Aries (March 20-April 19) — If you think friendly thoughts, you will see friends everywhere. If you’re thinking darker and more suspicious thoughts, you might see conspiracies around you. There are two things going on: one is that these days, your thoughts are powerful projectors of your reality. Experiment with this: as you change your thoughts, your reality will change. You might need to convince yourself to try this for the sake of the experiment. The other phenomenon is the sense that all people and events are somehow interconnected. This might manifest as making the discovery that people you meet already know people you’re connected to; you might experience other synchronicities that reveal the extent to which the world you see is the projection of your own mind. The beauty of this discovery is that it reveals how much influence you have over your own life.

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — You may get the feeling that others are demanding more than you can give. But what are they really asking for? Seen one way, it’s a sacrifice of some kind; seen another way, you’re in a situation that’s calling for you to rise to the occasion of your own maturity. Growth presents challenges, and those are worth the effort if, on the other end, you collect the benefits. What you’re experiencing now is indeed about receiving the advantages of previous personal development projects. You merely need to be the best person you already are. This means seeing yourself as equal to any task, and worthy of the trust that people invest in you. If you see ‘authority figures’ as people from whom you can learn, and who facilitate your growth, you will take the pressure off of everyone and have more fun.

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — Mercury, your personal planet, is about to move into Scorpio. The psychological insight offered by this sign will help you make some sense out of people or situations that were previously not quite adding up. You’ll also have more tolerance of things being out of balance in that characteristically 21st-century way. The thing to remember is the human factor. People have egos, and they tend to be oversensitive, just like you get sometimes. When they’re in that condition, what they need is empathy. This might come as recognition for what they’ve accomplished, even though you might perceive this as excessive pride or childishness. Humor people. Tell them what great work they’re doing and they will be much more cooperative with the great work that you are doing.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Nearly all the energy coming at you involves sex in some form or another. That might include desire, love, lust, attachment or attraction. And, because many people have some issues around sex, a diversity of shadow emotions are possible — meaning the things that are difficult to acknowledge or understand, such as shame, guilt and repulsion. How you experience these things depends on your state of mind. We live in times when the seemingly logical first thing to do is to get offended (rather than to laugh at something). You have better options open than that. Given that laughing or taking offense is not necessarily appropriate, you might try talking with whomever else is involved, by which I mean speaking and listening alternately till you gain some understanding. You might make a discovery, such as what initially seemed weird or offensive turns you on like nothing before.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — You need to find some level ground with the world, a place where people don’t seem to have all the advantages over you. I would propose that will come from taking care of yourself first. Center your life around your physical and emotional wellbeing, starting with rest, water and some time to yourself. This will help you settle into your body and your feelings, which will in turn give you more confidence. It’s true that you have many demands on your energy and much work to do. In order to be fully present and to offer yourself in service, you need to have all your resources available — to you. Over the next few days the logic of this will seem more apparent, and you’ll naturally go in that direction. Just remember, this is not at cross-purposes to all that you want to get done. Rather, it’s the essential ingredient.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — As Mercury makes its way into Scorpio, you may find it’s easier to talk about all those difficult-to-express things. I don’t just mean complaints and issues. I mean the deep secrets you want to express, and the desires you have not articulated. Begin with yourself, getting it out into essays or your journal. Then do the unthinkable: share your writing with others. You might even start there, and say exactly what you want to say to everyone you want to say it to. While you might use some discretion among people you work with (where there may be official policies in place), everyone else is open season. This does involve taking a risk, and that feeling of being on the edge is the same feeling as speaking your truth, with love.

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — You seem to be grappling with self-esteem, but really it looks more like self-judgment. Address the second and the first will take care of itself. You will feel better if you depend less on external influences for reassurance. You don’t need people to tell you that you’re great, and you don’t need to be better than anyone; take a break comparing yourself to others and you’ll feel more centered. It matters not whether anyone is ‘better’ or ‘worse’ in any way; the mere gesture of comparison puts you at a disadvantage. When you enter that state of mind, you lose. You are your own exemplar; set the example for yourself. It’s possible to accept yourself for who you are, and consciously engage in learning and growth at the same time.

Staying Power: Your Scorpio Birthday Reading

“A devoted follower of your work since 2008, and a supporting member now for more than a year, I feel your readings are spot on so I keep coming back.”

— Lesley (ScorpioX3)

Customers like Lesley have good reason to keep coming back. Eric’s insightful readings penetrate into ‘the good stuff’ — deeply enough yet accessibly and enjoyably enough that you can draw on them potentially for years into the future.

