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

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

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

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

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

Leo, Virgo Birthday Readings Complete

Dear Friend of Planet Waves:

If what we’re seeing in the wake of the Aug. 21 total solar eclipse is any indication of how influential it was, astrology is alive and kicking in your personal world. I’ve spent the last couple of days finishing the Leo and Virgo birthday readings, and I want you to know they’re available.

They are also somewhat late, though this has been a work ethic issue: I don’t do this kind of sensitive reading when I’m in any way stressed, unrested, or distracted. That time finally arrived Friday and Saturday, and these readings are now available.

You may view the glyph key here.

We are in the midst of extraordinary astrology: we’re living in the wake of so much that’s happened, so much that is happening now, and so much coming up. You need all the information you can get.

Having access to sensitive and accurate astrological keys is a direct advantage. You know the psychic weather when you know the astrology. I work in both the personal and the transpersonal, describing certain inner developments in your life, as well as developments in the world around you — and then I describe where the two meet.

I work in human language, using astro-lingo only as necessary. My message is designed to be both positive and informative: while I’m a pretty good astrologer, I am an even better motivational speaker. I believe in your potential, and I am honored and happy to offer you the keys to realizing your personal gifts.

We are, as well, living through extraordinarily trying times. It’s not easy to be alive right now, but if you can keep your awareness up, and stay a little bit above the fray, and look toward the future, these are indeed brilliant and challenging and amazing times to engage fully with life.

Because these readings are being delivered late, we’re going to keep the pre-order price of $44 for a while. You may get your Leo reading here, or your Virgo reading here. These are especially poignant for your rising sign, as my emphasis is on the houses.

Both include original new music by Vision Quest. You may listen to our live stream here.

We are also offering pre-order on the Libra reading, which I reckon will be done pretty soon — probably within a few days after the equinox.

Speaking of, I mention in Virgo that I’ve recently published an article in The Mountain Astrologer called It’s All in the Houses. This is an informative, easy-to-follow article that will open up your astrological thinking. The way that I can do these readings for you so accurately is that I understand the houses, or at least I sincerely strive to. I explain how that works in the article, which is free to anyone. If you want to take this deeper, we do offer a class by the same name.

Thank you for being a customer of Planet Waves, and for doing your part to make the world a friendlier, warmer and more intelligent place.

With love, your astrologer,

P.S. If you missed In the Shadow of the Moon, you may access all 12 signs here, or single serving signs here.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Virgo Birthdays 2017:

Find Your Passion for Growth

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

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

Dear Reader with Virgo Sun, Rising or Moon:

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

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

On Sept. 5, you had the unique experience of your ruling planet, Mercury, stationing direct in the same cryptic, hidden-away section of your chart where the total solar eclipse occurred on Aug. 21. This Wednesday, Sept. 20, brings a powerful Virgo New Moon directly opposite Chiron.

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

Eric gets into all of this and more in your 2017-18 Virgo Birthday Reading. Created to help you steer through the next 12 months and beyond, Eric presents the two astrology segments (at least 30 minutes each) and tarot reading in accessible, inviting language. He offers motivation and inspiration for all the challenges and opportunities you may encounter in your intimate relationships, family structure, career, creativity, spiritual and sexual healing and much more.

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

— Shelley Stearns

How will you activate your potential and passion to grow and become? You can start by ordering your Virgo Birthday Reading — recently published and currently at just $44 for some of the clearest, most immediately useful astrology you can find on the internet.

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

May Mercury smile upon you in all that you do.

Yours & truly,

Amanda Painter

Planet Waves Astrology Editor

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

This is a unique year for you, Leo. The biggest events, of course, were the recent total solar eclipse in Leo and its companion lunar eclipse in your relationship house (Aquarius). But that pair of events was only the beginning — and Eric designs each Birthday Reading to cover all your most pivotal astrology well into next year.

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

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

Your reading is now priced at $44 and the first part is currently available for immediate access; so you’ll want to order your 2017 Leo Reading very soon — definitely before the price increases again. This reading is designed to work for anyone with Leo Sun, Leo rising and even Leo Moon — and makes an amazing gift.

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

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

Virgo Birthdays 2017:

Find Your Passion for Growth

"If you’re getting the message to grow and to become, find your passion for growth. Passion means feeling, beauty, angst, love, confusion, pain and discovery: the things you discover in every meaningful endeavor."
— Eric Francis Coppolino in the 2017 Book of Your Life reading for Virgo

Dear Reader with Virgo Sun, Rising or Moon:

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

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

On Sept. 5, you had the unique experience of your ruling planet, Mercury, stationing direct in the same cryptic, hidden-away section of your chart where the total solar eclipse occurred on Aug. 21.

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

Eric will get into all of this and more in your upcoming 2017-18 Virgo Birthday Reading. Created to help you steer through the next 12 months and beyond, Eric presents the two astrology segments (at least 30 minutes each) and tarot reading in accessible, inviting language. He’ll offer motivation and inspiration for all the challenges and opportunities you may encounter in your intimate relationships, family structure, career, creativity, spiritual and sexual healing and much more.

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

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

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

May Mercury smile upon you in all that you do.

Yours & truly,

Amanda Painter
Planet Waves Astrology Editor

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Virgo Birthdays 2017:

Find Your Passion for Growth

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

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

Dear Reader with Virgo Sun, Rising or Moon:

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

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

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

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

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

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

— Alison

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

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

— Shelley Stearns

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

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

May Mercury smile upon you in all that you do.

Yours & truly,

Amanda Painter

Planet Waves Astrology Editor

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

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

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

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

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

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

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