by Eric here.

Libra

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — Pallas Athene, the asteroid of politics and diplomacy, is making a long visit to your sign, and is fully engaged at the moment. There are a number of situations you’re in or about to encounter where your skill as a negotiator will be exceedingly helpful. However, you’re going to need to dial this in as a fully conscious act, rather than as something you can just count on happening. You have to ask for help, and access your skill intentionally — and then use it. There are many people in your life right now, probably too many, and it’s been difficult to discern what they are doing, what they want, or what their role is. My suggestion is that you maintain silence and not reveal your opinion or point of view. You may feel like everyone knows what you think or believe; however, you’re far more inscrutable than you may imagine. Just set aside the notion that people can hear your thoughts or that your opinion is written all over your face. The idea here is not to be secretive, but rather to give yourself some space to be objective, and to listen well even to those you disagree with vehemently. Eventually, you will see a point where you may need to speak up, but it’s unlikely to be for a while. Get your full Libra reading by Eric here.

Scorpio

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — You may be struggling with the question of whether you’re leveling with yourself. You may be wondering whether others are acting in good faith. You learned something, maybe a few significant things, over the weekend, and it will help if you take some time, pause, and evaluate what you now know. Matters that were murky and uncertain may have become more transparent. You may have a better idea where you stand with someone. One potential factor is sexual feelings and feelings of attachment crossing and overlapping. It will be helpful if you sort this out. Another potential factor is that you may feel two ways about a person or situation. While this might seem normal, it’s a sign of inner conflict or denial, and you would be wise to address it. You actually do have underlying feelings that point to one position, not two contradictory ones. You may need to work through some layers to get there, though not if you’re honest with yourself. That is the place to start, and the place to keep your focus. Get your full Scorpio reading by Eric here.

Sagittarius

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — Take a creative approach if you feel challenged or like someone is stirring up conflict with you. First, though, consider whether that is really their intent, or whether you’re just perceiving it that way. A lot of controversy is in the eye of the beholder, and we live in tense, contentious times. Set aside the expectation of being attacked in some way. Dial that back and get yourself off of hair trigger. Yes, notice what you’re feeling, and pay attention to clues for how others are feeling, but slow down your reaction time, and go more into a responsive emotional frame. One thing I’ve noticed again and again is that people who are oriented on conflict are generally not being productive. The first thing you can do about that is make sure that you, at least, are doing your work or your art. If you’re in a position where you have influence over the choices of others, guide them in this direction. In intimate situations (and some others), sexual frustration is also a factor. Note this if you observe it in yourself. And though you may not be able to say much to someone else, if you think it’s a factor, address it appropriately. Get your full Sagittarius reading by Eric here.

Capricorn

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — Pluto recently stationed retrograde in your sign, and Saturn is about to do the same. This will set the advance of the Saturn-Pluto conjunction on pause for a while, and give you some room to address certain pressing situations in your life. Make sure you use your time well. Address any important plans that you’ve set aside during the past six months, and do your best to catch up with yourself. It’s less important that you invest your energy in relationships and more important that you emphasize the meaningful tasks that you have at hand right now. Please don’t allow yourself to be distracted by people and their agendas. You need far less socializing than you may think. It’s irrelevant what people think of you, or what you think they think. You can use your time productively if you keep your priorities in order. Some of them may involve your family, though beware: those, too, may be a major distraction. Stick to what you know you simply must do. Get your full Capricorn reading by Eric here.

Aquarius

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — The most significant forces “outside of your control” are the ones in your own mind. And while you may not be able to control your mind or your feelings, you can have an influence. That influence begins with focusing your awareness inwardly, and being honest with yourself about your motives. The inner process work you’re doing, most of which involves certain family and ancestral situations you’ve inherited, is directly connected to your ideas about power, and in particular, how it was wielded over you and certain people you grew up with. Yet this is on a primal level (like one of those apes discovering he can smash a skull with a stick in 2001: A Space Odyssey). That’s the problem: on the core level, the level of what you might think of as machine language, this is all rather crude. The responses that people had around you, and that they may have displayed, were associated with their feeling of powerlessness. Most of the “reasons” they felt that way don’t apply to you. You have many more resources to work with.. Get your full Aquarius reading by Eric here.

Pisces

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — For the past week or so, Mars has been making a square to Neptune in your sign, which has been something of an antagonizing influence. This may have challenged your confidence. It’s probable, though, that you’re feeling like you’re on much more solid ground. Now, at least, you can see someone or some situation for what it really is. There is likely to be a financial factor involved, and coming from a place of perceiving reality, and knowing the actual, underlying facts, you’re in a much better position to negotiate a fair result. Yet do not falter in your position. Be persistent and insist on above-board communication. This is particularly important in all matters where your home or security is concerned. Don’t fall for the delusion that you are in any way threatened. It’s not that simple, and you have more potential influence over the situation than you may be aware. This is one of those scenarios where, after we address the essential topic of honesty, that it’s all about money, so keep your eye on the facts and figures, and make sure they add up to the same total calculating up the column, and down. Get your full Pisces reading by Eric here.