That’s why you’ll want to get your pincers round your 2016-17 Scorpio Birthday Reading now, while it’s still at the lowest pre-order price, and secure Eric’s gift to you — for the approaching solar year and beyond.

Mars and Pluto, your sign’s two rulers, are currently in a high-power conjunction in Capricorn. Can you feel it? Ready for some assistance in handling all that energy?

The reading is released in two stages: first comes about an hour of audio astrology in two parts; second, the video Tarot interpretation. All for only $19.97 for a limited time, and in a format you can access over and over — like an audio-video map into yourself.

Note:  The whole package will become available in two stages, and the price will increase incrementally along the way — early purchase gives you all of it for the best deal. Pre-order your current 2016-17 reading today, and see if you don’t want to stick around for more.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — Take the slow, steady approach in business or professional affairs. Remember that the web of life is woven one relationship at a time. This spans from the seemingly most minor or trivial associations to the most profound and meaningful. There is less difference between them than you may think. For maximum benefit, treat them all the same: with the utmost respect. When you encounter people, remember that on some level everyone is dealing with pain, loss and disappointment. It’s not that you have to coddle people; rather, be as gentle as you can, and have the fewest expectations. This will cultivate natural humility: rich or poor, young or old, happy or sad, we’re all in the same boat. Slow down with each person until you can feel the common ground that you share. Listen and notice. You will make some unusually beautiful discoveries.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — Remember, you have your options open. You might start to feel like you’re in a pinch, financially, emotionally or otherwise. Should that happen, stop and take a wider view of your life. Make a list of your possible choices for how to handle your situation. It’s likely that you’re missing something obvious. You might seek the input of someone who knows you well and can help you see some of the potentials that might elude you. They exist, and going through this exercise might result in your seeing some truly excellent possibilities you would have missed otherwise. At least one of them will involve working with a few other people, or seeking resources through your network of contacts. What you need already exists. It might even be in the same room as you are right now.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — People already notice you. You don’t have to go out of your way. They already know you do good work; you don’t have to impress them, and you don’t have to impress yourself. If you’re going to be proud of your achievements, make it the mild, laid-back kind of pride, like sitting in a chair and knowing you’re a good dancer. The key idea here is understatement. If you show off your skills or talents, that’s likely to backfire. Focus on getting the job done well and on time, and forget about recognition and even about the money. Put everything you have into quality and devotion to your work for its own sake. If you’re feeling insecure, this may be more of a challenge; though you have what it takes. Insecurity can be a fine inspiration to do what needs to be done. A measure of uncertainty will help you to be thorough and keep an eye out for your mistakes.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — You’re being offered the help you need; are you open to receiving it? Consider that for a moment, and then let’s go a step further. If for some reason you’re not open to assistance, you might consider why that is, and whether it’s actually the correct position to take. You don’t really need that much help. You might need some companionship, though even that is minimal. Then consider the other possibility: that you would benefit from being more open to assistance. What you and those around you must know is that it’s not really going to benefit you if it’s not on your own terms. Be polite about this. Get an understanding of what’s being offered, and select the elements that you need. Then establish a clear understanding with whoever is involved. In your calmest, most relaxed mental posture, you must be the one who takes charge.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — While you’re taking care of day-to-day business, keep some focus on your medium- and long-range plans. If you don’t have plans, come up with some ideas. You need a vision that you can grow into — one that’s either not limited by your current commitments, or which extends them to a totally new place. Then, it’ll help if you act on your ideas as soon as possible. Take some tangible step in the direction that you want to go. If you experience any resistance, keep going, a little each day if necessary. One of the themes of your chart for the foreseeable future is leadership, and the most important form of that is self-leadership. Think of this as a series of commitments that you make to yourself, and then you fulfill them. And keep going.

Aries (March 20-April 19) — You must keep a cool head. This is true in every facet of your life, though let’s start with personal situations. It would appear that a partner is in a space where they’re easily triggered. The only way to handle this is to keep yourself in balance, even if others are finding that a challenging state to maintain for themselves. As for the professional aspect of your life, you seem to be making progress toward a challenging goal that you’ve been working toward for a long time. However, you will need to work with the powers that be, rather than against them. This is not the time to be rebellious; it’s the time to be what’s known as politic: mind your manners, offer your opinion politely, and make sure you’ve listened for a while before you do that. The very worst thing you could do is to get pushy, as it’ll be interpreted as aggressive. Rather, focus your goals, work with your allies, and gently persist at what you want to accomplish.

