On the Line: The Definition of a Woman

Dear Friend and Reader:

It may seem that the approval of Brett Kavanaugh as a Supreme Court justice is on the line. The vote was supposed to happen today, and now it's been postponed, to make room for a Judiciary Committee hearing scheduled for 10 am Monday (that time is likely to change). At that hearing (according to one version of the plan), both Kavanaugh and someone who has accused him of attempted rape when he was 17, Christine Blasey Ford, will testify.

Ford has called for an FBI investigation prior to her offering testimony, which speaks to her credibility. That would help avoid the "he said, she said" dynamic that that is so common to these kinds of incidents. The FBI would be able to interview witnesses, and, at least in theory, proceed with a modicum of impartiality and expertise in the area of establishing a fact pattern. From there, we can listen to the testimony and discuss whether Kavanaugh is morally fit to serve on the Supreme Court.

Christine Blasey Ford.

Whatever you may think or feel about an incident among teenagers from 35 years ago being used as a political tool today -- there are several sides to that discussion, to be sure -- I think that something else is on the line. 

That is the legal and moral definition of a woman in our society. When I say this, please be aware that I am referring to an older concept of feminism than the one that we have today, one based on personal agency and full citizenship. My primary philosophical reference point for feminism is The Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir.

Throughout Kavanaugh's hearing, women protesting his position on reproductive rights were dragged out of the room screaming one by one, till finally the process was closed to the public. This was not exactly a strong showing by feminists. There were no mass protests outside the Capitol Building, for example. The “pink hat” movement could have easily mobilized; there was plenty of time, many recent past successes, and the very most important issues at stake.

It took an accusation of attempted rape to slow down the runaway train that seemed to already have Kavanaugh in place as a justice. Had this not happened, he might have already replaced Anthony Kennedy, who retired over the summer after serving for 30 years.

Kennedy, appointed to the court in 1988 by Ronald Reagan, may have been a conservative justice, but he was not in lock step with the Republican agenda. For example, Kennedy was as much a champion of the rights of gay and lesbian people to marry, when that issue was up for grabs, as was Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the court's venerated liberal voice.

Many Reasons for Concern

Kavanaugh has given women many reasons to be concerned about the positions he will take. He will, by all indications, not be any kind of a swing vote. For one thing, he is against prosecuting a sitting president for crimes, or mandating a president to engage in civil litigation, at a time when the president is involved in both. Trump is being sued civilly and is under investigation for crimes.

Kavanaugh may have lied under oath in previous Senate hearings and in the most recent.

And he has, according to many news reports, stated his belief that birth control is a form of abortion, a trope of the fundamentalist Christian camp that has no basis in science. Preventing implantation of a 12-hour-old zygote is not aborting a pregnancy. The woman is not pregnant yet.

Norma McCorvey, aka Jane Roe, left, and member of her legal team Gloria Allred outside the Supreme Court after the historic 1973 ruling. McCorvey regrets her role in the case and has for many years been involved with the pro-life movement. AP photo.

We all know about the Christian “right” and its supposed opposition to abortion. One might think that the solution would be better family planning, real sex education, and making pregnancy prevention widely available. That would certainly cut down on the number of unwanted pregnancies and, as a result, the number of abortions. 

Yet all of these are resisted by the "right," which still advocates teaching Abstinence Only indoctrination in public schools. That program, in place since the early 1980s, increases the likelihood of pregnancy and transmission of STIs from the first sexual experience, which is only delayed by 12 weeks.

Regardless, this camp has in recent years come out against birth control as well. The two issues -- pregnancy prevention and abortion -- are related though Griswold v. Connecticut, the famous Planned Parenthood decision that in 1965 legalized birth control and enshrined the right to privacy into American law, based on a reading of the Bill of Rights.

The Griswold line of decisions also affects men, because it protects their right to privacy as well, though at the same time taking away their exercising control over their partners (or rape/incest victims). This is what Justice Douglas, writing the majority opinion in Griswold, famously called "penumbral rights of privacy and repose” -- for all people. 

Where birth control is concerned, as with first trimester abortion, a woman has a right to do what she wants with her body.

One would think that really and truly would matter: that it would be a front-page issue every day, as it's now closer than ever to being struck down: dangerously close, if you look at the signs.

We forget that so recently, birth control could be made illegal by state law (even in the supposedly liberal and intellectual Northeast). That changed in 1965. Then, based in part on similar reasoning, Roe v. Wade held that women had the absolute right, consulting with their doctor, to choose an abortion, within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

Text of the Equal Rights Amendment, written by Alice Paul and first introduced to Congress in 1921. Ratification expired in 1982, though it still can be reintroduced.

These decisions are as close to the Equal Rights Amendment as we've ever come in American society, because they acknowledge that women have sovereignty over their physical body and their ability to reproduce. 

The alternate is to be the property of their husband, partner, or according to some "conservative" logic, their rapist. 

