Dear Friend and Reader:

We’re in the midst of one of the most full-on Pisces alignments so far this century. Planets are rapidly gathering in the last sign of the zodiac, the one that people don’t necessarily recognize is their favorite.

Fractal with Teal Waves, by Dev Moore.

Whatever you may think of Pisces people, the subjects of Pisces include music, movies, romance, fantasies, your favorite beverages, photography and your favorite art. What’s not to love?

For the next few weeks, everyone is an honorary Pisces, especially with the Sun close to the Pisces-related planet Neptune right now. This is opening up what you might call the ‘psychic field’ and we’re all being invited to tune into the sixth sense, to notice beauty and to feel some of the comfort of being in a body.

Indulge in the pleasures of your choice. Use your imagination; it’s longing for your attention. Take some time away from the grind, even if it’s just a few hours. Pisces energy tends to put people in a good mood, and the world is a little softer.

The currents in the direction of the ocean of the zodiac are growing stronger. Soon Mercury will enter Pisces, and then the Moon, and there will be a total eclipse of the Sun. The eclipse won’t be visible in North America, though it will have its effect on the energetic level.

Here’s my reading: Trade things that are not true for ones that are. Give up some form of deception, in exchange for some form of revelation. Look at the inner reality of things and make your decision based on how you really feel, rather than what’s expected of you.

Your horoscope for the week is below.

Lovingly,

Miracle Hour Episode 4: Everyone Teaches, All the Time

In today’s edition of The Miracle Hour [play episode here], I provide an introduction to the teacher’s manual in A Course In Miracles. Here is an excerpt from the opening passage of that document:

The purpose of the course might be said to provide you with a means of choosing what you want to teach on the basis of what you want to learn. You cannot give to someone else, but only to yourself, and this you learn through teaching. Teaching is but a call to witnesses to attest to what you believe.

Music is by Vision Quest. The program is 59 minutes.

Here is the interview with Kenneth Wapnik that I linked to last week — it’s so good that I felt compelled to share it again. Note that even Wapnik does not endorse uncritical acceptance of the text.

How Do You Read These Things, Anyway?

That is the question, isn’t it? No matter how many books about the tarot you read, that does not assure being able to read them. Then people who have never read a book can come up with amazing interpretations.

The tarot is a visual language. But reading the cards is a ritual, whether you’re doing it for yourself or for someone else. In my first online tarot class, this coming Saturday, I will introduce that ritual and how to work with it. Information is being conveyed long before the first card is read. Merely sitting with the client begins to address their question; if you’re working alone, the choice to make an inquiry begins to invoke the response you need.

This class will cover three main topics: one is the setup, which we call “divination.” That’s the ritual of considering what you want to know, and of making the space to get your response.

Second, we will learn a method for understanding a card. We will compare several of the same cards from different decks, and learn the visual language of the tarot. This will be applicable to any deck.

Last, we will learn how to read the cards in the context of one another. This is the real art of interpreting. You bounce the cards off of one another and get new ideas. This is the thing I’ve never seen covered in a book.

The class will be three hours, from noon EST to 3pm EST on Saturday, March 5. Access will be by teleseminar. It’s easy to use; you can dial in, use Skype or listen from a website.

Materials will be distributed by email. This is important — if you plan to participate, please be attentive to your email so you get the materials in good time.

Then we will have an email list discussion that goes on for as long as people are interested in participating.

The class will be available for review as a recording, and will also include a one-hour interview with Sarah Taylor, the Planet Waves tarot writer, on the subject of how to handle sensitive material about sex and relationships using the tarot.

I look forward to seeing you there! Here is the link to sign up.

Moon jellyfish photo by Alexander Vasenin.

For Pisces, an Excellent Time to Know Your Astrology

The Sun is now in Pisces, and if you’re born with this as your Sun or rising sign, this is an excellent time to check in with your astrology. I was born with the Sun in Pisces, and I’ve been reading charts a long time — and this year’s Pisces charts are impressive on a lifetime scale.

