Planet Waves Daily Oracle for Monday, Jan. 28, 2019

Today’s Oracle takes us to the Leo weekly for August 3, 2012.

Over the next few days, you have access to a power source that may seem like an infinite well of creativity. This is so potent you may want to approach it with respect. One way you can do that is to avoid acting on a rebellious impulse. And while I am normally an advocate of curiosity, I suggest that you monitor that particular thought form with care and caution as the week progresses. Your curiosity is so powerful right now that you have to handle it with the care of a laser. It’s a force that can activate all kinds of processes, including some that you may not find so easy to bring under control. Therefore, in addition to curiosity, I suggest you monitor your motives, and that you be clear what you want to learn, experience or discover. You also need to do something that’s exceedingly difficult for most humans, which is monitor when your judgment may be off, or when you may be working with incomplete information. When either of those conditions is true, pause.

As we go deeper into this most unusual and challenging phase of history, intelligence is the thing we need the most. That is the theme of the 2019-2020 annual edition of Planet Waves — audio now available for instant access. See more information here. If you’re looking for individual signs, order here.

Monday Morning Horoscope #161 for Jan. 28, 2019

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Aries (March 20-April 19) — You must guard against being too aggressive this week. That’s not an easy thing to measure; it would be fair to dial back your self-assertiveness to statements that include “please,” “thank you,” and “I have an idea.” Mars, your ruling planet, is now passing through the most sensitive corner of the sky — it’s about to make a square to Pluto (described by lots of astrology texts as ruthless) and a conjunction to Eris (subversive, unpredictable). From these basic descriptions you can see why I’m suggesting you ease off and let your mere existence do the talking. In any situation that provokes you, put yourself onto a 48-hour delay, and choose a suitable time and venue for a civilized discussion that strives to gather information first, before placing any blame. This combination of factors calls for anger management, but it also calls for healthy modes of self-expression. Squares want action. Vent your energy in ways that are fun, helpful, and not especially dangerous. Hence, if you go to the gym, don’t try to set any records. Get your full Aries reading by Eric here.

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — Be a detective and keep a pulse on what’s motivating you. Don’t assume that the face value of any feeling is what you really have going on, or even how you really feel. You might ask others you trust what they think is influencing you, and take their feedback under advisement. Mars is passing through your 12th house. One of my readers recently got me on the phone and we had a chat about this zone, and she reminded me of an old (undated but sounds like the 70s) delineation: what you don’t know about yourself that everyone else knows. I love this because in reality, we don’t really have secrets (try as we may), and the 12th does describe a blind spot. Meanwhile, this can be a productive, interesting and even elevating week for you professionally, as Mercury meets the Sun in your 10th house of achievement. However, I think of the 10th more as the place of responsibility, so that would be a good place to start. Use your considerable talent as a communicator and you cannot go wrong, if you remember that all sides of the story count. Get your full Taurus reading by Eric here.