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — You may be in a tight spot emotionally, but you won’t be for long. The past few weeks have been an emotional time, though you have moved through the territory consciously. Do not be deterred if you seem to run up against one final challenge as you move into a new place. You don’t need to fight or defend yourself; just be yourself and do what is right for you. It would help if you admitted that you may want togetherness and you may love to be bonded, but you also want your freedom. This is a difficult position for many people to honor about themselves. Others would do it more willingly if you were to step up to that simple fact of your existence: you cannot be held down. You’re not only capable of profound commitment; you love it. Yet within that space of devotion you need room to move, to expand, and to explore new dimensions of your reality. Step one: keep your sense of humor handy.

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — You may be feeling scattered, but creatively you’re in rare form. To get the flow of ideas going requires a little chaos, and your life certainly qualifies at the moment. You’ll benefit from channeling your energy into productive activities (making art in any form, imbibing art in any form, passion, sex, etc.) rather than merely emoting, or talking about things. In fact it would make sense to skip the part about telling people what you’re planning to do, and instead get down to business. Meanwhile, your astrology suggests you pay special attention to anything involving shared finance or matters of taxation. Get second opinions, sleep a few nights on any question and, most of all, read before you sign.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Work for a negotiated settlement in any conflict you may be involved with. There is a matter of power involved; you have some, and other people have some. Yet you don’t want any situation to come to blows. Rather, everyone needs to respect where the other is coming from, and the resources that they have available; and you’re the person who is going to set that tone. By all means be strong and clear, and assert what you think is right. That, however, is different from being confrontational. Not everyone will agree with this philosophy, and some people may believe force is the best approach. In that case I recommend working between three options. One: delay. Do not engage, or do so only minimally. Two: be clever, exerting as little energy as possible. Rather, look for opportunities to strategically shift the situation. Three: do the thing you do best and keep things on the human level: kids, dogs, cats, football, lunch, etc. Take it slowly — this will blow over soon enough.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — Don’t let anyone’s scrambled ideas about life scramble your mind, or your emotions for that matter. It will help if you recognize when this is happening. It may have been happening quite a bit over the weekend. The best thing you can do is to stop communicating with people who view their role as being to mess with you in some way. The other best thing you can do is to keep your sense of humor. Nearly everything has a funny side, and you’ll be at an advantage if you keep your mind there rather than on some other aspect. The truth has a way of coming through when humor is present. It’s as if seriousness blocks the sensitivity and perceptiveness needed to actually discern reality. Notice the way that your experience changes as your perception changes. The world you see is the one you contain in your mind. Knowing that, and using it, gives you extraordinary influence.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — You have a perfectly gorgeous opportunity to let go of some creative and sexual inhibitions. That story in a moment; let’s go to the background first. That would be self-esteem, the foundation of psychic health. You are discovering that in new ways now. You have some added substance to work with, like a car that’s got clean oil and a fresh tank of gas. That gives you some extra mojo when it comes to expressing yourself in daring ways. Through the past five years or so, you’ve been gradually loosening up your previously inhibited approach to life. A series of jolts, moments of liberation and creative breakthroughs have led you to the understanding that there is more to life than you had imagined. Now you get to make some of that real. The way you will do this is by stepping out and asserting your desires. You may have help with that — and clearly people will be interested — but remember, this is about you, not them.