That’s quite a cluster you have there. Chart section of the forthcoming solar eclipse in Pisces, showing Venus in late Aquarius; then (in order) Nessus, Mercury, Neptune, the Moon, the Sun, Chiron, the South Node, and then Uranus and Eris in Aries. When the South Node (the orange horseshoe) or its opposite is close to a New or Full Moon, that means it’s eclipse time.

Said simply, this is a potentially brilliant moment for you, one where you can make up for lost time, retrieve things from your past, and clear old goals out of the way.

All those planets with the little pink Pisces glyph next to them are in your sign or rising sign, or will be any moment now.

They include fast-movers like Mercury, the Moon and the Sun; as well as slow movers that set the feeling tone of a generation or era in history: Neptune, Nessus, Chiron and several others not shown here.

At the center of this alignment is a total solar eclipse in Pisces, on March 8.

Eclipses translate to acceleration, concentration of events, and a sense of being transported from one place in your life to another. You might say eclipses are before and after moments.

Yet how you think of “before” is vital, as is the way you think of where you want to be, where you’re going and who you are becoming. Eclipses are magnifiers of experience. They set patterns.

So that miraculous effect of taking you somewhere else is dependent on how you think of where you are now. Said another way, to get anywhere you must start from your present location — and that includes how you feel about that place.

This eclipse is conjunct Chiron, the planet of awareness, healing and teaching. Chiron has been in your sign since 2010; though this event is a kind of checkpoint, which will help you see your progress and show you how much remains on your current agenda of wholeness, personhood and spiritual growth.

Before this event, I’ll be recording your Pisces reading. This is your solar return or birthday reading for Pisces Sun, and a rising sign reading for Pisces rising (similar to how natal charts are read).

Bringing two decades of work on Chiron to the reading, I will help clarify the healing themes of this planet, as they influence you today. Chiron’s presence is distinctive in one’s life, and it helps to have experienced information available. Chiron transits are some of the most meaningful and helpful a person can experience, ever.

I’ll be doing your reading before the eclipse, so you have it to work with, for the purpose of setting intentions. Think of this reading as a one-hour meditation on your life, complete with custom music. Then I’ll add a half-hour tarot reading that looks at the themes from another viewpoint.

You can get your reading now for just $19.97 — an hour of astrology, half an hour of tarot, Pisces music and additional resources.

Aries (March 20-April 19) — If you’re feeling anxiety, especially at night, you can rest easier. While the pressure you’re experiencing isn’t quite imaginary, your causes for concern are not as real as they seem. You need an emotional vent, or some way to let off psychic pressure. Dancing would work well, where you can break a sweat, flood your senses and get your mind out of the mental realm. Anything where you experience physical and emotional passion but without emotional entanglement would be perfect. That said, there are many factors calling you inward — toward the world of your deepest feelings, your dreams and your imagination. The more you honor that subtle space, the better you will feel. Your dreams may be especially revealing now, describing your concerns, your desires and your understanding of your life in symbolic form. Do not be intimidated. Watch the movie and notice how you feel.

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — Keep your focus on your actual goals — the ones you keep coming back to consistently. It will be easy to get distracted, whether by social invitations, the opinions of your friends or a world around you that has never been a more extravagant entertainment center. By all means have fun. Yet don’t sacrifice what seems to be a vital, and beautiful, mission that you’re on. You are in a position of leadership, which means keeping your focus, setting daily goals and most of all being the person who is deciding on points of strategy. Others may insist they know more than you, or that their agenda is more important than yours. I would call that distraction. You possess a plan to get yourself from where you are now to where you want to be. Others are depending on your clarity and devotion to intelligence.