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — This is a good week to influence hearts and minds, though it’ll work better if people come to you rather than you going to them. You’re under an interesting mix of aspects, which to one side indicate that people are drawn in your direction and are interested in what you have to say. In the other direction, there is potential for controversy, which you would be wise to sidestep, or gently brush off. Many people are set on hair-trigger at the moment, which means triggered by just about anything. If there is some portion of your life where you have public exposure, you will benefit from easing back on controversial topics and leaving those discussions to others. Direct your statements to basic human needs, and make sure that everyone in your circle of friends feels taken care of. But please avoid being a provocateur. Mars passing through the hot spot in the sky for the next week or so will have unpredictable results. Don’t let anything come to blows. Get your full Gemini reading by Eric here.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Persist gently with your professional plans, emphasizing responsibility above all else. Back off from ambition in any form, and strive to do a good job. If you’re “selling” or “marketing” yourself, the point to emphasize is that you have your priorities in order and that you can work well within an authority structure. Meanwhile, make sure that’s true. You cannot be over-careful this week and next when it comes to checking that your priorities are aligned with people who are making the decisions or holding the bag. If you are that person, make sure you seek the advice and counsel of those who are around you. Your chart is exceptionally well aspected this week when it comes to seeking the cooperation and collaboration of others, and also, offering help when and where you can. Again, though, this comes down to priorities. Make sure your basic needs are covered and that your resources are not too stretched in anyone direction; then there will be plenty to go around. Get your full Cancer reading by Eric here.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — Get help where you need it. You’re not in this alone, whatever this might be. People care about you, they are aware of you, and will be open to assisting you. But don’t wait for anyone to offer; keep your plans open and available, and know what you can delegate, hand off, or collaborate on. It might be the dishes; it might be some heavy-duty project at work. Right now your best asset is your creativity, which means being a source of ideas. This will work best in a collaborative spirit. If you’re a fan of comedy, one of the reasons why really funny writing is that way is because people work on it together. The same holds for most music, and just about anything of a very high quality. Bring that method to everything you’re doing. Keep the discussion going. Immediately steal ideas better than your own. And follow what my godmother Aunt Josie would often say: many hands make light work (as long as someone intelligent is coordinating them). That would probably be you, unless there is someone better. Get your full Leo reading by Eric here.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — Over the next week or so, you may find yourself provoking others out of curiosity about yourself. There’s a theory of communications that this is a kind of bottom line — that all conflict is about self-discovery. If you know this, you can apply the theory consciously and gently, rather than going into automatic mode. Also, there is such a thing as “working it out in the bedroom,” which means exploring tensions on the sexual level, where this is appropriate and possible. In fact most tension between people has a sexual origin, be it attraction, competition or jealousy in some form or another. But “civilized” people tend to push this below the level of full awareness, and that is where trouble can brew. Then, what seem to be unconscious motives and tensions can sublimate into conflict. It does not help that we live in a time when expressing desire and attraction is being shamed out of existence, though in the end, this comes down to respect, and to what men and women work out between and among themselves. Get your full Virgo reading by Eric here.

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — Your sign is famous for its diplomatic skills, and from the look of your charts, that’s a good thing. You will need to put those skills to use over the next 10 days. Remember that diplomacy is not about rolling over and taking it, or swallowing your pride, or suppressing your needs. It’s the skill of working out communication under tense circumstances. The first thing you must establish in any situation is that everyone involved is a good-faith actor. This translates to making sure that there are no hidden agendas involved, which of course you will need to do tactfully and with some expertise. One strategy you may use is giving people lots of room to vent. It would seem that someone nearby has a lot of feelings they want to get off of their chest, and the best thing to do is to stand aside and allow them the space to do so. You will learn everything you need to know if you listen. You will get a sense of where this person is coming from, and their motives, and quite possibly how insecure they feel. Then, eventually, you can respond. Get your full Libra reading by Eric here.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — Now would be a good time for family- or household-related discussions that you want happen on civilized terms. You’re likely to be feeling grounded in yourself, and perhaps more willing to share your feelings than usual. The thing to beware of is confusing one issue for another, for example, work-related frustrations bubbling over into your personal environment. Therefore, figure out what’s really going on with you, what you need, and how you’re doing generally at expressing yourself. This really is the bottom line theme: you have a lot of energy you want to move, and you need to move it, not store it up for later. Think of all the ways you’ve wanted to express yourself. Drummer? Sculptor? Writer? Athlete? Orator? Something a little more ‘Scorpionic’? Name any and all that apply for you, and start doing at least two of them now — sooner, not later. You must make room for yourself and your desires in this world. When you do, you’ll find it rather easy to get along with the people in your life. Get your full Scorpio reading by Eric here.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — Amidst much other cosmic activity, Venus will be moving through the late degrees of your sign this week. It’s going to pass through some challenging emotional territory — in particular, a square between Chiron (in late Pisces) and Ixion (in late Sagittarius). For this astrology, you must position yourself in the way that you’re least likely to be hurt by others. This is not about being defensive, but rather aware: of the people you’re close to and their history; of how you know they treat you; of your own tendencies to be treated in certain ways. You’re at one of those points where you can get caught up in the past, or see the past for what it is, and do everything in your power to point yourself toward the future. Of all the people in the world, you’re the only one who you can count on to change and to grow. It’s not that nobody else does. Rather, it’s that you are the only person you can dependably influence (and that is challenging enough). Therefore, use what power you have. Get your full Sagittarius reading by Eric here.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — Mars making a series of aspects this week will challenge your confidence, which has been under some stress lately. Yet sooner or later you must gain basic faith in yourself, faith that cannot be so easily shaken. You tend to undermine your own self-assurance on a fairly regular basis. My take is that this stems from seeking approval from others as a kind of habit, and staking your self-acceptance on how they respond. This is the most important trend that you can reverse, in service of your peace of mind and your happiness. This issue is secondary to the problem of using the approval of others as a substitute for your own self-affirmation. You might place a ban on asking advice, or discussing your seeming problems with others. Take your own counsel. Work out for yourself what is yours to work out. Nobody else will ever make you confident or grant you confidence or say that you’re worthy of it (or however you may phrase it). It’s long past time to fully establish this process for yourself, as you will see this week. Get your full Capricorn reading by Eric here.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — You know what you need to say, and you must say it in a way that comes across accurately. You may feel tempted to say too much, or to be overly assertive, when what you need is to be clear and precise. The power of your words alone will convey everything you need to say, and then you must trust that fact, even if you don’t get an immediate response. If you need something, ask for it directly, though make sure you differentiate needing from wanting. Take a self-contained approach, though also take steps to ensure that you’re in harmony with any larger purpose that involves other people or some collective mission. You have your role; everyone else has theirs; you are likely to be in a position to serve as a facilitator of communication. The precursor to this is knowing your stuff: having all the data you need, knowing who is coming from where, having a sense of who possesses what kind of intelligence, and then knowing when (and how) to act. Get your full Aquarius reading by Eric here.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — You will be able to make certain financial moves this week, though make sure you’ve thought them through carefully, and that you not act based on impulse. You must employ a combination of thoughtful strategy and intuition. On some level, this must involve a public relations method, appropriate to your situation and your concept of the public. That said, you have considerable power to take action related to improving your financial situation, a project that you’re likely to have been working on all year. Keep doing what you’ve discovered works, and then try an experiment or two in a similar vein. The most important thing you can do, though, is whatever you can to feel good. Get enough rest, eat some of your favorite food, and avoid scarcity consciousness by granting yourself a few extra privileges. And most of all, connect what you do to the value that it provides to others. This is a basic, demonstrable fact of existence; connect the dots. Get your full Pisces reading by Eric here.