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — You’re burning off some of your deepest insecurities. That’s a process that might make heat and smoke, meaning you might feel your fears in some raw form before you decide you don’t need them anymore. Therefore I suggest being prepared for some emotional intensity — which you would do best to be open about with people you share your living space with. If you’re going through something, tell them you are. This will serve as insurance against anyone taking anything personally when it’s not. You need some room to process your emotions. More than anything, in the grand scheme of things, you need room to feel what you feel. You need emotional independence. That’s good because by one reading, others are either ready to give you space, or you’re not interested in sharing too much space with them. You may learn a lot from people who grate on you a bit, and you’re entitled to take them in limited doses. In any event, you need a room of your own.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — Yours is one of the most perceptive signs. I find it great fun to listen to the observation of the world from the Scorpio point of view, because it’s always seeking insight into subtle motives. Now is the time to understand your own motives. And it’s time to honor the power of your words, which is substantial. Your words have so much energy that they will penetrate deeper than you think, and have more impact than you may imagine. If you aspire to write, this is the time to have a breakthrough; that is, to have the feeling of actually, really writing and coming across. Reading will also benefit you now. If there is some subject you’re trying to get to the bottom of, now is the time. Just be clear, and gentle, and sit on things for a day or three before you publish or push ‘send’.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — This is an excellent time to expand your social network, whether for fun or to spread your influence in some way. In either case, your astrology says keep it friendly, and make your contacts with people in person as much as possible. You want them to see your eyes and your face; you want to see them as humans, and notice how they carry themselves and dress and what their voice sounds like. This whole business of everything happening on the internet is not really helping people. The real basis of trust is in-person relating; and if the association must be long distance, choose telephone rather than text message or email. You’re looking for actual connection, and you have the ability to create it. Let people feel who you are. Charm them with your friendly, positive approach to life, and look for the ways you may work and create.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — If you’re wondering what the right thing to do is, it’s the thing that brings people together rather than driving them apart. That means you, personally, being closer to people, rather than deeming anyone an enemy. Everyone you meet has the potential to help you grow, and you have the same potential for them. The current astrology is focused on your sign, and it is hot, it’s aggressive and it’s deep. That represents how you may be feeling: on the list of possibilities is anger coming to the surface, or some sense of loss, and a need to heal some wound and move beyond the past. What I suggest you remember is that when you clear all these other feelings out of the way, the underlying issue is connecting with yourself more deeply. That means being honest about who and what you want. It also means being honest about what you would do if you were to align your desire with your soul’s mission.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — There’s that old joke about the person buying the hotdog who says, “Make me one with everything,” then she asks for her change, and the vendor says, “Change comes from within.” Now, your current astrology might not be feeling so Buddhist. You might have thoughts and emotions surfacing associated with matters you thought were long past. You might be feeling some fear or panic. You might be having some unusually racy, deep or fiery erotic thoughts and desires. It’s all part of the same process, and though not all of this feels good (though some of it might), think of it as previously ‘unconscious’ material coming to the surface of your mind. In doing so, it relieves pressure. That, in turn, helps you clear your psychic and emotional bodies. Take the ride, be aware, and let yourself feel rather than stuffing your feelings down. From there, it’s a short hop to the joke about the hotdog vendor.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Your astrology continues to be high-impact; that is, your impact on the world around you. You have a lot of responsibility focused on you. It’s therefore vital that you maintain your spin control. You are visible, even if you’re not a public person. Your example is being taken as a form of leadership even if you don’t say a word. It may seem that with so much going on, you must neglect something — though I propose you take a different approach. Know your priorities, and invest in all of them, but give your top-ranked agenda items more energy. Make sure that among those items on top of your list include things that are for work, and things entirely for pleasure. Most importantly, make sure that every day you make some investment in the future. It might be jotting down a thought, expanding an idea, reading about something you want to do, or making contacts in a new field of interest. We live in wildly unbalanced times. Respond by maintaining a balance and, as the saying goes in the game Monopoly, building evenly.

Aries (March 20-April 19) — The big break in one’s career usually comes gradually. Years of effort eventually lead somewhere, though usually the rewards are collected more like interest on an investment and less like winning the lottery. Then there are times when you must focus and push toward a specific goal, and sometimes that can result in an acceleration of results. That’s the phase you’re in now. Over the next 10 days you’re coming under the influence of an aspect that will drive your ambition. However, I suggest you convert most of that power into productivity, pragmatism and service. If you allow yourself to get into the mode of conquering or even competition, it could backfire on you. Therefore, I suggest you be extremely cautious around the issue of power, and instead, strive to make yourself useful. That can include setting specific goals, though you will succeed based on cooperation rather than on competition. That includes cooperating with people in positions of authority, whether you like them or not.

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — You seem to be facing a question of commitment. The thing to remember is that commitment comes from the inside. No matter what contract you might sign or promise you make, you will do what you do because you want to. You can sign a contract for a fitness club, but actually working out is a matter of your own inner drive. This applies to every facet of your life, particularly a relationship situation. You cannot be held to anything; you can only decide that it’s the right thing to do. You might feel like you need to filter out your own emotional needs in order to make room for those of someone else, but the real solution to such a puzzle is to work from a place of mutual desires, and yes, needs. You might listen to what people are saying and ask yourself quietly and carefully whether it’s true, and for whom. There is a meeting point between your interests and those of everyone in your life, no matter how special they may or may not be; that’s why they’re in your life. Your role is to find, and work with, that common ground.

