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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Capricorn Audio Birthday Reading is Ready!

Dear Friend and Reader:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thank you for being a Planet Waves customer.

With love,

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

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

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

Aries (March 20-April 19) — It’s time for an early New Year’s resolution: you and only you will run your life. OK, you do this in cooperation with the universe; that’s a given. I’m talking about the influence of other people, to whom you might have deferred important decisions in the past. Or, people you might have acted toward in a certain way to avoid their disapproval, or because you felt guilty. It’s time to take over your concept of authority: set your own goals, keep your own schedule, organize your life and, most of all, define your notion of success. In order to do this well, you will need to work within the confines of existing circumstances; for example, if you have a job, you come to work at the agreed-upon time, until you renegotiate that and then keep the new agreement. Your ability to negotiate changes in existing agreements will be your most useful tool as you get accustomed to wanting and needing more freedom.

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — Devotion is stitched into your soul. Maybe you’ve had the occasion to read some classical poetry from earlier centuries, where it’s not immediately obvious whether the poet is speaking to someone they love, or to God. Then after some pondering, the difference seems negligible, because it’s the feeling that matters. Your chart is particularly beautiful this way now: your devotional quality can be addressed to anyone or everyone, to the work that you do, to the people you serve, or to those who serve you. This is an exalted state of being; it’s a rare form of privilege that you’ve earned through years of soul-searching and your quest for personal improvement. Said simply, integrity matters to you. The more influential you become, the easier it is to take that for granted. The easier it is to let yourself slip and slide. Yes, you must give yourself room to play, and remember that your personal truth is what matters the most.

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — Among many other changes of the past week, your ruling planet Mercury has stationed direct. That suggests you learned something important about a personal relationship, whether this was about your own feelings, someone else’s feelings, or some other factor. Now you get to use that information. You’re at the stage of development where you’re responsible for what you know; literally, your knowledge imbues you with responsibility. This may span from data about the weather, to a credible warning about a person’s character. It may come in the form of a contract that you must have reviewed professionally before you sign it; or having the presence of mind, and the courage, to ask a potential employer a difficult question. You might be facing a decision and know you need more information to make it properly. Once you get the hang of this, and get accustomed to it, you will see that it’s a key to your power as an individual, and also a key to your freedom.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Saturn has arrived in your opposite sign Capricorn, where we look for information about relationships, partnerships and the environment in which you move around. For nearly a decade, the main presence in this angle of your chart has been Pluto. That’s an influence that brings enforced changes, intense reactions from others that don’t quite rise to the level of intimacy, and even a sense of isolation. Saturn will do two things. One is that it will help you establish the kinds of relationships you need. Second is that it will help you get out of the kinds of relationships that don’t serve you (and there are plenty). While Saturn helps us set boundaries, many astrologers perceive that as only meaning limits. Boundaries are useful; they include time, agreements, purpose, and respect. You might decide that you want your own room, which in turn gives you the freedom to invite someone over as your guest. Therefore, you’re likely to find this transit helpful.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — Mercury has just changed to direct motion in the angle of your chart connected to creativity, pleasure and play. So the question here is: what are you doing for fun? There’s plenty of emphasis on work these days, and a new phase of your life opening up that’s based on getting the job done well. Yet you need to do that Leo thing and express the thing you love to do the very most, and in a big way. If you’re fortunate enough to have some time off for the holidays, do the thing you want to do rather than what anyone else might think you should do. You may need to coax yourself into this, given that there’s so much important business to attend to. You will have time for that; and, going forward, you will need to make a special effort to pace yourself, strive for efficiency and, most of all, prioritize.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — It’s time to get serious about what you love to do, and to confront all the obstacles that have stopped you in the past. Start by not taking them personally. Read the story of anyone who actually accomplished something and you’ll notice that, at first, it seemed impossible. What else is worth attempting? Yet the tasks, talent development or ideas before you are not really so daunting. Success is as much about the process of learning your craft as it is about what you finally get done. You have time, and you need to use it well. Don’t be deterred by any setbacks at the beginning of a new phase of your life; keep a lab notebook and learn equally from every modest success, seeming failure or breakthrough. Let everyone and everything be your teacher. Marvel at the beauty of chewing gum packaging and great architecture with equal respect and appreciation.

