Taurus (April 19-May 20)

There is likely to be no turning back from certain developments of the next four to six weeks, so please keep your antennas up, and make each decision count. You may be feeling like you are being forced into a corner where certain crucial relationship situations are concerned. Yet what appears to be happening is that people close to you are finally making long-awaited moves, growing up before your eyes, and making their feelings known. At the same time, I reckon you're finally receptive to what they are going through because you've been through so much yourself lately, what you know is more than your fair share of struggle. What you leave behind in this new phase of life is specifically a kind of emotional violence that may have plagued you for a long time. Intense feelings can be conveyed with a gentle touch, not just a fist.

Gemini (May 20-June 21)

Do you have any new theories about why people seem to marry their mother or father? Or better still, any theories about why they take it so casually, even if it tortures them miserably? However, this month, we turn the crystal on the other end, and have a chance to look at how you may respond like your early caregivers. Everyone goes through disturbing phases where they are exactly like one of their parents. We're truly lucky to see the pattern in action and make acknowledgements about it, as uncomfortable as they may feel at first. I suggest that any time you see a family dynamic coming back at you from another person -- someone acting like they are a relative -- look at your side of the dynamic, acknowledge it and move on. Both November and December will bring many opportunities to see and resolve these dynamics, for good.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

Interesting things happen when we actually acknowledge desire. Many other feelings can suddenly come percolating out of the morass of existence. But let's talk about the phenomenon of really wanting something, and then when you finally have it, it's no longer interesting. Buddhists and other spiritual types can reference teachings within their traditions on the pointlessness of desire. But let's be human, shall we? Desire is, and we can learn something about fulfillment if we study the nature of wanting and needing. Fulfillment is like a test; it tells us whether we really did want something or not. Yet the only way to find out is to have the experience rather than just the experience of wanting. Anyone in a body seeking to raise consciousness needs to be with, feel and act on desire, and notice what happens. Mars and all else developing in Scorpio are a big flashing sign that says Intrigue Ahead.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23)

Fear is a fact of life here on the Blue Planet. But it's rarely put to work, whether as a power-source, a source of information, or inspiration to grow. Now you have the perfect opportunity on all three accounts. Part of the story involves old fear. It seems like you're feeling unusually close to certain mistakes you made in the past and are very reluctant to repeat again. But it goes a lot deeper. There are times we can look at life and be in contact with the utter futility of it all, because everything is transient, and everything seems to die. Yet beneath these ideas and beneath some of the intense emotions you are going through now is a path of access to the deepest core of your being, the part that knows that the changing seasons do not signify death, but rather the endless cycle of existence -- of which you are eternally part.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22)

If any sign of the horoscope were to be a natural investigative reporter, detective, underworld leader or sex therapist, it is Virgo. As the next weeks unfold, you'll be in rare form, and you're likely to find yourself in situations where you know 'too much'. But you can never know too much, as long as you know what to do (or not do) with the information. I can see that you have certain projects you're trying to work through the machinery of the world, and I'm here to remind you that information alone gives you power. You never even have to reveal it, or let on that you have a clue. Just knowing opens doors and attracts you to people who tell you more. It provides the raw material for deep insight and self-understanding. And it provides the basis for decisions that you would otherwise be likely to flounder on.

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23)

Thank god for miracles -- Venus has returned to Libra. Now, you might surmise, you have nothing to worry about. And we could make a great case for that, actually, because between Venus and Jupiter showing up and with Mars exiting, the world is a lot happier place. I just suggest you stay on problem solving detail for a while longer. And though I'm loathe to suggest looking for problems where you see none today, you would do well to identify anything that you're not at this time aware of. You can do much to prepare for the future as well, so while you're on this project, look at your needs a little way down the road. This is a stretch of time when the world will actually respond to your choices, needs and goals, and when you have unusual insight into both yourself and others. But of course, in the end, charm will win the day -- as usual.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22)

Now that another level of truth has begun percolating out of a relationship, you may find yourself needing to take some time to reorient yourself in the new arrangement. It would appear that there's been a little uprising and that the balance of power has shifted considerably. Yet I truly hope that the events of the past couple of weeks have served to liberate you from some seriously stuck conditions that needed a jolt. You can presume that there was a reason for the change that goes beyond what has been stated, or the obvious -- and by the time you see the reason, you'll have entirely forgotten the excuses and issues that may at the moment have left an odd taste in your mouth. An exceptionally long cycle of relationship is about to reach closure. What has just been moved out of the way will make that possible.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22 - Dec. 22)

You'll likely find it relatively easy to wear a happy face and even enjoy life despite what may be a growing inner sense of fear and misgiving. We need to remember that most fear is unconscious and does its damage outside of awareness. When it starts percolating to the surface, such as in dreams, in your relationships or in your journal, that can be a positive sign. You cannot really deal with what you cannot see, and many astrological forces are stirring the pot and raising your awareness. If you get past the fear of fear itself, these next few weeks can be exceptionally therapeutic. I suggest you take a few approaches. One is to remember the difference between a fearful thought and the probability of a negative outcome. It's a big difference. The other is to remember that much of what you are now thinking you were carefully trained to think. So take the opportunity to teach yourself otherwise.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20)

There may be considerable tension this month between social affairs and career matters. You could easily be lured into dramas unfolding amongst your friends. At the same time things at work may seem to go exceptionally well. But I don't suggest you fall for this setup. What's happening in your social life is, as far as I can tell, a distraction, and is barely relevant to your actual wellbeing or growth. What is happening in your professional affairs is an exceptionally rare occasion to improve your lot in life, and would deserve your fullest possible attention. Remember that most people are not so dedicated to being productive as you are, or as committed to taking particularly good care of themselves. So social dramas make a nice diversion. Don't give any lectures; don't get into any arguments. Remember what you're here to do, and pay attention to the people who really, truly support you.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19)

It is basically impossible to play politics and not get your hands dirty. One of the best life skills you can learn is how to get out of the game. Unfortunately, it's often more important to play the game well and deal with the consequences later. The first thing you need to remember is your objective. You need to keep in mind specifically what you want and what you are out to achieve. Then you have to remember human nature. Every successful politician is a brilliant self-trained psychologist. The patterns of human nature basically don't change, they are very well established, and you need to study them. The last thing I suggest is knowing when and how to use information. You use it as leverage, you use it to give you information to make decisions, and most important you use it to get more information. This raises the level of the discussion, potentially to something approaching reality.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)

Take advantage of some exceptionally positive aspects, take in the benefits of some difficult lessons learned, and expand your financial horizons. Money is not merely the symbol of energy; it is a form of energy, so step one is opening up to that source inside yourself. Among other adjustments, this is a time to get your sexual house in order, and your sexual orchestra in tune. It is also time to come to terms with the power of money, and also with its annoying lack of power. It happens that most folk on the planet understand neither sex nor money but even fewer get the connection. Make every effort to invest your energy into relationships with people who you know share your values. In this particular aspect of living, it's possible to walk the high road alone, but it's a lot more fun and a lot less lonely with company.