A Potential Crime Scene

In our age, to remove the right to abortion would make every pregnancy a potential crime scene, since any miscarriage could be deemed an illegal abortion. This may seem like a stretch today, or something out of HBO fiction. Yet a lot of things are happening that defy history, and that reveal that logic, reason, and in a sense society itself, are crumbling. 

We are now standing where actual patriarchy in the true sense of the word is waged: are women birthing pods, or fully qualified human beings who can decide whether and when they want to become a mother? 

We all know how much lies in this particular decision -- or at least most women do.

Yet in our current time, the discussion about these issues does not happen in a meaningful way. It's true that NARAL and Planned Parenthood send out emails, though that is not a movement. We don't hear much of this discussion on television or read about it in major media. There is a pall of silence, denial, ignorance or taboo cast over these issues of actual sexual choice, which is what “reproductive rights” means: the right to be sexual without having to reproduce -- meaning sex for fun, pleasure and companionship.

We could, of course, step up to the challenge of a real discussion about sovereignty and privacy. Instead, we are talking about something that is, in our current environment, more acceptable: sexual violence.

Women's leaders could not organize around the deeper issues. They could only rally some limited resistance. And if Kavanaugh is not approved to sit as a justice, it's likely that another nominee will come off of Trump's list of candidates vetted by the Federalist Society and the Heritage Foundation, and we will be right back were we started.

There is no doubt that Christine Blasey Ford has captured the attention of society based on the pain and trauma she says she suffered at Kavanaugh's hands. Many individual women can relate, as individuals. Yet the pain that will be caused by the repeal of Roe and potentially Griswold will cause untold suffering and set women back to where they were in the 1940s -- citizens in every sense but the most important. Yet to organize against this takes foresight, coordination, and raising the currently acceptable level of awareness on these issues.

Suffrage March, New York City, 1912. The 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution prohibits the states and the federal government from denying the right to vote to citizens of the U.S. on the basis of sex. It was adopted on Aug. 18, 1920, less than a century ago. Photo from Hulton Archive.

Too Much to Ask?

In our current environment, it may seem like too much to ask for women and the people who care about them to rally around the cause of pregnancy prevention and abortion on demand (to use a phrase given to me a few years ago by Carol Hanisch).

The reason is that these are stand-in concepts for the underlying issue of the sexual autonomy of women, which is as taboo as it's ever been now, within public discourse. This used to be a centerpiece of feminism; now it's more like an unwanted orphan.

Even discussion of sex education has been driven into the realm of the unspeakable, for reasons I think we need to reflect on honestly.

It may seem useful to have the alleged sexual violence issue as a tool to work with, particularly in this situation. It remains to be seen whether this will have any influence over whether Kavanaugh is approved at all. And while bringing this issue to public consciousness may seem satisfying to some, personal hurts of individuals are never healed by having an issue thrust into the political arena.

For example, all the political discussion of affordable health care cannot help a sick person get well. That takes proper medical care.

The question that's up for discussion now is: what is a woman? At the moment, we are failing to ask, and are answering before it's even been asked, and before there is a discussion that seems so difficult to have.

As Betty Dodson, author of Sex for One, wrote for Planet Waves several years ago, "A recent Supreme Court ruling doesn't even allow for an abortion to save a woman's life, which means a fetus is more valuable than the mother. Keeping women barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen calms the insecurity of those authoritarian men who need to dominate women in order to feel powerful."

How to teach someone how to put on a condom. This way, your banana will never cause an unwanted pregnancy.

In my opinion, that is what we are witnessing.

That said, isn't it high time that women get out from under the thrall of the pharmaceutical industry for their birth control? In the high 90th percentile of women use, or have used, hormone birth control methods, including strange ones like the hormone-delivering IUD. This presents a serious problem that is not often mentioned.

The issue of hormone birth control is made worse by the state of hormone pollution in the environment and in our food. There are other options, though they require discipline, knowledge and a level of personal mastery.

And it will require men to get directly involved in this process. I still hear about way, way too many men who refuse to use condoms, and who put the entire burden of pregnancy prevention on women. I've said quite a bit about that here.

There is plenty of astrology behind this; I'll discuss that on Sunday's edition of Planet Waves FM.

With love,
What Hangs in the Balance This Equinox

By Amanda Painter

Shortly after the Sun and Mercury meet for a conjunction in late Virgo today, they make a tag-team entrance into Libra. Mercury gets there first, ingressing Libra at 11:39 pm EDT Friday (3:39:15 UTC Saturday). Then the Sun follows suit at 9:54 pm EDT Saturday (1:53:59 UTC Sunday) for the equinox.

As you know, the Libra equinox signals the start of autumn in the Northern Hemisphere, and is one of two times in the year when we experience equal hours of daylight and darkness (the first being the Aries equinox, which commences Northern Hemisphere spring and begins the astrological year). Seasonal shifts are major turning points.

Above the edge of the fog bank on Bald Peak in Camden Hills State Park, Maine. Photo by Amanda Painter.

As such, and perhaps because of the visible shift in the day-night relationship, I tend to associate them with very specific tones or moods of emotion and energy -- though this can be highly personal.