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — Personal development is usually a quantum process. You might work for a long time, focusing on issues, guiding yourself toward important goals, and nothing special happens. Then all of a sudden everything happens at once. You feel yourself advance both emotionally and in worldly affairs. Multiple opportunities emerge at the same time. That’s what your charts look like now. You will need to prioritize. You will need to make choices. Yet that’s not really about what to give up or delay. If you are observant, you will find ways to combine your goals, your talents and your ideas such that you can accomplish several things in one gesture. Look for the opportunities that demand the most of your talents and present the greatest challenges. Select an occasion that you have no choice but to rise to. And when you do, that will feel like success.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — What exactly does it mean to plan? I would say that it’s a process of envisioning. If you can imagine yourself going somewhere, or doing something, or meeting someone, you can describe it into existence. Your solar chart is particularly creative in that way now. The imagery that your mind conjures has a particularly fertile quality now. It’s so potent that you might pause and watch what your thoughts are showing you about your own potential. Don’t worry about the practicalities of how you might make something happen. That’s not the point at all. This experience is more about seeing the impossible and taking the hint that it might be real. Experiment with feeling the reality of what you want to become or where you want to be. If you want to go to Vienna, imagine yourself strolling around there.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — Does strategy have a place in relationships? Usually it’s a sign of someone wanting to control the flow of events. Planning and creating the setups for things to happen can be a signal that you feel like you have no power. Yet there’s a deeper layer to this, which is about everyone having their agenda out on the table. If you or someone close to you says you don’t have an agenda, that would be the first misunderstanding. Your agenda is what you want to happen. I suggest you be familiar with just what that is. And if you notice that you don’t fully understand someone else’s agenda, this would be an excellent time to ask about it. Events over the next two weeks will have the quality of signing you up for a new plan that will last for months to come. Make sure this is 100% fully conscious.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — See your part in everything. Notice your influence and feel the way that you affect people and events around you, whether in subtle or obvious ways. If you are observant, you may be surprised at the influence you have. Also notice how your environment influences you. You might be doing a lot of processing for people around you: feeling for them, thinking for them, or in some way taking on their responsibilities. This is often a role you play, though it’s especially potent right now. You may want to set some boundaries. Choose with awareness what you’re willing to take on. Decide if something is too much for you. Don’t be afraid to suggest that someone think through the issue on their own. You have your own plans and your own desires. Save some of your bandwidth for yourself.

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — Keep the conversation moving. You have a lot to say, as do the people around you. This is not about gossip in any form, but rather diving into actual ideas. The effect of the group mind, in its best expression, is at full strength right now. Yet you are the one who will guide things to the next level, which is the actual physical world. You know you’re on the earthly plane of reality when you have to do something with your body, such as make something, go somewhere, or physically do something. If an idea seems like it would be fun, helpful or in some way interesting, take the step and test it out. Skip the part about anything being in the future, and try it right now, or on the very next available day. See who brings their body and shows up with you — that’s the one sure sign of commitment.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — Keep your cool. What may seem like an offense, some urgent matter or a wildly pressing need will have faded into obscurity by the end of the day. Therefore, use your ninja psychological skills and direct your mind to think about what you want; then give yourself some of it. You aren’t helping yourself, or anyone, by being rigid or demanding. You’ll have the most positive influence on your own life and on your environment by flowing with the tides of life and choosing to have fun. Imagine how great your life would be if you had nobody to impress, if you didn’t care about your image or what people think of you, and if you lived in the way that feels best rather than ‘right’. That’s what you have open to you in this truly creative, spiritual and — best of all — sexually rich time in your life.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — Let your emotions inspire rather than drain you. You are feeling a lot, and it will be easy to get overwhelmed. Think of yourself as the sailor who stays on the boat rather than falling into the water. Certain family or household matters may be giving you the feeling that you’re going to go overboard, though that’s not necessary. Allow the facts to come out. Notice the way that many different scenarios add up to one environment that’s affecting you. If you commit yourself to truth, by which I mean accepting what is so, you will see the ways in which certain other people are in denial; and you’ll see how others are more interested in the actual facts and what is truly relevant rather than what pushes their buttons or those of others. How you feel is the most important feedback you have at any time.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — Your ideas are not as controversial as you may think. That works at least two ways. You don’t need to worry about how shocking you are to mainstream sensibilities. It’s unlikely anyone will think you’re going off the rails or have lost your mind. Which leads to the other side of the equation: you can afford to invest yourself in something edgier, something that stretches your capacity to learn and grow. You can afford to take greater risks than you’re taking, especially in your ideas and your creative process. It will help if you don’t obsess over what’s appropriate, or how others might perceive you. That’s a trap. Nothing worth much of anything is acceptable in the moment it’s thought up or proposed; that’s the whole idea of change and progress. You might even strive to be unacceptable or outrageous, as long as you’re being true to yourself.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — You seem to be in some kind of mind/body dilemma. Something that seems as if it might be fun or productive in theory might appear too strange to do in reality. One theme of our times is that certain activities are best left for the Internet. Yet the theme of getting physically involved in one’s own life is raining from the sky right now, though it’s especially strong for Aquarius this week. You don’t want pictures of water; you want the real thing. Rather than video games, you might try an actual round of backgammon, chess or kicking a soccer ball. Rather than the fantasy or video of that intriguing thing, you might figure out how to actually have it happen, sooner rather than later. Tell the universe what you want and what you want to do by in fact indulging yourself in that very thing.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — In about one week, there is a total eclipse of the Sun in your sign. This is a real moment of transition for you. Vast energy is moving — many planets are gathering in your sign for the occasion. You have your options wide open right now. It’s always good to know that in advance, so you can scope out the possibilities. I would say that anything is viable right now, more so than usual. Part of what you need to access that potential is to get outdated ideas out of the way. This includes plans you’re no longer interested in, goals that no longer match your values, and most of all, ideas about yourself that are no longer true. When you discover these things, be consciously willing to let them go. Liberate yourself from the past and point your heart and soul toward the future.