Monday Morning Horoscope #173 for April 22, 2019

Aries

Aries (March 20-April 19) — You survived the Sun’s run through Aries and the first expression of the 2020 alignment that directly involves your sign. This portends a year with many relevant turning points — and some inevitable ones. You’re under astrology unique in all the world, though there is a worldly theme: reaching escape velocity from the influence of your parents and your family of origin. You are at the point where you have no choice but to be who you are, which is easier said than done. There is always the temptation of retreating into some old-fashioned not-self pattern of fear, resistance, resentment or frustration, and using that as an excuse to stay put. But the more you hold fast, the faster the forces of your own nature will pull you free. There is one essential ingredient that is almost mandatory to overlook these days, and I don’t know if anyone understands what I mean when I say it, but it’s time for you to live your sexual truth. This will be equal parts healing, experimentation and understanding where your experience of love matches your biological experience. One clue I can give you is that it has nothing to do with what you see in the movies. Get your full Aries reading by Eric here.

Taurus

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — The Sun has arrived in your sign, in grand style on the heels of last week’s Libra Full Moon, and with the Sun making a conjunction to Uranus. You are in all-new territory. It would be fair but not entirely accurate to say you are becoming a new person. Closer to the truth is that you are taking the chance of discovering who you are, which if it’s working always comes with some surprises. No matter how old you are, you contain a continent or two of unexplored territory, which you’ve always had inside of you. You’ve felt this many times, though there is something about Taurus that tends to resist the kinds of energy flow that Uranus represents: difficult to control, unexpected, erratic, shocking and brilliant. Uranus comes in fits and starts, but it’s a constant and continuous presence. You don’t need to imbibe this influence all at once. Take it one day at a time, one season at a time. A reader named Alison wrote to me and said, “Uranus seems to be about burning through convention to see what remains, like the alchemical calcination phase, and using what’s left to (re)build something new.” She said the influence started in May 2018, though, “At that time, I didn’t know what I was heading towards, just what I was leaving. It began to emerge over the summer but didn’t really gain momentum until earlier this year and is still becoming clearer by the day.” Note to Taurus and Sun and rising: I’m planning to record your Astrology Studio reading on Monday; here is how to pre-order.

Gemini

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — Mercury is now in Aries. Your ruling planet is in the process of passing through several different levels of full-strength astrology, so you can reasonably expect unusual developments, deep experiences, and a tour of various forces outside of your control. Yet the choices you make are all your own. How you respond to your environment is your decision. Be aware that the more force you exert, the more pushback you’re likely to get. When you articulate your energy, and refine your thought process, and make your choices carefully, you will get a better result. Because Mercury is involved, your use of words is a critical factor: how you express yourself, how you describe your situation, how you speak to others, and what you choose to discuss. My suggestion is to keep your responses on the level of what you can build, weave, make or create. Stay off the level of ego, personality and conflict. If you have to wrestle with something, let it be your conscience. If you must tackle something, let it be a real problem, not a made-up one. Live by one standard: the truth is true, and nothing else matters. Get your full Gemini reading by Eric here.

Cancer

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Developing astrology puts you further into the public eye. Since we’re talking about the Sun-Uranus conjunction, don’t try to be normal. It’s true that part of your usual strategy is to dress well and present yourself like a professional. You tend to be understated and well-spoken when you know people are watching. You can relax that standard, and allow yourself to be as different as you want to be. You don’t have to flaunt convention for its own sake. You are free, however, to be as eccentric as you really are. You are free to experiment. You’re welcome to be a little shocking and to call it like it is. Though we’re talking about Uranus, we’re also talking about Taurus, which is a reminder to make sure that whatever you do, you bring an aesthetic quality: emphasize beauty. My work-a-day motto for American life (applicable elsewhere) is that you can do anything you want, as long as you do it well. For you, doing something well always includes a touch of class, and of elegance. Get your full Cancer reading by Eric here.