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — There’s no place like home. We now live in a culture that facilitates doing nearly everything out of the house, especially eating and socializing and, for most people, working. Your solar chart is suggesting that you do everything you can at home. Conserve energy, save money, keep things intimate, and use the beautiful space you’ve created for yourself. This will be an important emphasis of your life for the foreseeable future, and you will be in tune with the times. We’re entering a phase of history when genuine, bona fide community will be essential, and that will begin with small cells of people who actually know one another. This, in turn, relates to the ways you will be called to serve your country in a time of mounting national crisis. Defining your home as your boundary will make you more selective about whom you spend time with, and more likely to use that time meaningfully.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — Though much has changed in the sky during the past week, the elements in your birth sign have remained steady: Mars and Jupiter are working their way into a conjunction (exact on Jan. 6), which looks like some blend of discovery, revelation and orgasm. You’re in a phase of life when you have the full freedom to push this whole seemingly elusive quest for being yourself. Other aspects will gently guide you back to your center if you take things to excess. You’ll have a lot of fun if you use alcohol in moderation (assuming you’re not in recovery; but face it, being drunk is neither creative nor sexy) and if you make conscious and informed decisions (rare enough in humans). That said, whatever you love to do, whatever you’re good at, whatever your passion is, will gradually go from a simmer to a full boil. Use this conjunction well. Cultivate love and forgiveness in your heart, and be impeccably kind to partners, who will be feeling this aspect and whatever it represents manifesting for you.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — Saturn has departed from your sign, and moved on to Capricorn. This concludes a distinct three-year phase of your life, one that had the power of the mythic Saturn return. Over these next few weeks, take it slowly and get used to your new environment. You’re not under the same kinds of restrictions as you were, nor do you have the same boundaries to keep you contained. This means you have more freedom, though it’s worth remembering that most people find actual freedom to be distasteful, frightening and not worth the effort. This is why, over and over again, both individuals and societies drift into situations where they have less and less of the stuff (something currently happening in the United States). By this time, you’ve learned a lot about being your own most important authority. You know that you have to run your own life, and not let circumstances dictate your choices. Take some time and test out your new way of being.

Capricorn Birthdays 2018

A Blessing from the Cosmos

“The Capricorn 2017 Birthday Reading was expansive and mind-blowing, and absolutely on the money in everything. You helped me immeasurably as I change and change and grow, and change some more. What a time!”

— Linsey

Dear Friend and Reader: Last week, your ruling planet Saturn entered your sign — and is now joined by the Sun, Venus and some lesser-known bodies. Some people fear Saturn; but for you its arrival so close to the solstice is a blessing from the cosmos. If you’re someone with a Capricorn Sun, rising sign or Moon, Saturn in your sign the next three years is a reminder that if you set a goal and are willing to work toward it, nothing is out of reach. It can be hard to feel that way in this day and age, but now you have a powerful ally in your corner.

One of your most meaningful tasks for the coming four seasons is defining yourself in a way that’s not dependent upon tribal identity. How exactly do you do that?

Eric will be covering that — along with the opportunities, challenges and essential mission of Saturn in your sign — in your 2018 Capricorn Birthday Reading. He’ll also cover 2018’s other major planetary sign changes in your reading (Uranus into Taurus, your zone of play and creative risk-taking; and Chiron into Aries, your zone of home and the emotional landscape) — plus additional aspects throughout (and beyond) the year that add nuance and offer creative opportunity.

Eric crafts these readings with the best of his life-coaching, cheerleading and problem-solving skills; the sensitivity of his therapy training; his uncanny knack to help you see challenges from a more empowering perspective; and with the kind of everyday, practical inspiration you can use immediately.

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

— Victoria Bouet

You get two 30-minute astrology segments and a separate tarot reading for your year. When you pre-order your Capricorn reading, you secure the lowest price we offer: only $33. This price increases as we near publication, and then it increases again when it’s ready.

Happy Birthday, Capricorn!