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — You can afford to come out of your shell. In fact, it would seem to be the very thing you want to do the most, and being responsive to that will benefit you. For a couple of months it would seem that you’ve been lost in your own sauce, more concerned with a kind of inner reflection than with expressing yourself. Maybe it felt productive; maybe it was frustrating; I reckon you learned something important about yourself in any case, particularly about your insecurities. Now you get to collect the results of that work, which will come in the form of expressing yourself. That means a form of freedom you haven’t had for a while. Freedom is something you take, not something you’re given. This will require courage, and shifting out of some old patterns — though you have help, and you have incentive. Still, you’re the one who must take the seeming risk of expressing yourself, which means opening yourself up to the potentially significant rewards.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — It’s time to have a party. Your home is where the fun is. You’re a private person by nature, but that inclines you to do your socializing in your own space and on your own terms. Yet the party does not need to be any more than you — that is, celebrating your physical space, caring for it, and making sure you feel at home there. The forthcoming Aries Full Moon is suggesting some unusual and exciting developments in your career, and one of my theories of life is that work goes better when one is more grounded and comfy in one’s home environment. Home is the true foundation of achievement in the world, and it’s the thing that holds the ship upright when a good wind is blowing and the currents are moving quickly. You will almost surely be investing your time in a kind of breakthrough project as these days and weeks unfold. And as that happens, you’ll be grateful that your home is in order and supports you spiritually, emotionally and, most of all, physically.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — As the Full Moon builds to a peak, I suggest you invest your energy three ways: one is listening, another is being articulate, and the third is listening. Your solar chart describes beautiful opportunities to relate to others. You also seem to have an emotional situation where you need to tune into a domestic partner or close relative. Take special care with this situation. Someone is feeling more than they are letting on, and they may have the feeling of being muted or unable to express their needs. This is why I suggest you listen for clues and bring subjects up delicately. To some extent this may describe you and your relationship to your feelings about someone you live with. No matter how questionable your emotions, all you really need is a dialog. Get the discussion going and all paths will lead to healing.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — Pay close attention to money, in any form, particularly shared finances. There’s an unusual amount of energy moving through your chart and it’s just about all focused on the financial zones. This describes potential, and it describes risk. It’s up to you to balance the two of them. The thing to remember is that from the look of your solar chart, in any partnership, you’re likely to be the one with most of the wealth. So you would be taking most of the risk, but the rewards would be split evenly (since that’s your style). The prudent thing to do would be to limit what you invest into others, or into situations involving others. Preserve most of what you have, and take sensible risks when it comes to having more. The question in any financial or business partnership is: what are the parties bringing to the table? In some rare instances ideas are enough, but there’s little risk in that; and therefore, little reason to follow up the idea with work and focused intelligence.

Just What You Need When You Need It: Your Libra Reading

Dear Friend and Reader:

Eric recently completed Part One of the 2016-17 Libra Birthday Reading: two lush segments of studio-quality audio astrology. He’ll be completing Part Two, the video tarot reading, in the near future.

We’re already getting fantastic feedback about this reading — including this email from longtime member Ginger Aarons:

Eric,

Adrestia, Greek Goddess of balance and just retribution, by Harisharamnath.

As always, your reading is spot on and validates what I am experiencing in life at this time.

The sheer acknowledgment that, as a Libra, I need balance, beauty and aesthetics in my life to make me tick on — balanced — in my day-to-day endeavors, and consequently some very huge endeavors for the year, was just what I needed to keep going.

I have been struggling for about four years now on the idea of safety and security within myself instead of in outside sources. This will be put to the test this year (as if it hasn’t already been tested!) and while I struggle to want some cohesive partnership, as most Libras do, it is elusive still. I wonder can I wait for a miracle?

The shifting of Jupiter into Libra was indeed an overnight event, and suddenly I am able to face the future full on.

I think to sum it up: the reminder that really what it gets down to is acting in integrity, and realizing that quality, respect and beauty equals wisdom to this Libra. And then perhaps we can change the world.

Soldiering on.

Thank you again, Eric. I think we are entering about 18 years of knowing each other. That’s a long time in today’s world. You’re a blessing. Thank you for your service!
— Ginger Aarons

If you know and love a Libra, you can let them know by giving them this reading. It’s ideal for those with Libra rising, too.

Note: the price will increase again when the tarot portion publishes. (Still not sure? Listen to last year’s Libra reading here, on us.)