Leo

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — Uranus in Taurus, and the Sun’s conjunction to it, are invitations to open up new horizons in your professional life. This is the time to shift from “career” to “vocation.” A vocation is a calling, that you answer with your whole being. Career is (for example) when your parents tell you to be an accountant, or they won’t pay your tuition. Vocation is (for example) when you want to be a bass player and you do so with no thought of making a living at it, only doing it for its own sake. This will call for some inventiveness, which Uranus grants. Fortunately, the world has become flexible enough to accommodate these kinds of choices more easily. When I was in my 20s, someone once told me I was too weird to be a freelance writer. We’ve all been offered that kind of horseshit advice, and it’s best to leave it in the compost pile, so maybe it will become something more useful. The technological environment will be your friend and ally, opening up many possibilities, though ultimately it’s the quality of your ideas, and your dedication, that will get the result. Get your full Leo reading by Eric here.

Virgo

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — This week’s astrology ignites a kind of alchemy between the spiritual, the erotic and the artistic that just about everyone is passionately determined to avoid. And why would that be? Well, for one thing, investing yourself in these primal forces of consciousness calls on you to be open to change, from the inside out. This is not the kind of change that comes from making decisions but rather the type that comes from lighting yourself on fire. If you move your life in this direction, you take the risk of total involvement, which means surrendering your expectations about the future, about yourself and, in many ways, about the world. It’s why so many people so often take what they perceive as the safe path, of seemingly little risk. Yet what is sacrificed is existence actually having some meaning that comes from deep within you. That, too, might result in some temporary but palpable sense of disorientation. In any event, whatever you choose to do with it, your transits are pointing you away from the familiar and into the unknown. You might want to board the next flight to Greenland or South Africa. Or you can admit how much you don’t know and begin right where you are. Get your full Virgo reading by Eric here.

Libra

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — At this stage of your life, there is no place for secrets or denial. Both are serious hindrances to your wellbeing, your spiritual health and having full access to your wisdom and potential. Yet for many people they are ways of life. Often that is because everything else seems so scary. After all, if the truth were known about you — who you are, what you want, what you’ve done, and how you feel — do you think that your current relationships could withstand the shock of that awareness? That remains to be seen, though what would surely happen is that any disruption would call everyone present to their actual reality, their feelings and desires. This would lead to a reorientation of awareness and the need to make some decisions. Whether you desire this or not, something about you is likely to shift this week that compels you to reassess your intimate situations. And though you may not think of it this way, it involves all you have not said to the people close to you. Perhaps make a list of what that includes. Get your full Libra reading by Eric here.

Scorpio

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — People are full of surprises. If someone close to you presents you with something you just were not expecting, slow down and consider where they’re coming from. Most people you will meet, or even know well, are not so good at expressing their healing needs. Here is what I suggest you keep in mind. When someone says what they need, or even is honest about how they feel, that creates a vulnerability. And more times than not, on our particular planet, there’s always someone waiting to either turn that need into an advantage for them, or to exploit the vulnerability. This is not about you personally; it’s just the way things usually are. Do your part by not allowing this particular circumstance to turn into that, in any way, shape or form. Do not let your intimate exchanges be about power. Go in the other direction — guide your purpose toward healing, service, and what you have to offer. It’s essential at this time in your life that you allow the people close to you to be who they are, recognize their needs as be valid, and give them space to exist. You need the same things. Get your full Scorpio reading by Eric here.

Sagittarius

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — Keep your temper, particularly if you run into frustrating circumstances early in the day Monday. Mars moving through your opposite sign Gemini can have a combative feeling, and you may be living with the illusion that you don’t really know where anyone is coming from. For now, you will have to take them at their word, while at the same time giving them space to evolve their views and correct statements that turned out to be inaccurate. If you try to hold people to absolute consistency, you’ll only burn up what good faith the situation includes, and there is plenty. How you handle self-destructive tendencies, whether your own or those of someone else, is another question. And they are likely to be a factor as Mars makes a square to Neptune over the coming week. You may feel a tendency to go into retreat or reverse, though that’s not what your situation calls for. Rather, you are being invited to take a new kind of risk, where you allow yourself enough vulnerability to create something new for yourself. You will know you’re really doing that because it feels dangerous in a way you can’t easily describe. Get your full Sagittarius reading by Eric here.

Capricorn

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — Saturn stationing retrograde between now and the 29th will help take off some of the pressure you’ve been feeling, and cool off your sense of imminent change (or doom). Yet it remains true that you have important matters from the past that you must address before you can guide your life forward. Commit to doing that this spring and summer, starting immediately. Begin with what is the easiest: for example, addressing unfinished business with people you’ve been close to recently. Then go deeper into the past and sort out a few situations about which you may have some misgivings, or where you wish you had handled things differently. See, for real, how people respond to you when you reach out to them. Americans in particular have a tendency to try to blaze into the future and bury the past before they’ve come to any real closure about what occurred there. Saturn’s presence on the South Node in your sign says that you have little choice but to confront your personal history, though you’re also protected from the worst results of certain less than helpful decisions you’ve made. Get your full Capricorn reading by Eric here.

