Aries (March 20-April 19) — A little desire goes a long way. The stuff is more powerful than you may know, which means that right now you must direct it with precision. Use focus, and proceed gently, aware of the law of unintended consequences. Said another way, you must do something that is rather un-Aries-like, and consider a diversity of possible implications of getting what you want. It would be preferable, I think, to focus on what is motivating you. That form of contemplation is precisely the opposite of acting on impulse. Rather, I am suggesting that you act based on self-understanding and a real assessment of your situation. It will be easy to forego this. It will be easy to just plunge in, or to make a choice and set off a series of consequences that you cannot control. Therefore, use control while you have it, which is mostly in the form of awareness prior to making any decision.

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — Listen to what others say, even it sounds like crazy ranting and raving. There is good information mingled in there, and as much as you learn about someone else, you will learn about yourself. There is information coming about how words may not necessary be true, or even reflective of a true opinion. Fortunately, words are not deeds — not exactly. There is a buffer between one and the other, and you may find that you need to take advantage of that zone where potential is not entirely manifest. The lesson seems to be that motives are rarely 100% pure. Sometimes they conflict; sometimes they contradict one another entirely. And yet there will be a decision made, there will be action taken, and there will be results. The more closely you listen, and use what you know, more likely you are to experience results in line with what serves everyone involved.

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — Negotiate and compromise. Use compromise as part of your negotiation strategy. There are many points to the conversation, most of which you are flexible on. There are others that are essential to you. Know what those are, and if you must trade or bargain, start with the points that may mean less to you and mean more to someone else. I recognize this is not exactly a heart-centered approach, yet neither is a breakdown in communication or its consequences. At the moment, I would say that strategy reflective of authentic respect is the heart-centered way to proceed, because it will keep the conversation open and quite possibly focused on getting everyone’s needs met. Sometimes this kind of happy accident occurs on its own, and sometimes it’s the result of focused intention; in the current astrological climate, the more precise the better.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — The recent eclipse of the Moon in Aries opened up many possibilities for you, though you may not see it that way. I suggest you take a look, and allow the next few weeks to take their course. If you think in the language of creativity and curiosity rather than achievement or success, everything will make more sense — and be easier. Said another way, most people set the goal of ‘how to succeed’. I suggest setting the goal of ‘how to do this in the most beautiful way’, which is likely to mean bold, simple and inventive. You don’t need to worry about being different. You already are different, and everyone knows that. If you’re looking to make an impression, explore until you find a direct way to reach others in a manner that speaks to their needs, desires and dreams. Logic is not the answer to the riddle you may be facing; the solution is some form of emotional and creative contact.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — Learn to speak clearly in language that expresses your emotional needs and you will find that people treat you more fairly. This may be a setup, stacking the deck in your own favor. It may also bring on a shift of perspective. If you are feeling like someone is out to cheat you, cheat on you or take something from you, step back and slow down. You may be looking right at someone’s supposed motives, though if they seem sinister or complicated, consider that there is a simpler way to solve the puzzle. Ask yourself one question — where does accountability fit the picture? For yourself first, and for them second? By accountability I don’t mean blame, I mean individuals willing to take responsibility for what is so, and having the strength to make necessary adjustments. This is a two-part process.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — Defiance is not a substitute for personality, nor could you consider it a sign of strong character. It might feel that way, and if it does, you must raise your standards. You are in one of the most emotionally reactive moments in years, a strong comment given how much you’ve been through in that time, and how provoked you’ve so often been. Mindfulness is therefore essential. Once you are in reaction, you cannot impose mindfulness on yourself; by that point it’s possible only to vent (which is not another word for ‘process’). You need to maintain your awareness of your mental and emotional state long before you get there, and I would count resistance, stubbornness or defiance as warning signs that something deeper is going on. In a world where everything and everyone seems to be vying for your attention, it’s not easy to take total responsibility for what you feel, though that would be a helpful intention to set.

