Editor’s note: this is the full PW members’ edition, featuring your weekly horoscopes, the Create feature, Planet Waves FM and more.

Dear Friend and Reader:

The astrological traction that has been available to you all week (and which you’ve hopefully used to move some project or facet of life forward) is still in force. Though as we head toward the weekend, there are a couple of shifts in the energy.

I’m referring, of course, to the ‘super-sextile’ that has been the standout aspect this week: Mars and Jupiter in Scorpio sextile Venus, the Sun and Pluto in Capricorn. This was the aspect pattern in force for the publication of Fire and Fury, Michael Wolff’s incendiary book about the Trump White House; as we’ve seen, it’s led to renewed debate about Trump’s mental health, and his absurd call for stronger libel laws.

Yet what caught my attention even more strongly this week was the news of heavy rains in Southern California causing deadly mudslides in areas that are bereft of vegetation, thanks to last year’s brutal wildfires. It’s a perfect — though terrible — image of this Scorpio-Capricorn super-sextile: dramatic movement involving water and earth; the cosmically ironic flipside of the “traction” idea used to describe this astrology at the beginning of the week.

As reported by Democracy Now!, climate scientists say the wildfires and extreme weather causing the mudslides (which, so far, have killed at least 17 people) are, in part, a direct result of greenhouse gas emissions. It’s another reminder that the effects of global warming are not far-off things to fear in the future, and they’re not just happening in the background.

We’re experiencing the effects now; and we’re going to experience them in the foreground more frequently, thanks to moves like including in the recent tax reform bill a provision that opens up the Arctic Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling. It’s something Trump reaffirmed on Wednesday, when he commented during a press conference with the prime minister of Norway, “I am for massive oil and gas and everything else and a lot of energy. Putin can’t love that.”

Try as he might to distance himself from Russia in the wake of Wolff’s disclosures about collusion during the 2016 election, I don’t think Trump’s jabs at Putin on Wednesday will put off Special Counsel Robert Mueller — nor will repeating “no collusion” eight times in one minute. The ground he’s standing on is looking more and more like a California mudslide.

Assuming you do not deal in governmental or corporate secrets (secrets relating to Scorpio, and government and business relating to Capricorn), chances are you’ve been able to use this week’s astrology to move projects forward in tangible ways. That trend looks like it will continue, though your approach may feel a little different as the sky shifts.

Practical Leverage, and Ways to Use It

The first change to the week’s dominant astrology is Mercury’s move out of Sagittarius, where it has been for more than two months due to its recent retrograde. Mercury joined the astrological throng in Capricorn (which includes Saturn, Black Moon Lilith, Pluto, the Sun and Venus) at 12:09 am EST (5:09 UTC) today.

Photo by Amanda Painter.

You may find this brings a little more grounding and precision to your thought processes. Mercury in Capricorn tends to indicate practicality and good concentration.

Those qualities get a boost from Mercury’s conjunction to Saturn (which rules Capricorn), exact at 2:03 am EST on Saturday (7:03 UTC). If one of your recent activities has been to formulate a general plan of action, you may find it easier now to focus on the details of that plan.

That said, with Mercury in Capricorn — especially with so much additional Capricorn energy, and particularly in a conjunction to Saturn — you might find you need to make a little extra effort to bring empathy and humor to your interactions. Saturn’s influence on Mercury can sometimes be one of negative thinking, related to an overabundance of caution or fear.

There are plenty of times in life when it’s wise to be cautious. But the overall image of the astrology right now still speaks of the potential for productive movement, and that may be particularly true with Mercury on the Aries Point. (The first degrees of all the cardinal signs — Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn — resonate with Aries Point energy.) This is where the personal and the collective intersect.

Given some of the pressing social and political issues we’re all facing at this time, I get the impression it’s more important than ever to speak out, rather than to let fearful thinking convince you to keep quiet. It’s up to you, however, to weigh your personal circumstances and any potential consequences.

Yet with Jupiter in Scorpio still applying in a sextile to Pluto in Capricorn, you have some real mojo for making creative changes in your life and to your surroundings — especially if you use your sense of empowerment to benefit those around you at the same time. Taking advantage of any spontaneous changes in your environment may harness some particularly fruitful regenerative energy. Be sure to share what you learn.

In the midst of this potential for productive movement, however, there’s an indication you might start to encounter some tension. The Sun and Venus in Capricorn are moving into a square aspect with Uranus and Eris in Aries, in effect now through the weekend. On one level, this could signal a feeling of being at odds somehow with the current cultural-technical environment, or with the identity you’ve created in it thus far.