Yours & truly,

Amanda Painter

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

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — On Monday Venus joins the Sun, Saturn, Pluto and an unusual point called Quaoar (associated with family patterns and personal creation myths) in your birth sign. You might say this represents the formation of a brand new you, with a whole new mission. At this point of commencement, some basic information will help. First, your mission is to be accountable to yourself. You are responsible for keeping the promises you make to yourself, and you reap the results of your choices. Next, it would be wise of you to keep a close watch on the influence of your family over your choices, your thoughts and your relationships. This influence, of course, is mostly internal, though there are plenty of people still bossed around by their elder relatives well into their 50s and 60s (helicopter parents are nothing new). If that’s happening, it’s time to get a grip, even if you’re much younger. Tribes (of friends) can be just as oppressive. Your life is not about them. It’s about you.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — Many planets have, nearly in unison, entered your most mysterious house in all of astrology: the 12th, which for you is the sign Capricorn. The 12th is so mysterious because it’s like the hidden dimension of the psyche — the secret room behind the bookshelf, the basement below the trapdoor covered by a rug, or the abandoned wing of a massive hotel. More accurately, it’s akin to the commonplace dream of the extra room in one’s home, which, when entered, turns out to be endless. Notably, you’ve had Pluto moving through this realm for nearly a decade, which has been challenging and a little scary. Now, more substantial, directly helpful planets have entered. The result is to grant you a kind of Shamanic quest: not magical powers but rather the necessity to bridge your inner world with your outer one; and to allow your life to be guided by the dreamtime. First and foremost, pay attention to your dreams. Everything else will start to make sense.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — These weeks mark a meaningful, even important, time of transition in your vocation or profession. You have reached a destination, though obviously not a final one, but a real one. It will be necessary to take a few months and evaluate what you’ve accomplished, which means: what you’ve actually changed in your work patterns, your standing in the world, and your talent development. It’s essential that you not take a rapid or slipshod approach to this. You might start with rewriting your resume from scratch, so that you have a list of your accomplishments and can see a story arc. Meanwhile, it’s essential that you look for ways to take some pressure off your need to achieve new things, which I know is a comment you’ll never hear another astrologer make to a Pisces. Rather than coast, hold your ground, work the projects you’ve already begun, and make the most of what you currently have. As you do this, you’ll set some new and very different goals.

Aries (March 20-April 19) — It’s sad but true that the notion of a ‘career’ has been reduced to what you can make a lot of money at, really, really fast. However, while you may be famous for being a bit impatient, that’s not your racket. And planetary movement is offering you something much better: potential for the long-term success of something you genuinely believe in. Under this ethic, you will take this thing that you’re envisioning, and get it started in a small way. Then you’ll refine what you’re doing, and develop your concept, your working methods, your message and your presentation. Then, slowly, you build your reputation, based on the authentic value of what you’re creating; by which I mean the value to the people who encounter your work. Set aside all thoughts of passive income, going viral, making a big splash, or working at arm’s length from your clients. You will be directly involved, and work like a stonemason, fitting every piece of your success into the next.

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — Your life has seemed far more complex than it really is; things are not really so out of hand as you might believe. In fact, as one development after the next (Saturn changing signs, the Sun changing signs, and Mercury going direct) happens over the next few days, you’ll gradually discover that you’ve been keeping on top of things quite nicely. You have a few discoveries to make, particularly regarding shared finances or contractual matters, though that information will help you strengthen your position and put a partnership on more solid ground. Yet that’s just the beginning. Saturn entering an earth sign will help ground you. The overload of energy in Sagittarius the past few months has been slightly more than you thought you could stand, though you’ve held up well. Saturn’s move will help you focus your priorities. It will take some pressure off your most important relationships. You will figure out once again that you’re a stable, ethical person.