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — You may be waiting for the other shoe to drop, though I suggest you not waste your time waiting. It’s up to you to take conscious steps in the direction that you want to go, which may involve taking a new route or deciding on a new destination from the one you were considering yesterday. Between sticking to one course for decades, and changing one’s mind every 15 minutes (the two most popular options, it seems) is the reality that change happens. You are in the process of encountering a series of influences that are shaping the course of your life. Note carefully whether you’re resisting these changes, and in the alternate, whether they seem to be taking you by surprise, happening totally outside of your control.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — Mars, the planet traditionally associated with your sign, is conjunct something called Pholus this weekend (exact Tuesday, Oct. 14). Mars is the planet of action, self-assertion, desire and at times, aggression. The best key phrase for Pholus I’ve encountered is ‘small cause, big effect’. It’s also associated with runaway reactions and unintended consequences, which can sometimes go on for years. This meeting is happening in Sagittarius, a fire sign best represented by the flaming arrow. The cosmic message is twofold. One is, pay attention to what you do, what actions you take, and how you direct your desire. The other side is that a little (of anything) can go a long way. You do not need a lot of anything, be it effort, intention, desire or any form of ‘push energy’, to get a result. Apply your intention and your willpower with extreme care.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — Take it easy — and I do mean super easy. Be cool. I don’t mean act cool, I mean keep your emotional temperature chill and pay attention to each decision you make, no matter how small. Any subtle intention, even admitting your inner desire honestly, can change the course of your life. This is not the time to flirt with loss of control, or with imprecision. The thing is, you may not recognize when you’re doing so. Therefore, be especially careful with idle curiosity, where drugs or alcohol are involved, or in any moment where you’re star-struck by another person. On the creative and constructive side, you have in your hands a truly unusual moment to make actual decisions that point your life in the direction that you want to go. Just remember the concept of a fulcrum. If you point your arrow one fraction of an inch to the left or to the right, you could miss your mark by a yard, or a mile.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — Pay attention to your anxiety. Listen to it, and understand what it’s saying about you and your circumstances. Your fears may be running away with you at times; at least I suggest you notice when this is happening. Many people do not; or rather, are not mindful enough to know that fear is the issue, rather than the thing they are supposedly afraid of. It would be immensely helpful if you were to sort this one out, since if there is any issue it is fear and not the thing feared. Your current astrology is carrying some potent manifestation power, so I suggest you turn your energy toward something creative. Psychic energy is inherently neutral and can be turned to something loving or something toxic by choice. Though this is often forgotten, now would be the time to remember. Remembering means making the choice to focus the power of your mind in the direction you want to go, or what you want to become. Above all else, be truthful with yourself.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — You have the opportunity to make a splash, a crash or a controversy, with the potential to affect many people around you. I suggest you do none of the above, but rather allow your influence to work in ways that are understated and reserved. While you do this, you’ll need to live with the fact that there are things you don’t understand. For example, that might include not understanding why someone or something is harmful, even if you know intuitively that it is. Why does not matter as much as what your intuition is telling you. One particular aspect is suggesting that your words or actions could have an influence far beyond what you’re even aware of. The same aspect is saying that you are in a position receive information that you would otherwise be unlikely ever to find out. Yet will you know that this is happening when it comes your way? You will, if you’re paying close attention, which is the theme of the moment.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Ease back a little and let your momentum carry you. You have plenty; you have advanced more in recent weeks than you may have in recent years. Focus on what you’ve accomplished and study the ways that it’s taking you where you need to go and want to be. Focus on your agreements with others. Work from the idea that everything that could ever hang in the balance will be determined by a conscious, and fair, agreement with someone you care about, are close to, or do business with. The responsibility is on you to focus on mutual fairness, and it’s worth stating in advance that not everyone will agree with you, or at least not initially. Still, you must do what is right. To help ensure that, have a clear understanding of when decisions need to be made, and use your time gathering facts and points of view that will help you come from an informed place when the time arrives to implement your plan of action.

Aries (March 20-April 19) — Just because an agreement you have with someone needs to be renegotiated or clarified does not mean that everything is coming unraveled. But would it serve you better if you did? Do your current agreements really serve you? Upcoming events will demonstrate the value of your independence, something that modern folks are all too willing to give up in order to have some assurance in their relationships. Often that ‘assurance’ is based on keeping secrets, and what happens next is the likely, indeed predictable, result of some seemingly deep secret coming out. I would propose that this is actually rather mundane information, the more potent for being concealed, offering you an opportunity for liberation when revealed.

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — Try not to push others to receive the gifts that you have to offer, which are considerable. Rather, notice who appreciates you. Notice who takes on the nourishment that you have to offer. Or better yet, you might focus inwardly during what is likely to be an extraordinary moment of self-discovery. I can see from your astrology that this might show up along with some anxiety of a kind that you cannot easily explain, particularly around the time of the lunar eclipse and New Moon on Oct. 8. If you acknowledge any apprehension you’re feeling rather than trying to suppress or deny it, you’ll be able to tap the underlying creative and self-creative power that is coming to you, or rather, bubbling up from the core of your being. One result could be a stunning moment of revelation that you really exist. Strange as it seems, that is something that often needs to be learned or discovered.