Partial chart for Mercury’s conjunction to Saturn in Capricorn (lower left, with the bold “2” next to them). Venus and the Sun (with the bold “23”) are halfway between their exact squares to Eris and Uranus in Aries, which are on the far right. Not shown at the top of the chart: Ceres and the lunar North Node, conjunct in mid-Leo. View glyph key here.

At the same time, I wonder if it could also represent some practical leverage you can wield against the chaos? What might that look like to you? One idea that comes to mind is choosing ‘old’ ways of expressing yourself (such as email instead of Instagram, or even — gasp! — picking up your phone to make an actual call rather than texting or using Facebook).

If you’re feeling at all frustrated in your efforts to express yourself and feel heard, Eris looks like a caution against using so-called passive-aggression (or any kind of subterfuge) to get attention. To my mind, that includes things like making a seemingly general post to social media in an effort to garner sympathetic reactions (or to indirectly call someone out) if you have the capability to speak directly to someone specific about how you’re feeling.

With the Sun and Venus in a square to Uranus, we get a reminder to be as conscious as possible about seeking new experiences in relationships, and to disrupt everyday routines (at work and elsewhere) intentionally. It’s the things you’re trying to ignore — such as impatience with the status quo or certain restrictions (whether set by you or by others) — that have the potential to be unpleasantly disruptive. Expecting the unexpected can help some; even more useful is if you’re willing to get proactive about seeking new experiences, and about expressing that need to those you care about.

Whether you’re feeling tension or inspiration with this week’s astrology, the message seems to be the same: get busy, get creative, and be direct and intentional about it. Remember: you can be practical, be flexible, experiment, have fun and be warm to others all at the same time. It’s not as hard as it sounds if you’re willing to be fully present in what you’re doing.

Yours & truly,

Amanda Painter

The Art of Becoming is Becoming

Dear Friend and Reader:

This is an update on The Art of Becoming, my 2018 annual edition for Planet Waves. Last week, I produced an introductory video [play here], in which I review the build-up to this year’s distinctive astrology.

We promised the annual edition for “sometime in January” and with one exception (involving audio) I’ve always come through with that. What makes this year interesting is that, for the first time, I’m also writing a daily horoscope, in the New York Daily News.

The first items to be delivered will be the videos on Saturn, Chiron and Uranus (more information here), which will be included if you pre-order all 12 signs. These videos will contain details on how to work with your life cycles and really see what these transits mean.

I’ve now uploaded the first video, covering Saturn in Capricorn, though as of this moment, most of this work is ahead of me. So, please send some good vibes.

Next will come my written presentations (possibly with extra audio sessions), mapping out in detail how the astrology of 2018 will look for each of the signs. This is my 20th annual edition, and your readings will get the full benefit of all my experience. If you want to get a feeling for how that looks, you may access the full 2017 annual here with our compliments.

If you’d like to dig a little deeper, you’re invited to check out our previous annual editions going back to 1999 (here’s a letter explaining more about their history).

You may pre-order all 12 signs for just $99 here. We recommend this as best value; note that you can share the readings with your household. Alternatively, you may choose your individual signs here.

Thank you for your interest in Planet Waves. As ever, it’s good to be with you.

With love,

Time for More than Praying

By Amanda Painter

Earlier in the week, The New York Times released this short in-house documentary about the growing mental health crisis in Puerto Rico. Nearly four months after Hurricane Maria devastated this island territory of the U.S., more than 1.5 million people — nearly half of Puerto Rico’s population — is still without power.

Almost 200,000 people have left the island. Many of those people deal with guilt over leaving. But for those who cannot leave, the ongoing stress of having no electricity, no job, no school to go to, limited or contaminated water and food (and no refrigeration or ability to cook) is taking a serious toll.

In the midst of everything else clamoring for our attention, it’s easy to lose sight of Puerto Rico: it’s an island; it’s not an official state; it has no U.S. senator, and its sole representative in the House has limited voting rights. The U.S. Congress took control of its economy and imposed austerity measures in order to pay back the territory’s debt; and now most Americans are more concerned with how Trump’s tax plan affects their own situation.

It’s no wonder that Lin-Manuel Miranda, the Tony-award-winning creator of the musical Hamilton, released a video in early October featuring at least 22 Puerto Rican singers as part of an awareness and fundraising effort. The video, Almost Like Praying, takes its title and chorus from the musical West Side Story, the musical by Leonard Bernstein that first bought Puerto Rican Americans into mainstream consciousness. The name of the female lead in West Side Story is Maria: a name that is “almost like praying,” according to the male character who falls in love with her.