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — Your life has been like Penn Station at rush hour for the past couple of months. Everyone and everything has been going this way and that. It’s true that you like to keep busy, but this has taken ‘on the go’ to a whole new level. This week there will be several important shifts. Mercury stationing direct will help you work out a kink in communication, or some other misunderstanding, with a close partner. Saturn changing signs on Tuesday begins an extended phase of your life that will be defined by deepening commitment to your most important goals, particularly financial. In recent years, you’ve had a tense relationship to those who seem to hold power over you, though now that must come to an end. It will be your responsibility to manage your own affairs, to maintain your schedule, and to be your own authority. To the extent that people have any power over you, you must intervene and make sure that becomes a thing of the past.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — This week, among many important developments, Saturn enters your opposite sign Capricorn — your 7th solar house, or the zone of your solar chart that reveals information about your relationships — commencing a phase of your life that lasts to the end of 2020. While this might get less-than-happy predictions from other astrologers, Saturn is the planet associated with Capricorn; which gives it what the old astrologers called dignity. This represents a homecoming for you in your relationships. If things have been one way for a long time, or a very long time, Saturn will present opportunities; not just for progress, but also for you to stabilize your associations with others. More on that soon. As for this week: keep a careful eye and a steady, guiding hand on all work-related matters. Evaluate your priorities carefully, and be prepared to make changes as needed. Amidst all the moving and shaking, there is one very important project you must begin in earnest, or bring to fruition.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — Your solar chart is currently an orgy in an art studio in an airport being broadcast onto the internet with thousands of people watching the paint, passion and airplanes fly randomly, with nobody minding the control tower. By the end of the week, your solar chart looks like a calm but busy office, where everyone is productive, and where creative ideas are welcome and encouraged. The schedule becomes the most important structure, which keeps everything else organized. An aura of chaos will give way to calm order, and a priority being placed on wellbeing. You may not believe such a transformation is possible in just seven days. In truth it will take a little longer, though the groundwork — the revelations, the obvious necessity, and the most basic decisions — are likely to manifest in a very short time. There may be some turbulence in the process; though if you keep your priorities in order (mainly, your wellbeing and your productivity), that will not last long.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — Certain household or family situations that have proven difficult to resolve will unravel this week, and you’ll have much more information to work with. Some pressure comes off, difficult questions find insights if not answers, and it becomes clear that knowledge really is power. For you, personally, it will be helpful if you follow Saturn into your 5th house of art, pleasure and play, and do your thing. If you’re an artist, lock yourself into your studio and paint. If you’re a musician, tune up the thing and remember what it’s for. If you’re into wine, consider that a talent and try something interesting. Whatever you like to do the most, make that happen. Your responsibilities have taken front and center for many moons, and your little kid wants to come out and play. This will be both easier and more meaningful in the months and seasons ahead; and offering yourself to what you love will help you feel the love coming back in your direction. I know for many people, life has been so stressful that we can forget why we’re alive. It’s time to remember.

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — When you dare to love yourself or appreciate yourself, that’s crossing a boundary. We’re trained to live to one side of an invisible line laid down by our predecessors. This is supposed to represent a limit on your bliss, your success, your curiosity or your willingness to try. Mars joining Jupiter in your neighboring sign Scorpio is a reminder that it’s OK to want more, and to stretch and reach for it. Because we’re talking about Mars, you may feel out of character, or like you’re faking it. Don’t worry about that. Part of the adventure is learning how to feel real about going for what you want. For a Libra, consciously experimenting with going out of balance is the way that you learn to tap your inner fire. One thing you can trust is that your foundations are strong. They’re strong enough to build on, and strong enough to accommodate your desire to make changes. Practice not needing anyone’s approval or permission. Don’t file a flight plan; just fly.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — You’re on an inner quest, burning with the desire to discover yourself. This works two ways. Way one is that you go out of your way to seek and find. Way two is you raise your awareness level and notice what comes to you, or what’s already available in your environment. I suggest you depend more on Way 2, because there’s just so much right within reach, and much more coming. You just don’t need to try that hard, or exert any extra effort, other than paying attention to what’s within walking distance, right in the house, on your desk or in your notebook. There’s so much abundance in your life, particularly spiritual and creative but also of resources, that you will surprise yourself with what you discover. Much of the struggle of life can be resolved by engaging yourself with life. Questions about your finances can be resolved by getting into the flow of productivity: not just what you do, but what you make.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — Most of this week’s astrology is focused on your sign, and there’s quite a bit. Three interesting points: Saturn leaves Sagittarius after nearly three years, Mercury stations direct, and there’s a New Moon conjunct the Galactic Center. All of these symbols describe renewal, release, and expansion. It’s as if you’re being set free to experience a taste of your future. This will happen whether you plan it or not. It doesn’t matter where you are or what you’re doing; you will see evidence that your environment is changing. Notice who is around you. Notice the opportunities that emerge. Notice your impressions of the weather. Celebrate the most basic elements of your life and your surroundings. As Saturn changes signs, you may notice that a certain shaky, quaky feeling goes away and you discover that you’re made of more solid stuff than you previously thought. This will help you focus your plans and place emphasis on keeping your commitments, whether to yourself or to others.