Aquarius

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — If you’re experiencing a shakeup involving your home base or sense of personal grounding or security, take it as an invitation to new and better things. In particular, it’s clear you need to design living spaces that are more suited to your state of mind, and that are more accommodating of the future. That likely means some combination of lightening your load and also giving yourself room to work, to grow and to play. If you’re flexible and have even a mild sense of adventure, you can work any situation to your advantage. Make sure your strategy includes plans A, B and C. In the end, you’ll borrow a little from each of them and come up with a synthesis that works for everyone. Note that Venus, a vitally important planet for you, is making a conjunction to Chiron and other sensitive points this week. To me that says keep a handle on your emotions, choose your words wisely, and emphasize expressing yourself in a creative way rather than a self-centered or combative one. To get out of the trap of “self,” stick to the topic at hand. You are a reference point, though there’s something much larger than you at work and at play. Get your full Aquarius reading by Eric here.

Pisces

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Keep calm and keep cool. Don’t play it cool; relax and be aware, of your surroundings and the flow of your thoughts. Both are likely to be rather adventurous in a number of ways. Two of the most personal angles of your chart, Aries (house 2, values and value) and Taurus (house 3, words and immediate surroundings) are illuminated by powerful conjunctions, both exact Monday. Venus conjunct Chiron in Aries is about tapping into your deepest well of self-worth and staying rooted there. Don’t let anyone shake you, fool you or trip you up. You’ve been through a lot, and you know who you are. The Sun conjunct Uranus in Taurus is encouraging you to be a little outrageous. You can drop your filters a little, and be dauntless if you feel the need to provoke someone, or say something that’s out of character for you. Actually, you are beginning to inhabit some very new personal tendencies and explore your inner territory in an unfamiliar way. Therefore, push the edge, take some risks, and allow yourself the freedom to get in the face of anyone who tries to tell you who you are. Get your full Pisces reading by Eric here.

Monday Morning Horoscope #172 for April 15, 2019

Aries

Aries (March 20-April 19) — You don’t need to push anyone or anything to resolution. You’ve made some difficult decisions and taken action. You have been through some challenging territory. You are self-aware, and growing more so. And you can now coast toward Friday’s Full Moon, as long as you guide your vessel. The Moon-Sun opposition involving your sign will work as a solvent and help you address a situation or loggerheads that may seem intractable. Whatever may be true, let your mind be the flexible element in the equation. Know what you’re willing to compromise, what you could live without, and what is non-negotiable. Make sure everything is in its correct category, and then see what develops. One factor to review is your interactions with those in any position of authority, and your experiences of being a person who may be in such a position. How is that going? Did you get your taxes done on time (if you file in the U.S.)? The “authority issue” will be one of the prevailing themes of the next year and a half; track it carefully. Get your full Aries reading by Eric here.

Taurus

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — By the time the Sun enters your sign Saturday, you’ll be involved in some bold adventure. Remember, though, that this is not about the outer world; it’s about discovering who you are, and setting yourself free to be that person. Surprise yourself. Get out of your routines. Take any opportunity to experience something or someplace new, unfamiliar or just interesting. The old thought forms that have kept your life in line for so long are dependably crumbling. As a result you are open to new influences, which is a great time to experiment. Yet the central theme of your life is gaining inner knowledge, not outer. Chiron moving through your adjoining sign Aries will invite you, entice you, encourage you, or take you kicking and screaming — the choice is yours. Self-knowledge is controversial because it imparts deep responsibility, to make your choices and guide your healing process specifically in accord with what you know: as in, know about yourself. Get your full Taurus reading by Eric here.

Gemini

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — Mars in your sign is urging you to assert yourself and to be cautious at the same time. The way to do both is to apply far less energy to any situation than you think you need to get a result. The upcoming square of Mars to Neptune cautions about two things: one is to check your judgment at every turn, and make sure your thinking is clear. The other is to verify the facts you accept as true, or state to others as true. The Mars in Gemini factor is urging you to be aware of when you are trying to hold two contradictory positions. You can do that, as long as you’re honest about it — which is the slippery point where the square to Neptune is concerned. Therefore, take nothing for granted. Slow down the movie, and be aware of your agenda. You have one: there are things you desire, changes you want to make, and a real degree of lust for life that you’re experiencing. Yet before you open up the throttle and just go for it, you have to ask what is really worth any potential consequences, and what is not. Get your full Gemini reading by Eric here.