A Bird Flew In

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Near the Ashokan Reservoir on Jan. 26, 2019. Photo by Lanvi Nguyen.

This week, both Venus and Mars begin to pass through outer-planet squares. Venus is currently in late Sagittarius, and Mars is in late Aries. While the aspects come into full focus early next week, around the time of the Feb. 4 Aquarius New Moon, we can use the look-ahead ability of astrology.

When inner planets pass through aspects involving outer planets, there can be deep and interesting effects. Outer planets, in this case ones such as Chiron, Pluto and Eris, tend to describe the longer processes of growth and individuation. Inner planets describe emotional states, feelings, desires and immediate motives.

Photo by Lanvi Nguyen.

Both aspect patterns involve squares, which indicate that something wants to be expressed. Remember that. Pay attention to what you feel and what you want to say about it. We live in a moment when it only seems appropriate to address anger and pain, and then to use them as a means of seemingly gaining power.

Many other options are possible. This is the kind of thing you learn about in therapy: the many ways you have available to respond to the same situation, and the fact that you have the power to choose.

To me, the involvement of Venus and Mars looks like more discussion of gender, a topic over which our society is obsessed. However, gender (largely a construction) is a derivative of sex, which is biological. Gender might seem like the meaning we give to sex, though we might consider what would happen if we proceeded from the other direction.

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How Washington’s Devastating “Economic Blockade” of Venezuela Helped Pave the Way for Coup Attempt

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Links to today’s show transcripts:

How Washington’s Devastating “Economic Blockade” of Venezuela Helped Pave the Way for Coup Attempt
Venezuela remains in a state of crisis as opposition forces—with the backing of the United States—attempt to unseat the government of Nicolás Maduro. On Thursday, Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López said the military continues to stand by Maduro. His remarks came one day after President Trump announced that the U.S. would recognize opposition leader Juan Guaidó as Venezuela’s new leader. Guaidó, the new head of Venezuela’s National Assembly, declared himself president on Wednesday during a large opposition protest. Meanwhile, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has ordered the U.S. to remove all of its diplomats from Venezuela, but Washington is ignoring the request, claiming Maduro no longer has authority to take such action. Two long-term observers of Venezuelan politics: Venezuelan-born NYU professor Alejandro Velasco and Steve Ellner are interviewed. Steve Ellner lives in Venezuela, where he taught for several decades.