Dear Friend and Reader:

Today is the Full Moon in Virgo. (It’s exact Monday, Feb. 22 at 1:20 pm EST / 9:20 am PST / 18:20 UTC.)

What opportunities will this Full Moon bring you? Photo by Mr Seb.

Think of the Full Moon as a peak of energy, like a wave coming to its crest. You may feel energized by this astrology, and many people tend to get a bit of insomnia when the Moon is full — a throwback to when the bright nights were the time of the hunt.

In a modern context, the Full Moon has some exciting properties. One of them is that it helps resolve conflicts, or deadlocked situations. The key to using this quality is by gently — very gently — guiding things in the direction you want them to go, and then letting the momentum help you get to where you want to be.

For that to work, you need to know what you want. You need to identify the things you want to resolve or work out; and, rather than pushing toward a goal, look for an opportunity to get there.

Today’s Full Moon in Virgo makes many oppositions to planets in Pisces. You could have a series of unusual encounters with people today and through the week. There’s a hint of mystery to this, where the purpose of the meeting might not be obvious right away. Let the story unfold; let people reveal their secrets to you.

There’s one other thing. Someone you meet might hold the key to a deep inner question you have, or an emotional challenge that has seemed impossible to work out. It might involve needing to know how to forgive yourself, and to be more approving of yourself. Listen carefully to what people say about how they relate to themselves, and how they untangle the knots to get themselves to a more loving place.

Your horoscope for the week is below. It’s based on the Virgo Full Moon.

Lovingly,

PS — The Sun is in Pisces and the Moon is in Virgo. For Goddess fans out there, here’s an article on Virgo, Gaia and agriculture, making reference to Esoteric Astrology by Alice Bailey.

Moon jellyfish photo by Alexander Vasenin.

ATTENTION PISCES! The Sun is in your sign, which means your 2016-17 birthday reading is now available for pre-order. You can get that here.

Miracle Hour Episode 3: Nothing I See Means Anything

We’ve just posted the third edition of The Miracle Hour, a weekly program that I’m doing for the Pacifica Radio Network.

This edition is an introduction to the Course in Miracles workbook. I describe the basic purpose of the workbook, take you through the first 14 lessons, and give some ideas about how they work. I also read a piece of poetry called At This Point from a 1989 volume titled 313.

Music is by Vision Quest. The program is 59 minutes.