Cancer

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Keep your lights on. Stay alert and visible. Fear no person, and no situation, and maintain your integrity by being honest from the first words out of your mouth. It’s now clear that you’re the one who takes the initiative in your life: you set your agenda, and you take action to put it into motion. You are, therefore, on notice not to wait for the whims of fate or fortune to guide you, but rather to use your awareness and set your course in life. As you know, there are no guarantees that any plan or intention will come to fruition, though this is not about the result. Your life at present, and for the foreseeable future, is about how you make your choices in the moment. Having authority over your life does not mean that you rule your world. Rather, it means that you make your own decisions and take responsibility for the results that you get. There is no other form of “empowerment” on our planet. Your ability to choose is the origin and grounding of your freedom. Get your full Cancer reading by Eric here.

Leo

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — It has been said many times that faith can move mountains, though when it happens, it always comes as a pleasant surprise. Faith means in yourself; said another way, we’re talking about fidelity to your own purpose. With Chiron now traveling through your fellow fire sign Aries, your sense of orientation and meaning is stronger than ever. You have a sense of direction, or at minimum are feeling a tug along a new route. You can trust that, even if as an experiment. This counts even if you’re having some kind of crisis of belief, which will only serve to help raise your awareness and get you thinking about what is and is not true for you. One benefit is keeping yourself alert to fixed beliefs. If you’re questioning yourself, you will notice when you run into a conflict, and then you might decide to sort it out. Underneath all of this is something much simpler, though: a sense of what you need to do. That is something you can trust. Get your full Leo reading by Eric here.

Virgo

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — One of your most vital missions at this time in your life is to keep a wide perspective. Most of the time it seems easier to be myopic — that is, to walk down the street with tunnel vision, looking only where you’re headed. If you do that, you will miss most of the beauty around you, and you’ll be working with limited information. Looking around, observing, and allowing in more sensory data is not on everyone’s agenda. Some consider it inconvenient. You seem to be of two minds: one is guiding you to over-focus, and the other is compelling you to look around in all directions. Make sure you do at least one thing: stay up-to-date on where a close partner or loved one is coming from. Do what you can to make sure you understand their point of view. That means keeping a dialog open, which has three parts: listening, speaking and considering (reflecting on) what you’ve said and heard. Don’t assume you understand what someone means simply because they explained it once. And don’t assume someone understands you just because you told them something. Get your full Virgo reading by Eric here.

Libra

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — This week’s Full Moon in your sign (exact Friday) will be preceded by a series of developments that build on one another. And it’s not over till it’s over. Therefore, guide rather than push. Ride rather than drive. The events of your life have considerable momentum at this time, and you’ve made your investment in the outcome you’re seeking. If there are obstacles in the way, give them a chance to re-adjust, move, tumble or crumble. If there are misunderstandings, give them an opportunity to shift. The Full Moon takes place in the last degree of Libra, which suggests that certain events that develop late in the process will be the most meaningful, and the most interesting. One word of caution from the Moon conjunct Eris: beware of the mirage of the internet. Have as many of your experiences in person as possible. Listen to people’s tone of voice and watch their facial expression. Verify the facts, even the ones that seem obvious. Then, go with the flow. Get your full Libra reading by Eric here.

Scorpio

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — When the Sun enters your opposite sign Taurus next weekend, you will have a far better understanding of where you’re at with a close partner. The past year has been perplexing; the past season, maybe even more so. Yet there is some sense and order to it all, which is having the main benefit of helping you get off the rails and onto the open road. Make friends with what is unfamiliar, including aspects of people you care about that you’ve never encountered before. Welcome anything new, any change of pace, whatever sets you free from what is familiar or what you think you know. It’s likely that others will have a hand in helping guide you in this direction, and that environmental factors will play a role as well. One of the reasons the world is so boring right now is that just about everyone thinks they know everyone. There is exceedingly little sense of mystery. Everything just is the way that it is, and will always be that way. Except for one thing: that’s never true. Get your full Scorpio reading by Eric here.

Sagittarius

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — Jupiter has just stationed retrograde in your sign, so you get a phase of review. It’s helpful to think of life in terms of advancing forward over new territory, then backtracking a little to consider where you’ve been and how you feel about it. Go back to your most recent birthday. Consider all the interesting ground you’ve covered since then, and what has changed as contrasted with your previous year on the planet. Another angle is considering what you’ve learned, and choosing what you can do with it. Your solar chart has become a creative vortex, and with Mercury joining a wild collection of planets in Aries, you are being invited to experiment with what you know. By experiment, I mean to gain experience. That comes from actually doing things, exceeding your abilities, pushing your limits and being willing to make mistakes. In order to get anything right, you have to get it wrong first. This is how just about everyone learns everything. There is another definition of learning that I love: discovering that something is possible. Get your full Sagittarius reading by Eric here.