Venezuelan Foreign Minister: The U.S. Interferes in Latin American Politics Every Day, Every Hour
The U.S.-led effort targeting the oil-rich nation of Venezuela dates back two decades, since the late Hugo Chávez became president in 1999. In November, John Bolton accused Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua of being part of a “troika of tyranny.” In September, The New York Times reported the Trump administration conducted secret meetings with rebellious military officers in Venezuela to discuss overthrowing Maduro. Democracy Now! airs more of their recent interview with Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza. He came into the Democracy Now! studio last week.

Historian: Venezuela Is “Staging Ground” for U.S. to Reassert Control Over Latin America
While Mexico and Uruguay are calling for dialogue to address the crisis in Venezuela, much of Latin America has sided with the Trump administration by recognizing Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó as Venezuela’s new leader. Democracy Now! looks at what this means for the broader region with professors Alejandro Velasco and Steve Ellner.

CodePink’s Medea Benjamin Disrupts Pompeo Speech to Denounce U.S. Regime Change Agenda in Venezuela
On Thursday, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo pledged to send $20 million to the Venezuelan opposition in the form of humanitarian aid to address the shortages of food and medicine caused in part by harsh U.S. sanctions. Pompeo made the announcement while speaking at the OAS, the Organization of American States. Pompeo’s speech was interrupted by CodePink co-founder Medea Benjamin, who held a sign reading, ”OAS: Don’t Support a Coup in Venezuela.”

Planet Waves Daily Oracle for Friday, Jan. 25, 2019

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Today’s Oracle takes us to the Virgo monthly for August 1, 2005.

Your child is about to have a birthday, so this time of year is the anniversary of the end of your pregnancy. It’s a good time to remember the story of that final month, because from an astrological standpoint and from many others, the events, feelings and experiences you went through will have a bearing on your child’s life. Perhaps now while it’s fresh in your mind, you might want to take some notes and write down the basic facts. I am sure this is also a poignant time of year for you, filled with mystery and expectation. Planetary aspects at this time suggest it may be so once again for both you and your young one.

The Daily Oracle offers a horoscope selected randomly by our Intelligent Archive Oracle program, unique to Planet Waves. It’s also a database of my horoscopes going back to the late 1990s. You can use the Intelligent Archive Oracle to answer questions and give you ideas for how to handle problems and situations you cannot see through. This feature is available to our Galaxy, Backstage and Core Community members. See this link for more information.

Planet Waves Weekly Horoscope for Jan. 24, 2019

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Editor’s note: Planet Waves employee and astrology researcher Victoria Emory, inspired during Monday’s eclipse, wrote this week’s horoscopes for you. We’d love to hear what you think.

Aries (March 20-April 19) — The courage to create requires making friends with your vulnerable underbelly. If you can do that, a power surge of creative potential is available. The question is, to what extent does your confidence depend on approval from others versus from your own inner being? To quote don Juan, “The average man is hooked to his fellow men, while the warrior is hooked only to infinity.” Your quest for achievement in The World is furthered through a bit of vision questing over the next few days. When you’re right with your spirit, life becomes more than a commercial venture and a hell of a lot more satisfying. You’ve got a will fierce enough to work through whatever limitations you may be straining against, and those who can help you implement it are closer than you may realize. A teacher is available, perhaps internally, inviting you on an educational journey of some kind; a wise offer to accept. Breaking up your routine somehow will help that along, even if it’s a walk in the park or reading a book you’ve had in the back of your mind, but neglected. To use The Force right now, follow that trail. Get your full Aries reading by Eric here.

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — Take a look at how fear and desire factor in to your experience. If an oppressive or depressive sensation lurks in the shadows, it could relate to something you want but think you can’t have. Identifying the essence of a frustrated desire helps disentangle the symbol, the object, from what you actually seek. What’s the feeling you want, the quality? Real opportunities to attain whatever that may be exist, and you’re poised to enter a phase of your life in which limiting patterns will shake loose. Intimacy is a component here, connecting from the soul, emotionally as well as physically. Remember to remember your dreams. This is easier when you value the precious resources available through this often-neglected portal — especially true for you at the moment. It’s fair to say you’re enrolled in a master class of spiritual development, a program that will intensify over the next couple of years. The formidable power to pursue goals you’ve dreamt of is among the rewards. Get your full Taurus reading by Eric here.