The Soul, Wisdom and Mastery, from the Charlie Lemay tarot. Charlie will be joining us in the class.

On Saturday, March 5, I’ll be holding a live three-hour class, Introduction to Tarot and Divination. In this all-level class, I will convey three basic concepts. First, how Tarot is a subset of divination in general. Second, we will learn how to read a card visually; I do this by comparing three different decks: Charlie Lemay, Rider-Waite, and Crowley’s Thoth deck. Third, we will learn how to read the cards in context of one another, which is the key to getting the whole message. You may sign up for the class here.

Aries (March 20-April 19) — You seem to have figured out once again that your worst fears are not true. Yet have you noticed how much creative energy that fear consumes? It might help to look from the other direction — when you’re at your best, when you’re accomplishing the most and relating to the people you care about, there’s no anxiety involved. The solution to the riddle of fear is being conscious about what you do with your creative energy, and keeping it positive. Engage your mind with thoughts of what you want rather than what you don’t want. Focusing on something is like watering a plant. If you choose what thoughts you want to grow and give them attention, that’s what you will nourish. If your thoughts go astray, gently guide yourself back to where you want to be. Remember: you have the power to choose.

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — Now is the time to put what you’re doing in front of an audience. Show the world the best of what you have to offer, in whatever you’re doing. If you want to advance your career, you’ve got a fantastic opening to make your reputation known. I suggest, however, that you keep this on the human level. If you’re looking for a better opportunity, do everything you can in person rather than online. Work through people you know. If someone can’t help you, ask if they know someone who can, and follow the web of human connection. Making a phone call is closer to ‘in person’ than emailing; so too is mailing a letter or delivering it yourself. When you can, let people see your friendly face and hear your lovely voice. Most of all, use your ears and listen.

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — It’s helpful to flow with your emotions rather than analyzing them. You know you’re analyzing based on how you feel; for example, if you’re feeling self-critical, that’s a clue. If you’re imagining someone else is being critical of you, that’s also a clue. You may need to wake yourself up a few times and snap out of it. Anything that’s set in motion today will gather momentum, so be careful what you emphasize. I suggest you put some energy into having the basics of life covered. It’s always helpful to be grateful for having food and a dry roof; be grateful for the people who care about you, and if you need reassurance reach out and say so. Feeling safe is a discipline. It’s the first cousin of feeling self-confident; one will lead naturally to the other.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Negotiation is an art, and it’s one you can now do well. Art is more about feeling than it is technique. The first thing to do is to feel where people are coming from. This is the most valuable information you can have in your possession. People do what they are motivated to do. Once you know what gets them going, you can offer them that. If you know what someone’s agenda is, you can work with it; the best thing to do is to ask. By negotiation I don’t mean the hardcore style, but rather the friendly, arrangement-making kind. Keep in mind that we all have similar needs. If you can do that, it’s easier to find the common ground and guide yourself and others in that direction. You’re in a situation where everyone can come out a winner.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — Monday’s Full Moon is emphasizing financial matters. The message of the chart is that you need to understand your interdependencies with others, especially close partners. The first thing to check for is that everyone is being honest about money. Then look around and notice whether you and those you’re close to have an exchange you both can abide. Ask yourself if you’re being generous enough or whether you’re holding back. If you feel yourself withholding, there’s a possibility this is about your self-esteem. The better you feel about yourself, the more generous you will be with the people you love and care about. Yet it works the other way too: the more generous you are, the better you will feel. All of this may relate to sex every bit as much as it relates to money.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — Once a year there is a Full Moon in your birth sign, and Monday is the day, though the feeling will ripple into the whole week. There is a mystical quality about this event. There are a few possibilities how this could work. You might notice that your thoughts manifest more quickly into results. You might get the feeling that you’re looking into a cosmic mirror where you see yourself reflected in interesting ways. I suggest you observe the patterns of how ideas translate into tangible events, and how what you feel about yourself is reflected back to you in the attitudes of others. This is going on all the time, but it will be especially noticeable now. One thing you learn may be to guide your mind carefully, because what you think really does affect how you feel, how other people feel, and what happens from moment to moment.