Capricorn

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — Friday’s Full Moon is another peak of energy that seems designed to reveal where you are in life. How much progress have you made? How far do you have to go? The thing to track is your direction of movement, no matter how subtle. Pay attention to improvement, no matter how small. You don’t need to be content with this, though it’s essential that you be observant. This way, you will have some idea what serves your purposes, what gets a result, and what does not. Forces much greater than you may be aware of are moving the very ground you stand on. Cycles that reach back into previous generations are not only influencing your life in profound ways; your whole orientation on the past is changing. You’re being compelled by your circumstances to resolve matters that your predecessors found to be utterly vexing, if they even noticed the issues. In a sense, you’re being called upon to do the impossible, and the way to do that is a little at a time. Get your full Capricorn reading by Eric here.

Aquarius

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — If you have something to say, this is the time. If you have something to write, this is really the time. A rare alignment of energies is making it possible to express what would otherwise be difficult or even impossible. One thing you probably already know is that you find yourself through writing. Not only find: cultivate, develop, understand and grow. This goes deeper than intellectual interests, as you have the ability to access every layer of your being through a mental process, which is rare. Yet for that to actually happen, you must engage your full creativity, which is to say, push into the unknown by stating what you observe. Don’t worry about how intelligent you think your ideas are; you may have a blind spot here, and underestimate this particular factor. Regardless, the thing to do is to write, and read, and write. This might feel like plowing furrows in your mind, and planting ideas. It’s a physical sensation, associated with a deep inner experience that is changing you for the better. The more you invest, the more you will benefit. Get your full Aquarius reading by Eric here.

Pisces

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — You are soon to encounter a whole new perspective on yourself and on life. This is happening inwardly first, as the Sun passes through your solar 2nd house and you are awakening to your talent, your potential, and your many other resources. They are yours to use, enjoy and explore. This is the whole point of being alive. Note that it’s your awareness that activates your potential. And your awareness may be provoked by confronting a problem that you need to solve, a personal challenge you face, or some seeming lack or absence. You don’t know your value until you make contact with it in some tangible way. Therefore, strive to correct what you think is wrong, and to accomplish what you may have previously decided was impossible or above your abilities. Most significantly, don’t count yourself out — of any situation you want to be in, of any realm you want to create in, or what you know your life has to offer. Count yourself in. Participate directly in your own world. Get your full Pisces reading by Eric here.

Monday Morning Horoscope #171 for April 8, 2019

Aries

Aries (March 20-April 19) — Check in carefully and frequently with your intuition this week; it’s likely you will make some discoveries pretty soon about the next phase of your journey. By now you have some idea of the person you are becoming, and the role you are beginning to grow into. A special conjunction in your sign between Vesta, an asteroid associated with devotion, and Chiron is likely to imbue you with a sense of purpose and a vision as to how you can accomplish what you seek. Go with it, and see where it takes you; and fill out the details as they emerge. Get your full Aries reading by Eric here.

Taurus

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — One function of dreams might be to help us process and understand what’s going on around us. Another is perhaps expressing truths we may not be willing to admit to ourselves in waking life. Either way, dreams (and intuitive leaps) can be a way of showing the truth with its mask off; without any obfuscation. If you receive information along these lines, however, be sure to verify it as far as possible, and remember that certain nuances can become lost in translation. That said, whatever is revealed to you could be something that, deep down, you already know. Get your full Taurus reading by Eric here.

Gemini

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — In any form of relationship you have with others, trust is a crucial factor. The majority of people have, somewhere along the way, been hurt or betrayed by someone else; yet we’ve also been saved, helped or supported by our true friends and allies. Try approaching any new contacts you make with the idea that they are probably honest and sincere unless they show themselves to the contrary, and remember everyone has better and worse qualities. Cherish your established friendships, also, and let those you love best know how grateful you are for their presence. Get your full Gemini reading by Eric here.

Cancer

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — As your responsibilities develop in your working life, it may be useful to think about how you intend to carry out your role, especially if you expect to be in any kind of authoritative position. Be prepared to listen to those who have more experience than you (though you need not take any advice as gospel). In terms of anyone you manage, make sure they know they can talk to you freely and frankly; simply hearing them can help you learn a great deal. Lastly, take up any chance to collaborate on certain projects, irrespective of whether your job involves that by definition. Get your full Cancer reading by Eric here.

Leo

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — Creative exploration could be seen as an act of bravery. At some stage, most forms of art and self-expression involve some sort of risk, usually when it comes time to involve an audience. Yet it’s also a natural part of personal development, and pursuing one’s calling is nothing short of vital to the soul. Therefore, whatever trepidation you might feel about following yours, do it anyway. If you stick your head above the parapet, you’ve already gained a victory, regardless of how the performance pans out. Everyone makes mistakes; it’s part of the process, and it helps you hone your skill. Get your full Leo reading by Eric here.