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — You will need to balance the urge to get out and make a splash with some deep needs for solitude and emotional healing. You might start with the healing piece, and take some time to yourself this weekend, and attend to your emotional needs. Then follow your intuition outside your door to whatever interesting places they lead you — though only when you’re ready. Some profound forces of transformation are at work in your life, and I suggest you honor their movements fully. This will not take as long as you might think; it’s a little like how taking a catnap can be more refreshing than sleeping for two hours. Close your door, surround yourself with silence, and allow your inner healing energy to call you to your center. When you proceed from there, you will be more focused and confident — and ready to meet the world.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Mercury may be going retrograde this weekend, but don’t let that distract you from honoring your plans for advancement in your career or vocation. While there is a rather significant factor of the unpredictable, you still must work out a few scenarios for success and consider how you would respond, if they show up for you. As for the Mercury retrograde piece, that translates to being attentive to two things: one is business-related communication, and the other is ideas that you might otherwise sideline as being too strange or seemingly not workable enough. Sometimes the thing to do is what everyone says is the wrong thing, and the absolutely worst idea. You might not want to leap into something like that headlong, but whatever someone deems totally absurd is an invitation to consider, whether it’s not fantastic.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — Now is the time to think about your long-term plans — from a high perspective that allows you to see for miles. For as bold as you are, you can be a bit near-sighted, and what you need now is a point of view that allows you to consider some possibilities that you’ve never considered. Even if you think you’re onto something big, climb a little higher and look around. Then look up and consider whether there isn’t another level from which to look and see. I’m not talking about ambition — I’m talking about a vantage point. You may have to struggle against some emotional insecurity or a touch of agoraphobia as you do this. Yes, you might want to actually get out of the house and take a little trip — or a long one, and look at the various scenarios of your life and notice what you learn about them. I am sure you’ll be surprised.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — Mercury stations retrograde in the angle of your chart associated with written communication — and with gossip. I suggest you stick to writing, at least most of the time, since there is a delay interposed, and you can edit it. Any time you talk about anyone else, you’re right on the verge of what can potentially harm your reputation or that of someone else. Therefore, be careful what you say. If you’re going to say (or publish) anything, make it positive and as short as possible. The deck is stacked in such a way that what you say now will have unexpected influence later on. Therefore, you might want to think strategically, using your power of speech and written communication to lay the seeds of what you want to grow. As the Grateful Dead said, “If you plant ice, you’re gonna harvest wind.” If you plant love, trust and respect, you will harvest the fruits of intimacy.

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — The Sun has a long story to tell before it leaves your sign in a few weeks. There are many adventures ahead, though you might not notice that if you cling to any form of certainty, or go out of your way to avoid change. Indeed, progress is impossible without change, and so I suggest you tune yourself to all kinds of movement, large and small. Do yourself a huge favor and let go of any expectations you have on other people, and for that matter, yourself. You seem to be sending yourself a mixed message about whether you matter. You are neither the most important thing nor totally insignificant. Between the two is a whole range of actual, authentic meaning, though you are unlikely to believe that if you try to convince yourself otherwise. Nourish your soul. Feel, look and listen.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — Your inner struggle comes down to your ability to receive nourishment. If I were to teach an introductory therapy class, the first segment would cover understanding blocks to receiving love, and blocks to the awareness of love’s presence. The first thing to do is to take care of yourself in a conscious, dependable, structured way. Start with what you eat. Food is not a game, and it’s not connected to statistics (calories, pounds, stone, etc.). It’s not about image. You know what is nourishing for you and what is not. If you are gluten-free, gluten-free cookies might not be what you need; you might need more mineral-rich foods (for example). The thing is, you know. And if you think of this more as an act of receiving than of giving, you might find it easier to negotiate with yourself. Then, of course, there are people. Some are nourishing and some are depleting. It’s good to know who has what you’re willing to receive.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — Mars continues to make its way across your sign, and has one of its most glorious and/or challenging moments this weekend — it will be square the centaur planet Chiron in Pisces. You might want to do something that challenges your present sense of emotional ‘worthiness’ or belonging. I would say the more triggered you are, the better. That’s because triggers can reveal your true inner dynamics, which are exactly what you want to know. You absolutely must know the connection between what seems to block you from what you want to do now, and any early wounding you experienced that is working at the root of that situation. This is not merely about making contact with your pain. It’s about knowing your inner landscape intimately, so that you can work with the territory and use your resources effectively.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — What are you withholding, from yourself or from others? What, in the way of feelings, nurturing, words, or anything? Withholding can come with a sense of power, whether over yourself or over others. Do you detect any of that going on? If so, what do you think is at the root of that drive? Is it the fear of being exploited? One thing that our business-driven, allegedly capitalist society does not like to admit is that it’s from giving that people figure out how much they have. If you’re experiencing the feeling of not having enough, I suggest you try offering yourself to the people around you. You have plenty, and you can also afford to be a lot warmer and more communicative. People like you more than you may think. They care about you more than you know. Your generosity would be an excellent way to acknowledge that — even as an experiment. For example, invite some friends over to a home-cooked meal.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — The thing to do is take full responsibility for your situation — whether you like it or whether you don’t. To the extent that your life is a mixed bag, you have come a long way toward figuring out that you’re the one who has created or developed the elements of your existence that really work for you. Remind yourself of that fact. While there are definitely some situations calling for leadership, the thing your charts are calling for is self-leadership. Take a few weeks and organize your most personal priorities. Be clear about what you want, which today means resolving to become clear about what you want. This may take a little while; you’ve been distracted, though you now have some time and bandwidth to focus on what is the most meaningful to you. Remember, no matter how much you think you know, this will be a discovery process.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — This is certainly shaping up to be one of the more high-achievement times in your life. You are driven and determined to stop at nothing, which is calling forth some of your deepest resources. This includes your willingness to stand out; which really means your admission of how different you really are, and your commitment to making that difference work for you. You can, will and in truth must keep going — though I recommend that you take the time to slow down and appreciate the beauty that surrounds you. Make contact with the people you care about, and let them know you’re available to them. It would suit you well if your definition of success includes having the time and space to experience the world in purely human terms. This will be good for everyone, especially you — and good for business.