Puerto Rico needs more than songs and prayers, though. It needs relief — in the form of both private donations and actions by the U.S. government to provide substantial aid and perhaps even forgive debt. That won’t happen unless the rest of us recognize that taxation without representation — the instigating cause of the Revolutionary War — is the exact situation being transgressed against the people of Puerto Rico.

The musical Hamilton is about American founding father — and Capricorn — Alexander Hamilton, whose birthday is Jan. 11. If he were still alive to celebrate his birthday today, what would he say?

Planet Waves FM: Season Premiere
Our Calm New Capricorn Environment

Dear Friend and Reader:

Planet Waves FM is back, after a three-week break. That was an excellent idea.

This week’s program [play episode here] catches us up on the new Capricorn astrology environment, Michael Wolff’s book, my latest McLuhan studies and finally, in the tantra section, a discussion of embarrassment as the key to enlightenment.

Eric in a recent episode of Planet Waves TV.

A few weeks ago, I mentioned how we set a goal of having listener contributions pay for Planet Waves FM. Total cost to do the show is about $2,000 a month, which supports the studio, personnel to produce the program, web hosting and membership dues to the Pacifica Network.

Costs for the past 350 or so programs have been paid for by Planet Waves and me personally. With our wide listenership, we’re ready to have the modest costs for the program diffused amidst our listeners.

Think of this: our whole year of programming costs less than one 30-second advertisement on The Daily Show.

But there’s more! Planet Waves FM is published by a newly-minted nonprofit called Chiron Return. We have two other projects. One is The Gemstone File, an online collection of documents from the files of major chemical corporations, the military and the EPA. The other is a class called Investigative Reporting from the Kitchen Table, which will teach the basic rudiments of journalism to anyone who wants to learn.

We also offer a community recording facility and gathering space in Kingston, New York, where I’ll soon be offering astrology workshops.

Would you consider making a small monthly contribution? Now that we’re a 501(c)(3) corporation, your financial support is tax-deductible. Every little bit goes a long way toward balancing our budget. Thank you for your offering. We truly appreciate your generosity.

If you’re in a position to make a larger contribution toward our efforts, please contact us directly.

This is the month when Chiron Return takes over paying studio rent and utilities from Planet Waves! That’s a real step forward.

It’s great to be back with you.

With love,

Monthly Horoscopes and Publishing Schedule Notes

Your extended monthly horoscopes for January were published on Thursday, Dec. 21. We published your extended monthly horoscopes for December on Wednesday, Nov. 22. Please note: we normally publish the extended monthly horoscope on the first Friday after the Sun has entered a new sign.

Aries (March 20-April 19) — Every dial around you is apparently pointing in the direction of progress, so that you have little to do for now except march forward and meet each goal square on. If anything is holding you back, chances are it’s coming from within you. It would seem that, whether consciously or not, you’re doubting your fitness for success, or you’re anxious about the potential consequences, like being in the spotlight. There might be a deep memory of some kind attached to this; but in reality I suspect you know these are false fears. Forget them. They do not serve you. — by Amy Elliott. For your Eric Francis horoscope this week, please see this link.

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — You seem to be developing as a person in leaps and bounds, which might be why you’re not exactly feeling comfortable about it. It’s not that, as the stereotype goes, you can’t cope with change at all; rather, it’s rapid and/or seemingly chaotic change that makes you want to revert to simpler times. (You know; when you still had Windows 3 and a pager.) You might feel easier if you take each day as it comes, and give yourself the room to think through each step. There is almost certainly a point to all this, even if you can’t see it yet. — by Amy Elliott. For your Eric Francis horoscope this week, please see this link.