Virgo

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — Consider any turbulence you’ve lately been encountering as a little like a rainstorm that leaves a clear sky once it’s spent itself. You may already have caught glimpses of the lightening atmosphere or smelt the freshness in the air. When the clouds are fully passed over, you’ll notice you can perceive how to tackle something that’s been troubling you for a while. This will most likely require action and some dedication, though understanding improvement is possible would seem to be the first part of the battle. Take courage; and do justice to your abilities, which are more than adequate. Get your full Virgo reading by Eric here.

Libra

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — If there is a specific matter you need to discuss with a loved one, it’s important that you do so, and that you are properly received and heard. However, be sure to communicate your thoughts clearly and directly. Avoid any tendency to hint or add subtle digs, as opposed to being completely open. You can be sensitive to someone’s feelings without dodging the truth. Take your time and plan how best to address the issue. Notice also if you’re afraid of speaking plainly; you’ll want to understand that fully. Remember that knowledge is better than ignorance. Get your full Libra reading by Eric here.

Scorpio

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — You are gradually learning to employ your gifts and your resources in more discerning ways, and growing ever closer to your vocation in your daily practices. Don’t worry too much if you stumble here and there. This is a learning process, which also means: try to avoid running before you can walk, or rushing into the middle of nowhere without a map. Instead, set a pace you’re confident you can keep. Meanwhile, try to maintain a careful eye on your spending: research any potential investments before committing to them, and make sure you have what you need. Get your full Scorpio reading by Eric here.

Sagittarius

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — When it comes to delineating and expressing your individuality, there are plenty of people who might feel they have a duty to offer you advice. Many of them will probably have something interesting to say, though that is for you to determine: your judgment is the ultimate arbiter of whether someone is cautioning you not to fly too near the Sun, or trying to clip your wings. You are under no obligation to take anyone’s word as gospel, though if you don’t listen at all, you have no way of deciding on the merits of the argument. The point is to retain your independence. Get your full Sagittarius reading by Eric here.

Capricorn

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — Certain past experiences or emotional responses may be resurfacing from the depths in some way, pressing you to deal with them. This might relate to a challenge you’ve avoided working through in the past. Figuring it out is going to require discipline and possibly considerable effort, though don’t be daunted, and be sure to keep hold of the gritty humor for which your sign is famed. You need to break away from the hold of certain memories; to be free to dance in the sunlight, smell the flowers and be fully involved in your continuous self-creation. Get your full Capricorn reading by Eric here.

Aquarius

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — Part of why practicing conformity is such a popular sport involves the social rewards, which are plentiful and alluring to the extent that the stifling loss of one’s individuality tends to be overlooked. There can also be powerful pressure to comply, especially in the threat of being cast out. Yet you know well the necessity of expressing your uniqueness, and the emotional cost of not doing so. Gradually, you have been discovering the line over which you will not cross, no matter the temptation, and no matter the would-be encroachments of others. Hold that line for all it’s worth. Get your full Aquarius reading by Eric here.

Pisces

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Your destiny is firmly in your hands, and where you go from here depends largely on what is important to you. What do you value most of all? What does success look like to you? You may want to treat these questions on a profound level, requiring deep and earnest thought, since you very likely have the ability to make your wishes manifest over time. It would help enormously for you to be fully aware of your various needs, desires and motives for action. That doesn’t mean judging what you feel or seeking anyone’s approval; just be transparent with yourself. Get your full Pisces reading by Eric here.

Monday Morning Horoscope #170 for April 1, 2019

Aries

Aries (March 20-April 19) — It’s time to bring the full truth of who you are out into the light, for everyone to see. This revelation, dramatic as it sounds, might not require any sort of fanfare. In fact, it may well represent the culmination of a gradual process of evolution, in which you’ve come to recognize that you can no longer veil your power or your emotions so that others can feel unchallenged. That is progress. There is a purpose in causing discomfort, especially to those who are somewhat complacent, that could be described as sacred. What you are now discovering is along those lines. Get your full Aries reading by Eric here.

Taurus

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — There are times when denial has its uses, albeit as an expedient rather than a positive philosophy. To put it mildly, this is not one of those times. Your bullshit detector is currently turned up to 11, and it’s pointed right at your most private of inner sanctums, the place where you keep your raw energy and some deep secrets locked up tight; often hidden even from yourself. You are likely already sensing that this arrangement is no longer sustainable. Instead, try being completely transparent and open with yourself. You may well find this brings a palpable relief, among other benefits. Get your full Taurus reading by Eric here.