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — Traffic at the intersection of Friends and Finances might have been intense recently, or that drama may have played out nearby, at the corner of Sexual and Platonic. Don’t let whatever noise resulted throw you off your game. Opportunities to make some excellent connections can be found over the next few days, so please don’t be shy. If a friend has spoken about introducing you to someone, give them a call; this pertains to both personal and professional interests. Whatever cards you’re holding along these lines, now’s the time to play them if you’ve hesitated to reach out to someone. Fertile conditions in the social sphere could help further important goals that are ripe for your attention. If writing is involved, or if travel is possible for you, dust off those ambitions. Your voice can carry further over the coming weeks, and find its way to those who want to hear it. It may be cold and gray outside, but this is not the time to shut yourself away. The warmth of your fellow creatures casts an especially empowering glow at the moment. Get your full Gemini reading by Eric here.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Trust has its rewards. One of them is the power to negotiate in ways that actually support your needs. ‘Strength through vulnerability’ requires trusting your primary relationship, the one you have with yourself, enough to honestly express what’s going on with you. Remember that a fortress is also a prison. If demands from all quarters have felt overwhelming, if ambitions feel somehow stymied by those to whom you’ve made commitments or who look to you for support, dare to open up about it a little. See what happens. You’re sensitive enough to know how to relate with compassion to the stress that others are struggling with. This approach will help summon what you require. If you need an assistant, or a job, or could use some guidance (who couldn’t?), the next few days are rich with opportunities in that regard. Don’t assume that wise counsel comes exclusively from those you consider higher-ups or authorities. Mentors come in surprising packages sometimes, and now might be one of them. Get your full Cancer reading by Eric here.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — An axiom to contemplate: “Play is the answer to how anything new comes about.” Here’s another: “Distance is a great goddess.” Psychologist Jean Piaget gave us the first, the second I heard at a retreat in the Joshua Tree desert. Last weekend’s lunar eclipse concluded a stressful 18-month cycle for you in which relationship issues of one kind or another played a starring role. Demands, duties and just taking care of yourself may have felt exhausting. It’s been an intense week out of an overwhelming year and a half, but you can get a bit of your groove back over the next few days if you plug in to a high-octane recharge that’s currently available. You know who your fans are, what your party looks like, what essential nutrient your spirit needs to shine. Make a play date. Get the paints out, or the instrument, or whatever creative outlet feels right. If you can’t schedule a terrestrial journey, explore some new terrain of the educational or spiritual variety. This is soul food for you right now; get it while it’s hot. Get your full Leo reading by Eric here.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — It’s time to come home. Your inner sanctuary and base of operations, where your roots draw nourishment from the earth so that your branches can bear fruit — deserves an upgrade. A drive to make fundamental changes may have welled up with some urgency lately. Right now, personal transformation and your literal living space seem directly related. Despite concerns connected to the values of those close to you, perhaps in the form of hard currency, this year family may be more supportive than you think. Tread gently in matters related to mutual financial interests for a couple of weeks, knowing a window of opportunity is open for constructive steps toward creating greater security. Home is an energetic as well as physical location, and if you’ve fallen behind in the self-care department, tend to it. Last weekend’s eclipse may have felt destabilizing, but it’s important right now to re-establish healthy routines. Needs for deep intimacy or for intense, transcendent sexual experience may also have surfaced recently, and run headlong into a frustrating buzz-kill. It’s okay. Savor the power flowing through those channels and remember that desire creates. Get your full Virgo reading by Eric here.