Yours & truly,

Amanda Painter

Planet Waves Astrology Editor

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — You’re experiencing some of the most vibrant, alive astrology in many, many moons. One thing I’ve noticed is that sometimes even the very best aspects can get mixed results. So I’m here to tell you what’s available: a whole world of possibilities is right within reach. You’re likely to be attracting interesting, exciting people. Let them shake your tree a little. You don’t need to be conservative or withholding — you have plenty to go around, and the more you share the more you’ll realize you have. As for what dark streaks might be coming through, the thing to watch for is jealousy in any form. It’s most likely to be sexual or emotional, and it’s the thing you want to address first — if you happen to be feeling it. Be generous with people by reminding them they are free to pursue their lives, their interests and their pleasure. Those who come to you as part of that quest are the people you want to share your time and space with.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — A truly unusual mixture of energies simmers down your need to speak up for yourself. You are processing some deep feelings, and if you don’t express them, you’re likely to explode. That would not be productive. Yet if you’re able to say, ‘I think’, ‘I feel’, and ‘I want’, you will be a much happier person. By ‘say’, I mean, ‘say calmly but sincerely’. The problem with most emotional communication is that it happens close to the boiling point, where there’s a sensation of needs being neglected. Where this elusive thing called needs is concerned, though, it’s essential that they be as self-met as possible, and that relationships be more the purview of voluntary fulfillment. This reverses the usual logic. There are still actual needs in relationships, and to the extent that is true, you need to learn the language of emotions, and gain enough clarity to say what you mean and mean what you say.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — This is your week to be a star, or rather to become one. You have a positively gorgeous alignment of planets in the sweet spot in your chart, which is Libra. It’s your most social angle, and also the one that describes legitimate respect for what you do in the world, and the proceeds from business enterprises. All of these things are glowing with opportunity. What will add something to the equation is your willingness to take creative risks. Smash the mold and do what you think is shocking or stunning or unusual or weird. Whatever you do for art or pleasure, do it in a new way. Challenge yourself to come out of all your safe zones and formulas and let yourself stretch, burst or explode. This is how you’ll reach into yourself and make contact with that deeply original core you contain. This is not territory for the meek, mild or timid; thankfully you have nothing to worry about there.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — At the moment, there is an unusual conjunction happening in your sign: Mars, the planet of energy, drive and desire, is meeting up with Pluto, the planet of soul and transformation. This is happening after a long buildup — something that’s been developing all year. This is a description of you coming into a new level of your existence, a new idea about who you are, and what you might think of as an increase in your personal power. Yet you must handle this with care and caution. Your words count for three times the potency as usual. Your emotions are exponentially stronger. As this develops over the next week or so, you must practice consciousness and restraint, and be selective about how to express your energy in healthy ways. No doubt some of them will be sexual, because you’re finally making contact with what you want, and are willing to admit it. But be kind to people, and try not to burn anyone as they touch your gorgeous flame, or get touched by you.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — Lately I’ve been reminding you to open your mind and consider the possibilities for your life. Clearly you need and want change. There are basically two ways for that to happen: some event occurs to you and you’re compelled to deal with it. Or, in the alternate, you unfurl your imagination and expand your vision and move into it. Right now your chart is perfectly suited for doing just that. The thing about a vision is that it must exceed who and what you currently are. That presents a real challenge for many people. For example, they might wonder how they’re going to make that thing they want to happen. That’s exactly what not to worry about right now. It doesn’t matter how you’ll get there or even whether you will. What matters is getting your ideas flowing and being real about what you want to do and become. Of note, certain aspects are doing their best to help you dig out of any old ideas you might have about yourself, or that you inherited from your elders. This is demolition work, but don’t let the noise frighten you.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Pluck up every drop of your confidence and get ready to meet the world. The laid-back, ‘whatever happens’ attitude of Pisces is officially retired. You’re discovering that you’re a person of considerable determination and ambition. You’re discovering that you have ideas and plans and that it’s time to put them into action. That time is not in the future. It’s now. You must make friends with your own power, and with people you perceive to be powerful, without compromising your integrity. What that means is being a whole person, and being who you are, all the time, in every circumstance. Not everyone will like that, though it’s not actually your problem. If you cut through the fog and bullshit, which you seem to be doing brilliantly, you will connect with the people who want to work with you, who can help you and to whom you can be an asset and a resource. This is a moment of forming bonds and partnerships that can last a lifetime. Yet that comes from one quality only, which is being real.

Aries (March 20-April 19) — You are entering new territory in your professional life. If it seems like you’ve been doing the same old routines this year, Mars moving across the achievement angle of your chart will be refreshing. One thing to be mindful of is being too proud of what you’ve accomplished, such as when presenting yourself to potential employers or clients. Rather, exhibit a calm, quiet confidence. Take the attitude of “I do my best to get results.” Next, you must understand the politics of every situation you’re involved with. Who holds the power? That’s a good place to start. Know who you’re dealing with. Over the next couple of weeks you must be careful not to be seen as if you’re staging some kind of overthrow or revolt. It would be too easy to get on the wrong side of people in authority, and equally easy to work with them to get the result they want.