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — Where possible, you likely prefer to take what you consider to be a rational approach, even to something that affects you deeply. In doing so, you perhaps hope to arrive at a just conclusion; however, you might sometimes forget that your needs, too, are valid, and that you, too, have a stake in the turn of events. Also remember that there is a distinct difference between a fair measure and an equal one. A completely fair decision must take into account all the nuances of individuality, and show compassion to everyone concerned. — by Amy Elliott. For your Eric Francis horoscope this week, please see this link.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — You know your intuition is usually pretty sharp when it comes to other people. Let that encourage you if your social calendar starts to get full, or if potential suitors begin showing up in batches. For some reason, you seem disinclined to trust or to take chances. Be wary of any temptation to use your work or daily routines as an excuse for declining invitations or dates. Like every other human being, you need space for leisure and relaxation. If you feel hesitant to take it, remember: sometimes you have to wind down so you can wind back up. — by Amy Elliott. For your Eric Francis horoscope this week, please see this link.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — Do you recall when your daily routines were actually predictable? There would seem to be so much happening just now that you’re not entirely sure you can spin all the plates. Yet part of this might relate to you taking on too much. It’s highly likely that you have more control than you realize; so look for ways to scale back, delegate or break down tasks. Your diligence will probably have other modes of expression very soon. Above all, watch any tendency to be reckless with your time management, or simply to barrel ahead unceasingly. — by Amy Elliott. For your Eric Francis horoscope this week, please see this link.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — If life experience is like a freshwater pool, at some point you have to plunge in. You can’t stay on the shore forever, collecting data on temperature variations and making sure you have the optimal swimwear. Once you’ve ascertained that there are definitely no piranhas, you’re pretty much free to immerse yourself. True, each adventure might not be all you hoped or expected; but it might be better. It could even teach you things about yourself you didn’t know. Be prepared to overcome some risk aversion this week. You’ll surely be glad you did. — by Amy Elliott. For your Eric Francis horoscope this week, please see this link.

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — The plethora of planets currently hanging out in your 4th house is likely either turning you into the homebody to rule them all, or driving you as far from your place of residence as you can possibly get. Whichever way your preference seems to lie, the important thing is that you feel comfortable and relaxed. Where that happens is nobody’s business but your own; don’t let anyone pressure you into feeling you should be someplace else. Likewise, don’t feel obliged to open up your space to any particular person. It’s your space, after all. — by Amy Elliott. For your Eric Francis horoscope this week, please see this link.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — There’s a joke in Sense and Sensibility where an amiable, if somewhat bumbling, character thinks closeness means “sitting an hour or two together in the same room almost every day” and sharing embarrassing secrets. You, of course, are aware of the infinitely more complex and beautiful nature of true intimacy, and the level of consciousness it requires. Keep that in mind this week. If you’re in the mood to divulge, by all means do so; but remember that it’s more about quality than quantity. Select both your message and your audience wisely. — by Amy Elliott. For your Eric Francis horoscope this week, please see this link.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — You’ve already undergone the revolution in understanding who you are. What’s changing now seemingly involves the person you want to be, and who you’re becoming. Firstly, consider whether you think you’re truly living in accordance with your most deeply held values. Are you giving the bulk of your energy to a cause you actually believe in, and are passionate about? In the next few weeks, you’ll probably have the opportunity to build on your efforts if you are. If you’re not, the same period may well bring some fresh ideas. Offer them houseroom. — by Amy Elliott. For your Eric Francis horoscope this week, please see this link.

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Capricorn Audio Birthday Reading is Ready!

Dear Friend and Reader:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thank you for being a Planet Waves customer.

With love,

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Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — Up and at ’em, Capricorn! With all the activity in your sign, you must surely be buzzing with energy, feeling completely rejuvenated and…wait, why are you shutting yourself in your room and turning on the mood music? Actually, it is true that you’re probably in an unusually fertile moment, and receiving a lot of attention; which is precisely why you might feel overwhelmed, especially if you’re not used to being a point person. It’s okay to ease yourself in to this new phase of life; in fact, not pushing yourself too hard could be key to embracing it. — by Amy Elliott. For your Eric Francis horoscope this week, please see this link.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — By now you’ll have some concrete ideas about what’s happening in the deeper parts of your mind, and possibly how you might best help along whatever process of change you’re undergoing. If you feel confused, there may be someone in your life able to provide a clue. Be patient with yourself; though by that I don’t mean call a halt to the momentum. Nor should you allow your mind to run along the well-smoothed track of rationalization. The alterations you’re trying to make will only come about if you consciously experience your emotions. — by Amy Elliott. For your Eric Francis horoscope this week, please see this link.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Granted, just now you probably have a lot to do, and don’t need some pesky horoscope writer interrupting your flow. Except that there’s a rather emphatic gathering in your chart suggesting it’s time to harvest some of the fruits of previous labors. Don’t be too hesitant to take up a few public engagements. True, that means venturing out and actually talking to people. So sally forth and mingle a bit. There’ll be plenty of time for you to retreat back indoors — and you’ll likely do so greatly enriched by your interactions, and with a newfound interest in your work. — by Amy Elliott. For your Eric Francis horoscope this week, please see this link.