Gemini

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — While your ruler Mercury is still working its way out of its conjunction with Neptune, you may be well advised to keep a firm grip on what is real. Mirages can sometimes appear in the unlikeliest places: they may occasionally fool most, if not all, of your senses. Fact-check everything as if your reputation depends on it; be wary of trusting any one source specifically, and try to avoid relying on any internet content as far as you can manage that. Where possible, defer reaching a firm conclusion on anything for the next week or two, however certain you may feel. Get your full Gemini reading by Eric here.

Cancer

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Part of making strides in the ambition and career department involves leaving behind that which no longer serves you. You don’t need to do today what you did yesterday, simply because it is the established path; be wary of maintaining rituals for their own sake. Moving forward has much in common with moving house, or with travelling: at some point during the process you have to de-clutter, so as to end up carrying with you only what you need. This may be a useful moment to clear out some items — literally, perhaps, as well as figuratively — that have become disposable. Get your full Cancer reading by Eric here.

Leo

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — Your philosophy of life and your aspirations have a way of being unique, and you may be about to find out how unique. Potentially, some among your contacts are encouraging you to adhere to specific beliefs, and to direct your life a certain way; yet you may realize rather suddenly in the coming days precisely where you differ from them and why. This is likely to spring from a deep place, indicating how fundamental these ideas are to your being, and to your connection with the divine principle, or with your higher self. You need not fear to stand out. Get your full Leo reading by Eric here.

Virgo

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — Prior to finalizing any sort of commitment, take some time to re-read the small print, and make sure you’re not signing up for something you may later regret. Confirm that your understanding of the situation is congruent with that of all others involved: that you are, so to speak, all on the same page. Meanwhile, check in with your thoughts and emotions, and make a point of knowing your own motives for acting; be entirely honest with yourself, even if you risk discovering something you’d prefer not to be true. Within a couple of weeks, everything will probably be much clearer. Get your full Virgo reading by Eric here.

Libra

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — If someone close to you rouses your anger — especially if you’ve recently been involved in a dispute — it may be helpful to consider carefully how you act, and what your emotional response really means. The chances are it’s something deeper than you realize, and not necessarily created by the present situation. There is enormous temptation just now to act immediately on our emotions, and to take our feelings as gospel truth, which goes far beyond a healthy reliance on one’s instinct. Take as much time as you need to figure out what is really the case. Get your full Libra reading by Eric here.

Scorpio

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — Right now it seems you know pretty clearly where you wish to be, in terms of your current goal at least. Keep that vision close to your thoughts, and use each day to get a little closer to it. If it helps, you might even consider reviewing your progress on a daily or weekly basis, in order to help you organize and plan — though be sure anything of that sort inspires you, rather than wearing you down. Solve any challenges methodically and patiently. Ultimately, you know that what you seek is possible, and within your reach, no matter how long it takes to arrive. Get your full Scorpio reading by Eric here.

Sagittarius

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — Making use of your creative or imaginative abilities is one way to exercise your free will and determine your destiny. You can do this in small ways, and it would be just as valid as if you won fame or material gains through your gifts. The point is you are asserting your right to live on your own terms. If there is something you want to try doing, remember that many things worth accomplishing often don’t involve outstanding success on the first try. They tend to require ongoing commitment and daily practice; the journey thereby holds as much meaning as the destination. Get your full Sagittarius reading by Eric here.

Capricorn

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — Trust the original instincts you had about a specific project. If you are concerned that the effort you’ve put into it may have been to no avail, or that things appear to be turning out rather differently from what you envisioned, wait for more information before you give it up. There’s a reason you decided to place faith and resources in this work initially; you might benefit from recollecting that first train of ideas. Consider what you have accomplished so far; it is likely you’ve made more progress than you know, and that some results have yet to emerge fully. Get your full Capricorn reading by Eric here.

Aquarius

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — After what you’ve experienced in recent months, it would not be astonishing if your emotional center had the approximate strength and imperviousness of titanium. This, however, does not require you to maintain a stiff upper lip if you should find yourself needing support. While that’s a useful survival strategy at times, it’s crucial to retain your ability to trust, even if that seems difficult right now. Acknowledging when you need to be vulnerable is a wise and courageous act. Everyone has the right to seek help, and to use the support available to them — including you. Get your full Aquarius reading by Eric here.

Pisces

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Keep a handle on your self-esteem, and do everything you can to fend off challenges, whether internal or external. In particular, try to recognize when an idea you have about yourself comes from an imposed narrative that should long have been consigned to the trash. This may manifest in you taking on responsibility for other people’s expressed anger or similar emotions that are not in fact yours to own. Be careful about a response or train of thought that feels ‘right’ — it could turn out to be simply a familiar pattern wearing a different mask. For now, take every individual case on its merits. Get your full Pisces reading by Eric here.