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — Old beliefs do not give way easily. The cost for that is living in the past. It’s one thing to seek information from what’s happened before, and to respect elements of wisdom gained through experience. But it’s another thing to inhabit the past, and this is often done through outdated beliefs. It’s now time for some updating. Scan your mind as you go through the day, and notice when you’re making a decision based on a belief that you have not updated recently. Now is the time to do a query, and determine what is currently true based on new information, and then respond. All of this demands that you not be lazy, which is asking a lot in the days of tap on the glass twice and sushi manifests at your door. Challenging and revising beliefs is work, but it’s only the preparatory step. The creative step is replacing them with a vision of what you want instead.

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — Be mindful when conducting any negotiations, particularly if they involve contracts, matters of taxation or negotiating about finances in partnerships. You appear to be motivated to get a fair outcome, but don’t move too quickly. If you feel the discussion is proceeding in a way that is unfair or in which you’re lost in the maze, ask for time to get your facts right. Use your energy on inquisitiveness rather than fighting or resisting. And remember, this is not a matter of how hard you work, or having to earn something extra by your service. This conversation is at the stage of brass tacks; it’s now far less about opinion and almost entirely about power. To keep your power, you must be armed with facts and figures and keep your presentation chilled to just above freezing. People must deal with reality. Emotions get in the way.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — The recent New Moon served as yet another invitation to take better care of yourself. By now you understand that this is not just a good idea; it’s the only idea. However, you don’t want to do that by neglecting work, which will just raise the tension. Rather, free yourself from work by being the master of your priorities and your time. This means making conscious decisions about what to focus on, and choosing to avoid the biggest time-waster of all: conflict. This would also hold true in your personal relationships. Others may be in a feisty state. It may be personal, it may not be; though you can help the situation by staying a step ahead of people on any shared responsibilities that you may have. As for the fun side of this astrology, people are likely to be more assertive about their desire. You may find yourself with one or more suitors, and with your options open.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — You seem to want to get a lot of work done, but you might ask yourself what has already been accomplished — by others and by you. This will save you plenty of work, as it seems the bulk of what you’re trying to do has already been done. You might do a little research and determine the thing that nobody else can figure out how to do. There would seem to be something, which might have been considered impossible or too difficult to accomplish. You might know exactly what this is. You might need to figure it out; and once you do, you’re likely to discover that it’s not so difficult after all. Well, the passage of time, changing conditions and a new mental approach may be what’s helping the difficulty unravel. Be mindful if a task is taking too long; that will mean you need to reassess whether it’s necessary, check your method or find someone who knows more than you and get some information.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — Mars has entered your fellow earth sign Capricorn, and that’s an invitation to adventure: creative, sexual, romantic or involving a business enterprise. It could be all of the above, since that’s what we want when we’re really living. All year long, Mars — the ultimate planet of self-expression — has been lingering in some of the most private corners of your chart. Moving into Capricorn, your solar 5th house, Mars is inviting you to hang loose and explore, experiment and take some chances. You might not like to admit this, but you tend to have a conservative nature; you’re more adventurous on the inside than on the outside. Now is the time to bring out those qualities and have some fun. To do this, you’ll need to go past the point of your own discomfort. That might mean coming out of your safe zone. It might mean taking the risk of being known for what you have to say. Or it might mean taking a more assertive role with someone you fancy.

Open the Door to Your Life with Your Libra Reading

Dear Friend and Reader:

How do you invoke the ‘luck factor’ of a Jupiter transit? For starters, you have to be willing to do your part. Think of it like opening the door so that a fresh breeze (or a dear friend) can come in.

The open door of the Hermitage at Omega Institute. What door will you open? Your Libra Reading will have clues. Photo by Eric Francis.

That door is the door of opportunity; something that often opens best when a person has done a little groundwork to prepare, takes the time to listen to their intuition and then acts.

Do you need some assistance seeing the doors in your life and knowing the best way to open them? Jupiter in Libra is offering you beautiful potential this year! How will you use it? Are you ready for it?

Eric will describe solid ways you can make the most of Jupiter in Libra — and much more this year — in your 2016-17 Libra Birthday Reading.

In two segments of audio and a video tarot reading, Eric will guide you through the subtle nuances, complex puzzles and in-your-face ‘big stuff’, motivating you to navigate the next 12 months with grace and chutzpah.

Best of all: if you pre-order your Libra Reading for just $19.97 today, you’ll lock in the lowest price we offer.

Note: Your birthday reading is distinctly different from BALANCE: the Midyear Reading. While that was a 12-sign project focused on paired signs, your birthday reading goes into greater, more focused depth, describing longer-term influences on the Libra experience from several directions.