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — Say it. Write it. Deliver da letter. Indigenous lore holds that stories roam the land searching for the correct storyteller. Messages require a messenger, and right now one seems to be tapping you on the shoulder. The world wants to hear from you. You’re in a yearlong cycle in which your voice must be honored, your thoughts expressed; and at the moment that’s getting green lights all over the place. Even if no specific writing projects come to mind, this is the time to reach out to others and communicate. A vivifying surge can spark life back into relationships that have languished, leaving you inspired and energized. If you’ve wanted some advice, or have meant to get back to someone, pick up the phone or get together; both of you will be richer for it. It’s cold in the Northern Hemisphere, but there’s good medicine in getting out and about. If you do have creative ambitions in the writing department, The Force is with you. In the words of Maya Angelou, “There is no greater agony than to bear an untold story inside you.” Get your full Libra reading by Eric here.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — You know how to play the long game. Part of that entails pacing yourself so you don’t sacrifice health for the sake of duty, especially when the hours you’re putting in have included some pretty frustrating encounters. If that resonates, take a look at how your thought patterns may mirror recent tensions with others. Your mind’s a busy place these days — physical exertion of some kind would do wonders to calm that storm. If current efforts have been devoted toward work that isn’t as fulfilling as what you envision, if you’re feeling resentful, blow off a little steam rather than letting it simmer. Right now you’re building the base of your pyramid. Material needs are the foundation, and this year the wind is at your back, in terms of creating essential security. In fact, the next couple days are rich with potential in that regard. This is an excellent time to schedule presentations, apply for a job, or direct your formidable powers toward expanding resources. Get your full Scorpio reading by Eric here.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — “I breathe the fragrance myself and know it and like it / The distillation would intoxicate me also, but I shall not let it.” Walt Whitman is your spirit animal right now. If you need permission or inspiration to take advantage of the potentially thrilling electric current available to you at the moment, read Song of Myself. You’re in a cycle of self-discovery and liberation from outgrown concepts, with a green light to express and celebrate your unique gifts. If you’ve experienced a bit of tension recently between the need to let your freak flag fly and issues related to material security, that should be resolving. “There is a time for penance and a time for partridge,” said Teresa of Avila (your fellow fire sign and philosopher). This looks like more of a partridge moment — that is, a time for pleasure or ‘the good life’. Centaurs are known for both wisdom and lusty passions, and the sage and the beast in you can harmonize in some revitalizing ways these days. Don’t go overboard, obviously, but it’s important to savor the jewel-like moments that life offers, and I hope you’ll find a way to ride the wave that’s cresting now. Creative endeavors of all sorts, sporting activities and romantic encounters would be especially fulfilling. Get your full Sagittarius reading by Eric here.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — Where you live is more than a physical location. Your deepest, secret self and private past feed directly into what your energetic ‘home’ entails. Recently you may have felt some intense stirrings on a less than fully conscious level; fears and anger that might seem irrational on the surface. Frustration and annoyances related to pressures you’ve been under maybe had something to do with your actual living space, as well. That immediate storm is dissipating. You may be more inwardly focused than usual for a couple of weeks; don’t strain against it. You can recharge your psychic batteries in ways that will directly serve your quest in the world. A generous well of wisdom and support is available to you on the subtle planes this year. Draw from it. Especially right now, you have opportunities to access intuitive intelligence that can inspire strategies to obtain what you’re striving for. Lines of communication are wide open from an inner (and possibly outer) teacher and guide, and deliberate actions to quiet your mind serve as acts of power this week. Make a point of remembering your dreams. Extend the invitation. Ask and you shall receive, but that does require asking. Get your full Capricorn reading by Eric here.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — Your solar year started off with a bang; a dramatic conclusion of an 18-month cycle in which your identity and how it relates to that of others has been tested and forced to evolve, in some overwhelming and challenging ways. Reverberations of the recent eclipse are still intense, but a new cycle has begun and right now it’s all about you. What you value, what you want to communicate, what initiatives you want to set in motion — who you really want to be. Use this time to re-boot, re-charge and re-focus. You know how to focus; you’re an expert. Make this a priority even amidst demands on your time that might feel frantic lately. Some furious activity, mentally and physically, might be distracting, but take a look at your long-range aspirations. The next few days are an excellent time to reach out to allies who may be able to assist you in furthering goals you’ve been dreaming about. It’s the perfect re-set for your year, so take advantage of some the good juju available as we speak. You might find collaborators just when you need them. Get your full Aquarius reading by Eric here.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — You’ve got an expansive vision for how you want to show up in the world. It’s imperative that you trust this vision and work towards it this year. Especially right now: with focused effort, the next few days may well bring evidence of some sort of reward. The recent eclipse brings to a close a cycle in which your evolutionary work has brought you face to face with matters of self-esteem, subconscious fears or wounding patterns — some of the darkest recesses of your psyche seem to have undergone a cleansing. Now you’re positioning yourself to bring your true powers to the fore, to manifest evidence of your creative genius for the world to see, in one form or another. Recent frustrations between your aspirations for the future and how you value yourself are dissipating. Let that be as dust in the wind — you know what you’re capable of. Use the next couple of days wisely; that wisdom involves disciplined effort combined with faith in yourself. This blend is a restorative brew to drink in deeply. Get your full Pisces reading by Eric here.