Capricorn Birthdays 2018

How Will You Harness Saturn?

“I continue to believe that setting goals and boundaries combined with recognizing my limits, because I thought about how I could harness Saturn, has made this the most transformative time of my life. I felt a ton of Yes energy in your words, thank you!”

— Jennifer N.

Dear Friend and Reader:

Do you tend to think of Saturn as representing the parent who stands in your way and says “No”? You can avoid that disempowering feeling by making friends with Saturn. That is, by taking on the role of authority and responsibility in your own life so that you can enjoy the benefits, growth and even freedom Saturn can grant.

If you’re someone with a Capricorn Sun, rising sign or Moon, you have this opportunity on your doorstep: Saturn enters Capricorn on Dec. 19. Eric will be covering the opportunities, challenges and essential mission of Saturn in your sign for the next three years or so in your 2018 Capricorn Birthday Reading.

But that’s not all: Chiron moving into Aries and Uranus moving into your fellow earth sign Taurus will also bring important shifts to your inner landscape and to the world around you. Yet those are only the major planetary sign changes that are happening soon; Eric also homes in on the subtler astrology you’ll be navigating in the coming year.

“Your passion, deep care and love always shine through; and you have the gift of all great teachers, of making one feel that one is being personally addressed, respected and taken care of.”

— Liz Glanville

All of this is offered in a pro-quality audio-recording bundle: two segments of astrology (approximately 30 minutes each), and then a tarot reading for your year that will be ready a little later. When you pre-order your Capricorn reading, you secure the lowest price we offer: only $33 for the entire three-part reading. This price increases as we near publication, and then it increases again when it’s ready.

You get some of the clearest, most nuanced and jargon-free personal astrology available on the internet. Eric crafts these readings with the best of his life-coaching, cheerleading and problem-solving skills; the sensitivity of his therapy training; his uncanny knack to help you see challenges from a more empowering perspective; and with the kind of everyday, practical inspiration you can use immediately.

How will you harness Saturn to make the coming year one of your most dynamic to date?

Yours & truly,

Amanda Painter

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

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — Saturn entering your birth sign on Tuesday is the moment you’ve been waiting for, though that will be easier to discern once it’s happened. How this looks in the symbolism of astrology is that a hidden or missing aspect of yourself returns to you. Once you figure out that it’s back, you realize it always was there; and you can’t figure out how you missed it all this time. Saturn does have a way of pushing changes, though it also brings a sense of stability. The two work together: it helps to have a strong core when you want to rearrange your life. This will be in contrast to the kinds of changes you’ve experienced during the long, long spell that Pluto has been in your sign — that feeling of having your growth and evolution pushed onto you, and seeming to be out of your control. Saturn brings that back into balance. Rather than push ahead, though, you might spend some time cleaning up some of the debris from the demolition process of Pluto, and sort out what you want to keep and what you want to toss.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — Most contemporary astrologers use Uranus as the planet associated with Aquarius, without mentioning that the original planet, from the days of Aristotle, was Saturn. (If you understand Saturn, you will understand Aquarius and vice versa.) This week, Saturn changes signs, entering the other realm it’s responsible for, your neighboring sign Capricorn. Also called your 12th solar house, this angle of your chart is about your interior world, and Saturn’s entry here describes an extended phase of claiming your inner knowledge. There’s also something here about negotiating a new relationship with the fears of your ancestors, and their psychological baggage. Most of the spiritual challenges you face predate you by generations. Your life will be easier if you sort out what is theirs from what is yours; this would include most of your fears and your anxieties; any guilt you may experience; and a certain rigid quality that you just don’t need and don’t want. As with yoga, rock climbing or physical therapy, this will require you to stretch, and you will get the benefits of flexibility.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Events this week will remind you how much you’ve accomplished these past three years of Saturn moving across your solar 10th house: the one that’s about career, reputation, responsibility and success. You cannot really go wrong with Saturn in the 10th, though the combination of Saturn and Sagittarius is not necessarily easy. This was not about having the Midas touch but rather that of a carpenter, architect or engineer. You owe it to yourself to recall carefully what your life was about in 2014 and early 2015: what you were doing, how you were doing it, what goals you set for yourself and how you thought you might accomplish them. Notice the differences between how you related to your work way back then, and how you relate to it now. While these three years may not have been an easy run, you succeeded at making something that’s heavier than air fly through the air. And you’ve arrived at a new destination, and are standing on solid ground.