You could pay $100 for a reading elsewhere and not get a fraction of the practical insight offered in Eric’s audio-video readings. So go ahead: pre-order your reading, open the door and turn your opportunities into something with lasting value.

Yours & truly,

Amanda Painter

Planet Waves Astrology Editor

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — You’re approaching an important decision. It might seem like the decision is approaching you, though this is something you’ve been thinking about for a long time. Whatever it may involve, the key is to choose from a place of strength rather than one of weakness or lack. Once you commit to this, it will be easier than you think. Your main strength involves your resiliency. A lot has changed in the past month, and you’re working with newly accessible resources, ideas that are coming to fruition, and confidence that can only come from actual trials and tests. If you’ve made it this far, you have not just passed those tests; you’ve emerged into a new phase of your life. You are a bigger person than you once were, and it’s time to step into the new scale of your existence. Remember at all times: you actually have something to offer. You possess knowledge, understanding and a sense of potential that’s about to be realized.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — Mars has spent much of the year in your sign, connecting you with who you are on an emotional level. The rest of the year, Mars has been in Sagittarius, reminding you of your spiritual goals and your rather unworldly values. This has been a real test: of your integrity, of your willingness to live the truth of what you believe and, most of all, your willingness to let go of the past. Much of that has been conducted through ‘inner work’, and now that work is moving outward into your most intimate relationships, particularly with neighbors, colleagues and siblings. You simply must live the truth of who you are, rather than wish you could. You need to gain confidence that can only come from experience. To gain this experience you’re going to need to violate some protocols, and get past what you perceive as the expectations of others. You might not need to be bad, but your goal cannot be to be good; it must be to be real.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — It’s time to take action on the money thing. Once there was an astrologer named Lois Rodden, one of the best and most productive of our era. She said to me once, “Most astrologers say Mercury is the money planet. They are wrong. It’s Mars, because making money takes motivation, and that’s what Mars is about.” Mars has now entered the financial angle of your chart. This, after 10 months of retrograde and dancing around in your sign and in Scorpio, as if wondering what the next thing to do really is. Well, now the thing to do is business. You have a keen instinct for finances. You merely need to get past a kind of over-caution that’s not really befitting your swashbuckling soul. Yet you’ve been learning that the careful and reserved side of your nature — especially around money — must be balanced by boldness and imagination, and that’s the story of your life right now. Whatever it is, don’t wait for it to come to you. Go to it.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — Mars ingressing your sign this week will have you feeling like your old self again, though in an entirely new way. The main message of this event is that it’s time to unplug fear as a primary force in your psyche. The fear might be there, but you have better sources of information. By fear, I mean anything from vapid anxiety to letting your idea of the worst-case scenario drive your decisions, from the insecurity that’s followed you around for so long to guilt about what you want. You’ve made some unusual choices this year; some have worked out, and others you’re still wondering about. You might count up the cost of what you’ve lost because you were afraid of something that never happened, and was not going to happen. You might seriously reconsider any decision you made based on the fear of some abstract prospect, on guilt, or on any form of denial. Here’s the plain truth: you’re bigger than all of that, not to mention better.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — Your motivation comes from inside you. You know this, you forget it, then you remember, then you forget. Now I’m reminding you. Something has just shifted around this area of your life, and you seem to have a newly lit fire under your ass. Here’s the deeper message: you need to make structural changes in your life. This is less about cleaning your desk and more about moving your office to the right part of your house for maximum efficiency. It’s less about sorting your paperwork and more about inventing a file system that suits your actual needs. Less about getting more clients for your current business than it is about revising your business model or plan. Structural changes will generally relate back to physical changes to your environment; alterations to your work pattern; fully conscious decisions about how you organize your time; and in particular, seeking and removing blocks to your progress. Don’t just turn stones over. Get them out of your way.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — It’s time to make your presence known: to announce your existence and your ideas to whom it may concern or, for that matter, to whom it may not concern. You’ve certainly not been lying idle these past seasons, but you would benefit from being considerably more assertive about what you’re doing. By that I mean to the public, whatever you consider that to be: beyond your immediate circle of friends and clients. Do not be in any way daunted by naysayers, complainers or those who judge. It’s easy for you to take people’s negativity on board. That’s their problem, not yours. Assert who you are and what you do. Consciously seek out collaborators; people who helped you in the past may be available to help you again. Those who may have had less interest in the past may take an active interest now. This is one of those times in your life when it’s really worth having another try at things you wanted to do but could not quite break through.