The Government Shutdown, and the Invisible Environment

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Dear Friend and Reader:

We are now at the end of day 34 of the federal government shutdown. I am taking this too personally. It’s making me nervous. I feel like the character Tweak in a South Park episode from a couple of years ago, who was freaked out over the Korean nuclear missile thing between Trump and Kim Jong-un.

Craig, right, trying to console Tweak, who is having a hard time with the Korean missile situation. See clip here.

His friend Craig suggests he do something rather than just worry — like bake cupcakes and send them to the Korean leader. So he does, and Kim loves them, and Trump gets mad, and starts insulting and taunting Kim on Twitter, so Korea responds by testing missiles directly over Tweak’s house.

I’m not taking it that personally, but almost. I have Chiron in Pisces on the 10th house cusp and have taken a serious interest in government since Watergate, when I was nine years old. I am finding Trump’s conduct disgusting — beginning with all his bravado about wearing the mantle of the shutdown or whatever he said.

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A Coup in Progress? Trump Moves to Oust Maduro & Install Pro-U.S. Leader in Oil-Rich Venezuela

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Links to today’s show transcripts:

A Coup in Progress? Trump Moves to Oust Maduro & Install Pro-U.S. Leader in Oil-Rich Venezuela
The Venezuelan government is accusing the United States of staging a coup, after President Trump announced that the U.S. would recognize opposition leader Juan Guaidó as Venezuela’s new leader. Trump made the announcement shortly after Guaidó, the new head of Venezuela’s National Assembly, declared himself president during a large opposition protest. The European Union and the Lima Group have joined the U.S. in recognizing opposition leader Juan Guaidó as president. Mexico is the one dissenting nation in the Lima Group to still recognize Maduro. Miguel Tinker Salas is a professor at Pomona College, who says, “This is unprecedented not only in Venezuelan history, but in Latin America.” He is the author of “The Enduring Legacy: Oil, Culture, and Society in Venezuela” and “Venezuela: What Everyone Needs to Know.”

Former U.N. Expert: The U.S. Is Violating International Law by Attempting a Coup in Venezuela
As President Trump announces that the U.S. will recognize opposition leader Juan Guaidó as Venezuela’s new leader and sitting President Nicolás Maduro breaks off relations with the United States, Democracy Now! speaks with a former U.N. independent expert who says the U.S. is staging an illegal coup in the country. Alfred de Zayas, who visited Venezuela as a U.N. representative in 2017, says, “The mainstream media has been complicit in this attempted coup. … This reminds us of the run-up to the Iraq invasion of 2003.” Miguel Tinker Salas is a professor at Pomona College and author of “The Enduring Legacy: Oil, Culture, and Society in Venezuela” and “Venezuela: What Everyone Needs to Know.”

Lawyer Wolfgang Kaleck: Bush, Rumsfeld & Cheney Are a Troika of Tyranny & Should Be in Prison
As Venezuela faces an attempted coup supported by the U.S., Brazil and the European Union, Democracy Now! speaks with human rights attorney Wolfgang Kaleck. In November, John Bolton accused Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua of being part of a “troika of tyranny.” Kaleck says the real “troika of tyranny” is George W. Bush, Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld, who should be in prison for war crimes. Kaleck is a human rights attorney who for decades has been at the forefront of the legal fight to hold powerful actors and governments around the world accountable for human rights abuses. His new book, titled “Law Versus Power: Our Global Fight for Human Rights,” documents his remarkable career, including his time as whistleblower Edward Snowden’s lawyer in Europe. Kaleck is general secretary of the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights.