Aries (March 20-April 19) — Mercury stations direct overnight Saturday, and this event tends to bring with it revelations. What you might discover, regarding your current creative or work-related goals, is a point on which you’ve been having underlying doubts or where there’s been a delay. Grasping this in its full capacity is likely the first step to letting go of any concerns, which should make it easier for you to move forward. Take this one day at a time, however, especially while your ruler Mars is still retrograde.

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — Breaking free of particular constraints or inhibitions can be an involved and sometimes turbulent process. You may notice feelings emerging that you had thought long buried, or which you may not have realized existed at all. Be careful not to judge yourself for your emotions. Rather, consider them a form of illumination, helping you to find a way out of the labyrinth of the past, and into freedom. How you act on what you feel is your choice, and where your power lies.

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — As Mercury turns direct, you might feel anxious to push forward with the next stage of your plans for development. It would, however, be worth taking at least a little time to review how the past few weeks have been for you. There may also still be a discovery or two to come. By this time next week, you’ll likely have a good deal more information; at least, enough to organize a coherent schedule that also gives you sufficient space to breathe and relax.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — You seem to be undergoing a sort of enlightenment process in terms of seeing your true capabilities. Close partners and specific experiences may be helping you recognize certain skills and qualities you possess, though in truth the movement is coming largely from within you, as a result of accumulated knowledge. It should help you commit to valuing yourself justly and generously. Doing this will in turn make it easier to discover the opportunities for abundance available to you, and to embrace them.

There are several ways to enjoy your new 2018 Birthday Reading, Leo (though please note: it is now being called the Leo Astrology Studio with Leo Tarot Studio). You can purchase it on its own for $44 (this is all segments of the astrology+tarot, available for instant access). If you have a lot of Cancer in your chart — or simply want more insight into all three of eclipses we just had — you can buy Leo+Cancer audio together at a special rate.

Then again, if you missed The Art of Becoming — the 2018 written annual edition — you can pick up your Leo birthday audio + Leo written annual for $55. If you’re new to Eric’s audio readings, you can hear a sample of the Leo Astrology Studio here and a sample of the Leo Tarot Studio here. You’re invited to tell us what you think of your readings!

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — The past few weeks may at times have made articulating ordinary phrases seem like trying to recite tongue-twisters. You’ve perhaps wished to express yourself on a particular point, but felt prevented from doing so for whatever reason. Over the next few days the mists should start to clear; however, don’t rush to the mic. Be sure your message is in its most refined form before delivering it. It’s likely important enough that you’ll want to get the communication right the first time.

Virgo Birthdays and Rising 2018-19:
Are You Getting Ready to Shift Gears?

“Mars retrograde in Aquarius, your 6th house, describes you as someone in the role of problem-solver. This looks like some kind of systems administration work, though there’s a social dimension — that of keeping people organized. To do this, you’ll need either to break some rules, or to establish new ones.”

— Eric Francis, in The Art of Becoming 2018 annual edition for Virgo

Dear Friend and Reader:

Just how are you doing as a problem-solver, rule-breaker and rule-maker this year? It’s possible the current retrogrades of Mars and Mercury (your ruling planet) have slowed your progress some. But both planets are preparing to station direct soon; are you ready to shift gears?

If you’d like access to a fresh, of-the-moment take on how your next 12 months (or more) could shape up, I hope you’ll pre-order your 2018 Virgo Astrology Studio with Tarot Studio. This is what Eric used to call your “Birthday Reading,” just under a reimagined name.

You’ll still get two segments of audio astrology; and if you pre-order the reading before it publishes, you’ll automatically receive the tarot reading for your sign or rising sign when it’s ready. As always, you can download the audio files and listen as many times as you’d like.

Even though our recent eclipses were not in Virgo, there’s still plenty going that’s having an impact on your chart: for example, Uranus in fellow earth-sign Taurus is jazzing up your house of spirituality, long-distance travel and higher education (among other things).

Meanwhile Chiron, in your Aries-ruled 8th house, is bringing your attention to some deep matters that include sex, surrender and money. You can count on Eric having plenty more to tell you about your charts this year.

“Thank you. I’ve been a fan for a few years and always feel nourished by every reading — my own and others. This particular reading hit home and felt like a swoop of fresh air pointing me home. Thank you again.”

— Elaine Sonne, on a recent Virgo reading

Eric is sure to cover the most important details of these issues and astrology (and more) in your upcoming Virgo Astrology Studio and Tarot Studio recordings.

His current sabbatical is proving restorative, which means he’ll be able to access the best of his decades of astrology and tarot experience, his therapy training and his creativity to encourage and empower you, nudge you with questions and new perspectives, and inspire you to get right to work with what you’re learning — in your relationships, healing process, career, family, community and inner evolution.

Wishing you a happy birthday and an illuminating year,

Amanda Painter

P.S. If you love someone with a Virgo Sun or Virgo Rising, you can also pre-order the Virgo Astrology Studio with Virgo Tarot Studio as a gift. They’ll receive both parts automatically when they’re ready.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — When there’s a lot of focus on the 12th house, the most secret and deepest place in one’s chart, what happens may not always be easy to comprehend. Yet this time also plants a seed of potential for inspiration and growth. This, in turn, develops over time and usually blossoms as the activity shifts to the more conscious realm of the 1st house. Your ruler Mercury stationing direct overnight Saturday into Sunday should help you make sense of your recent experiences and unlock their wisdom.

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — Etiquette can be a useful guide to navigating social situations (unless you’re one of those blessed folk who have a knack for fitting in regardless). The difficulties start when it becomes binding, and thus restrictive — for example, if it prevents you from asking someone you like out for coffee, seeking a decent pay rise, or traveling somewhere you’ve always wished to go. As long as you’re not actually hurting anyone, you can safely dispense with conventions and unwritten rules.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — It’s rare for any person not to have some influence over the lives of others: whether as a parent, a boss, or in some other capacity. Even if you don’t possess any formal authority, your words and actions still have power that can be used for good or ill; that can help and support those closest to you, or not. Try to choose, this week, to err on the side of kind and generous, and to place trust in people’s motives unless you have reason not to. You’ll surely feel better for it, and others probably will too.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — The word ‘idealism’ is treated more often than not as a derogatory term, as a way of describing an almost hopeless naivete, rather than an aspirational way of looking at the world. As a Sagittarian, however, you probably recognize that having ideals and trying to live up to them need not necessarily conflict with reality or truth, or even pragmatic thinking. After all, if everyone simply accepted the status quo, nothing would ever change. Be fearless in your beliefs.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — You seem to be getting wise to the fact that buried feelings don’t stay buried for too long. They will invariably continue to resurface until acknowledged and addressed. Doing this is a function of taking care of yourself, and of refusing to shut down parts of you for the convenience of others, which is another term for living honestly. Don’t be afraid to accept the emotions or vulnerabilities within you, and express them without shame; they are a part of us all.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) —
With Mercury changing direction in your opposite sign and Mars having slipped back into your 12th house, be extra wary of misunderstandings this week, especially in a close relationship. If you feel offended or upset by something that’s said (or not said), you would almost certainly be well served to slow down and look for other possible interpretations. Where there is ambiguity, you might give partners the benefit of the doubt, or just ask. At the very least, don’t rush into action.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — A love of life, an awareness of some kind of spiritual presence and a sense of purpose all give to our everyday existence a touch of magic. Our world is brightened by the understanding that we’re a part of something greater than ourselves. You are naturally close to that concept, though this week sees an opportunity to be exceptionally so. If you’ve been feeling distanced from your spiritual or ethical leanings, for whatever reason, you’ll find a way to bridge the gap and reconnect.