Aries (March 20-April 19) — You may not be sure what you believe. And that’s just fine — belief is a substitute for knowledge; it blocks awareness, and suppresses curiosity. Believe something and your mind goes into hibernation. You need rather to stay awake right now. You have a point of orientation, though, which is desire. You may be experiencing a psychedelic flow of plans, aspirations, ideas and concepts; there’s something, or someone, that you want. That’s the place to focus yourself inwardly. Your desire is more than a hope, a wish or a whim. It’s a potent focal point of your growth, something to be eminently honest with yourself about. That honesty is your teacher. This is not a matter of whether you get what you want. The real information comes through in how you feel about what you want. Note any guilt or other conflict, and then observe how you work with those feelings.

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — Mars has entered Scorpio, the zone of your chart that describes your relationships. Among the possible experiences are how strongly people feel about you, whether feelings of passion, desire, admiration or distaste. You cannot make other people change their emotional makeup, though you have to adapt to the psychic weather. How do you respond when someone expresses intense feelings for you? Are you comfortable with being wanted? Do you find it offensive or aggressive, even when it’s not intended that way? Another way to consider Mars is the world holding a mirror to you. For example, you may see how you respond reflected back at you as that same emotion. Take something as a compliment and it will seem complimentary. Take it as an insult and it will seem insulting. It’s vital that you understand the degree to which you mediate the nature of your reality. You are the interpreter. You give everything and everyone their meaning.

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — You’re likely to be feeling overwhelmed, with the world — and your world — going through more alterations than a dress shop during prom week. There would seem to be no way you can control your own life, much less the flow of events. Yet there is something else you can do, which is practice your self-awareness in the midst of so many changes. You can prioritize, which would rightly begin with focusing on the single most important item on your agenda. You can bring something valuable to all of your human interactions, and infuse with genuine respect every last contact with every single person you meet. As you do this, you will notice there’s a pattern to the flow of events. If you can maintain a positive attitude and go with the flow, the miracle of synchronicity will become a stronger presence. We live in extraordinarily chaotic times; and must use seemingly advanced, though in truth basic, spiritual methods to navigate our lives. Love is the answer, though when you offload all the baggage, that means a friendly spirit of trust.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Things must be really exciting at work — yet equally meaningful. Remember, and remember always: your work is about meaning, by which I mean the essence of your spiritual life can (and indeed must) be found in the work that you do. Work is not a separate thing for you, and if you’re looking forward to 5 pm when you can leave and resume your real life, you’re burning up your engine. In any event, you can at this moment find actual, even profound, meaning in your daily activities; and if you catch even a trace of that, you will have additional clues as to how to go deeper. Remember it’s not the activity that you do that counts, but rather the people you work with and, ultimately, whom you are serving with your precious mind, time and life force energy. Whatever you are doing, important information about your purpose and how to fulfill it is coming through right now, in a once-in-a-lifetime fashion.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — It would be helpful to notice, and to admit, the extent that your emotional life is grounded in your sexuality. This is neither inherently “good” nor “bad” but rather a fact of biology, which you can use and experience any way you like. At the moment it would seem like you’re working out some interesting, even exciting, creative and/or erotic kinks, though these things are not an abstraction. They’re not external or extrinsic to you; they are you. It would be truly helpful if you focus your energy on self-expression, and give yourself a vent for everything you’re experiencing inwardly. You need some excitement, you need some feeling of taking a risk, and you need to see some result of your creative power. You could have great fun on a paintball range, though you might choose something more sophisticated. For example, a notebook and oil crayons; though potentially only in shades of red, yellow and orange, to match the fiery nature of your astrology.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — Monitor family matters closely, though remember there’s only so much you can do — and events will run their course. If you pay attention and maintain communication with specific people you care the most about, you will find your opportunities to intervene — and do no harm. That’s what you’re looking for, though few consider this, or believe it exists. Yet if you run this idea through your mind continually, you will remember. At every opportunity to assist someone, consider the potential damage. If you determine that assisting someone will hurt neither the person you’re helping nor you, nor any third party, then you’re clear to offer assistance or respond to a request for help. There are many facts in whatever family or household scenario you’re experiencing that have yet to come to light. So it’s better if you reserve judgment and, instead, be a detached observer. Naturally this is easier said than done, especially if you’re directly involved; but it’s not impossible.

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — Money is almost always a factor of motivation. Commerce comes second; one’s drive comes first. You have the drive, though at the moment, commerce is a little wonky, as is anything you might express in language. Therefore, make your plans, and plan your schemes, and then give things a few weeks to settle down before enacting them. Between now and then, you will still need to participate in the human race. The way to do that the most smoothly is to keep all of your messages positive. Compliment people for what they do well, and skip any shade of criticism. Then, don’t be surprised if people take a compliment personally (i.e., they think it’s an insult), though at least you cannot be really accused of saying something negative. Suspend all forms of sarcasm. Leave that to the professionals on Comedy Central. All of this said: over the next week or so, you may encounter the occasional excellent, short-term, immediate or low-risk business opportunity. Just read everything carefully, and beware of supposedly easy money.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — Mars has finally entered your sign. That must feel good. Suddenly you’re no longer wandering around in a sense of anxious potential but rather are able to take some action toward your goals. However, there’s something of a mash-up happening in Sagittarius, your sign of financial affairs (including what may be the most complex Mercury retrograde ever); and, given that, the first thing to do is to know where you stand. That means know your bank balances, know what bill is due on what day and, as Peter Gabriel said, know your plastic from your cash. For now, it would be wise to indulge in things that don’t cost much money, and there are plenty. Mars in Scorpio is passionate and curious, qualities that you can embody. You don’t need to precede an erotic experience with an expensive date. You don’t need to travel to China for fun, when there’s plenty within 50 or five miles of your door. (I don’t mean to sound like your great aunt, but the $5 or $10 cup of coffee is just plain ridiculous.)

Sagittarius Astrology Reading by Eric Francis is Ready!

Dear Friend of Planet Waves:

This weekend, I completed the astrology portion of the Sagittarius reading. I wanted to make sure it was recorded before Mercury stationed retrograde in your sign, and before the Full Moon in your opposite sign.

We’re in an astonishing moment globally, challenging though it is — though, for Sagittarius, it’s particularly amazing. Saturn is set to leave your sign. Mercury will be retrograde for the next three weeks, highlighting the Saturn-Pholus-Galactic Core conjunction.

Eric Francis.

This is rock-and-roll astrology, and I’ve done a reading to match the vibrant, growth-oriented and downright beautiful quality of your charts.

We have two astrology sessions for you right now. In the first, I describe the process of Saturn in Sagittarius, and what Mercury retrograde is suggesting you do, in preparation for Saturn’s change of signs.

I also talk about why Sagittarius is an utterly unusual sign, containing two deep-space points that can serve as a direct connection to source. I also talk about the relationship of Chiron to Sagittarius, which describes how to harness this energy.