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — It’s time to have fun. You probably don’t need an astrologer to tell you that, but I am telling you — the time is right. But not just any fun: the exact, specific kind of celebration you want. Whether it’s going to the movies or making a movie; going to an art exhibit or getting out your paints and canvases; going to a rock concert or tuning up your guitar; or reading a romantic novel or having a romantic tryst — go for it. The feeling you’re looking for is a little like cutting out of school to go to the beach. Trade in some responsibility that doesn’t really need your full attention now for something really excellent that you will love. Your solar chart suggests you might want to do this with a few close friends, but if you go solo you’re likely to make new friends wherever you go.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — The things you learn now matter; the discoveries you make at this time in your life count. You are in a special extended moment for doing deep work on yourself. Here’s what the astrology is describing: you are in a learning process that will reveal itself in layers. You may be experiencing things now that you don’t notice or don’t understand; you will then get a few chances to review these things. However, the more aware you are now, and the more you accept what is revealed to you (especially about yourself), the further you can take this journey as it evolves through the spring and into the summer. Do whatever works for you to be reflective, whether you prefer to write, go to therapy, develop your spiritual practice or spend time in places that put you in contact with your soul. You have a wealth of knowledge available to you if you do.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — Contrary to what you might read in many astrology books, yours is one of the most detail-oriented signs. I have no idea where anyone came up with the thing about ‘big picture only, don’t bother me with the numbers, the punctuation or the boring theory’. Actually, you know that success comes from making sure the fine points are covered. However, right now, I suggest you keep your mind on larger goals, and the widest view you can attain. There’s a potential trap in getting caught in petty concerns, and a special reward if you consider your most precious desires, objectives and ambitions. Focus on what matters, on what feels productive and, most of all, what feels good. That will be the best mind-food you can give yourself, and you will get results. If anything you think seems like an idea, write it down and remember where you put it.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — Your financial strategy must involve communicating with others. Any economy is a community affair; your personal economy is no different. What is distinctive about your solar chart is the extent to which your personal wealth is directly linked to the people around you. Your role is to reach out and to take initiative. Rather than expecting others to come to you, make yourself, your intentions and your needs known to them. Another distinctive feature you possess is the extent to which your value to others is in your ideas. However, in order to make money with your ideas, you need to cultivate and develop them, which means integrating a wide diversity of sources. And you must be flexible; it will help to consider the way that any idea is applicable to any situation. Life doesn’t have separate subjects; it’s really one vast ocean of experiences.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — Venus has entered your sign, joining Mercury and a beautiful asteroid called Pallas Athene. This has you at your most Aquarian, tapping into your streak of genius, your love for ideas and, most of all, your ability to motivate people. The real gift of this astrology will be to do the thing that Pallas Athene is best at, which is to come up with a strategy for living. This is the time to brainstorm a plan to do the big things you want to accomplish. It will help if you consult other smart people one by one and put a few questions to them. Then morph the best ideas into your own personal plan of action. No goal is too difficult to meet, and no problem is a match for the ingenious power of your mind. Remember that, and don’t forget.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — You don’t need to do much to get the results you want. Let the momentum of your life carry you; allow the things you’ve already set in motion to take their course. This may take some trust, but you can at least give yourself some space to work a little less, and put less emphasis on outcomes. This is especially true if they involve other people. Ease back and let them make their decisions. If there is some unresolved matter, know that the ball is in their court, and be ready and available to listen. One thing that’s clear is that if you don’t get the exact results you want, there are other, better possibilities that could easily manifest for you. Invest your energy in going with the flow and doing some of what Pisces is best at: enjoying the good things in life.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Your horoscope for the week is below.

Lovingly,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

W/love

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

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

Eric Francis in Blue Studio.

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

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

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

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

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

Read more…

‘Miracle Hour’ Premieres on Planet Waves FM

Weekly Radio Program Based on A Course in Miracles

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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