In the second section, I look forward: to the sign changes of Saturn, Chiron and Uranus, which take hold between now and your next birthday. These three sign changes take us beyond the Uranus square Pluto era (2011-2015) and into the next distinct phase of astrology — a short but powerful one that will peak in 2020 (the Saturn conjunct Pluto era).

This is fresh, alive astrology that’s easy to follow. I am at my best as a motivational speaker, wherein it’s my role to make your own potential compelling to you.

You can get the reading at the current order price of $44. In a month or so, your tarot reading will follow along.

The reading includes many resources, such as articles relevant to your astrology that will provide helpful backstory, and your 2017 written reading from The Book of Your Life.

(Yes, we are over-delivering here, though the moment calls for it.)

Get instant access now!

With love, your friendly neighborhood astrologer —

P.S. If you’ve never listened to one of my audio readings, you’re invited to check out last year’s Sagittarius reading as a gift. It’s a great way to review your last year during this Mercury retrograde phase, and prepare to make the most of your new reading.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — The astrology in your sign isn’t just the magic teacup ride. It’s not the double-loop roller coaster. It’s not the fun house or the tunnel of love. It’s the whole darned amusement park, in all sincerity, outstripping anything I’ve ever seen (and Sagittarius, for whatever reason, always puts on a fantastic show). However, two elements stand out. Venus is in your sign, which is providing you with resources, charm and a blessing from the goddess. And Saturn has just cleared its conjunction to the Galactic Core, and is about to enter Capricorn. This is the culmination of a major phase of your life. Mercury retrograde is calling you to review the last three years carefully, to consider what you’ve learned, and to spot anything unresolved and clear it up. Then, prepare to plunge forward into the unknown, that favorite haunt of Sagittarius. You were born for adventure. Your mind is big enough to wrap around the whole world and a good bit more. Stand your full height, and light your flaming arrow.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — I wish I could convey the sheer power, light, strangeness and mystery of all that’s happening in your chart (see Sagittarius for a description). All of this is occurring in your 12th solar house: the one that’s behind a scrim, almost where you cannot see it. But you can certainly feel it. Among the figures in your 12th is Saturn, the planet associated with Capricorn, and a good portion of the solar system, all at once. This might feel like being pregnant with quintuplets who have learned to play volleyball. However, the thing you’re going to give birth to is Saturn, which will penetrate the veil and emerge into your full awareness in just over a week. That’s another way of saying you will soon see all that was concealed. You will begin to experience all that was lurking in potential. You will begin a most remarkable three-year journey of coming to terms with yourself. Saturn, often mistaken for that which is stuck or inflexible, is one of the most dependable agents of change in all of astrology.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — Mars has now entered the leadership angle of your chart, joining Jupiter (the bringer of knowledge and expansion) and Vesta (the goddess of service and devotion). This is a calling. I don’t know whether you’re feeling it; or, if you are, whether you’re counting it as something real. It most certainly is. Your job is to bring an organizing principle to the swirling chaos of the world. Define one purpose, and let everything organize itself around that. Persuade with a blend of one-third emotional appeal and two-thirds psychology. Set the example of showing up every day, on time, all day. The very essence of Aquarius is being the sign of the people. Whether this is for friendly, socially progressive causes, or lock-step ideological purposes, is up to the person wielding the energy. Just remember, you’re depicted in the zodiac holding an urn of water. Right now, people are thirsty for ethics, for love and for sincere leadership.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — You may feel like you’re on a ride you cannot get off. Are you having fun? Are you being productive? Are you accomplishing interesting things? How are you getting along with people? Is respect a distinction of your life? Do you get along with people in leadership positions over you? Are you dependable? Go over these questions and you’ll have an assessment of how you’re doing with all this astonishing activity in Sagittarius, the success and accountability angle of your solar chart. Above all else, you must be your own master. You must be your own timekeeper. Your job is to set the quality standard of your work, and do your utmost to live up to it. You’ve come through a three-year program (almost the length of time to earn a Bachelor’s degree) of Saturn working its way across the top of your solar chart. This has bestowed you with the power of manifestation. You have indeed built something, a kind of life vehicle. Oh, the places you’ll go.