Some people relish the cooler, crisper air of fall and the sense of settling back down and in; I tend to grieve the loss of warmth, bare skin and long days of outdoor play (especially in the water). Whichever way you lean (and whichever half of the globe you're in), I think it pays to notice the shift of the season and your response to it.

Astrologically, the equinoxes (as well as the solstices) activate the Aries Point. That's the first degree (or so) of Aries where issues of both collective (political) and personal importance intersect and inform each other, and this quality gets extended to the first degrees of all the cardinal signs (Cancer, Libra and Capricorn being the others).

So what's hanging out in the early cardinal signs to greet the Sun and Mercury when they land in the first degree of Libra this weekend? Quite an intriguing collection of objects, it turns out, especially if we look at the first three degrees (written as 00 -- 02 degrees) of the cardinal signs.

In Aries, there's a tight cluster made up of Chiron, Hygiea, Industria and Salacia. Chiron, as you likely know, is named for the mythical teacher and healer and generally functions to raise our awareness about issues we're ready to address and heal. Hygiea is named after the Greek goddess of health and hygiene. The asteroid Industria relates to industry and industriousness. Salacia, as Eric has written about several times this year, appears to resonate specifically with the salacious side of sex -- as represented in U.S. culture by our fixation with sex scandals (as opposed to the pleasure, healing or procreative facets of sex).

Cancer features the asteroid Niobe. In myth, Niobe was punished for her hubris after she boasted of her 14 children, compared to only two (Apollo and Artemis) borne by Leto. Astrologers Alex Miller and Martha Lang-Wescott both suggest Niobe relates to inordinate pride in one's children or fertility, and the humbling lessons that leads to.

Waiting in the direction of early Libra is what's known as a supergiant elliptical galaxy named Messier 87 (or M87 for short). It has a supermassive black hole at its center, sometimes referred to as the "Super-Galactic Center."

Minor planets in the early cardinal signs when the Sun ingresses Libra; list from serennu.com.

I'm not experienced in using this point, but Philip Sedgwick describes it (in part) as representing a "supermassive hunger" in which nothing is ever enough, which in turn can create a physical, emotional or spiritual black hole -- but that, once integrated, its energy can facilitate becoming directly involved in healing many people. Sedgwick writes, among many other things about M87, "It demands that you get back in there and deal with yourself in an essential manner."

Finally, in Capricorn, we have the slow-moving object Quaoar, along with Vesta and Saturn. Quaoar, named after a Tongva creation deity, relates to the dance of the family that has brought one into being. Vesta is the goddess of devotion, sacrifice, holding space and unconventional relationships. Saturn, of course, is the lord of limits and boundaries, authority, structure and time.

Even without investigating some of the other aspects in play between now and Sunday, that is a loaded set of themes. Themes which, I think, relate all too well to our current moment.

One of the things that caught my eye this week was this extensive Twitter thread that has gone viral. Blogger Gabrielle Blair begins by writing, "I'm a mother of six, and a Mormon. I have a good understanding of arguments surrounding abortion, religious and otherwise. I've been listening to men grandstand about women's reproductive rights, and I'm convinced men actually have zero interest in stopping abortion. Here's why…"

Blair goes on in her series of tweets to describe some basics of female fertility and male biology, and comes to the conclusion that THE factor in the unwanted pregnancies that result in abortion is: men's irresponsible orgasms.

Blair has thoughts on what "responsible orgasms" by men might look like (vasectomies are mentioned, since apparently many men cannot abide condoms or pulling out), as well as on the challenges and iniquities of female birth control, the dangers of pregnancy, and more. Unfortunately, she does not address the lack of sex education in the U.S., or the sorry state of dialogue between most potential sexual partners, especially in the context of alcohol-influenced hookups. But she does paint a compelling picture of how completely the men in governmental and religious power in this country overlook male responsibility in the abortion conversation; instead, they work to control women's health options.

Is Blair a representation of Niobe? Is it hubris on her part to write about fertility in this way -- or does the hubris belong to men who refuse to consider their partners' wellbeing? I'm not sure. But I did see that conjunction of Chiron, Hygiea, Industria and Salacia in Aries and think, "Ah, yes: the big business of trying to control women's sexual health is high in our awareness right now."

It's at odds with the governmental/BigPharma/religious complex that has ‘danced' our current situation into being, as represented by the Capricorn planets. Yet, what kind of healing -- on both the personal and collective levels -- might be possible if enough people integrate these questions and choices in a more balanced and just way (as suggested by the Libra quadrant)?

Full chart (with the most-used points) for the Libra equinox. In addition to the planets in the early cardinal signs, note that the Pisces Moon is entering a trine between Venus in Scorpio and Nessus in Pisces. Mars is conjunct the South Node in Aquarius. View glyph key here.

And then, of course, there's Dr. Blasey Ford's accusation of Brett Kavanaugh. In one sense, it appears to be a signal that the big-money ‘business' (Industria) of sex scandals (Salacia) is ‘healthy' (Hygiea) -- that is, it still has currency in our culture, in terms of its power. Yet, one year into what has become the "MeToo movement" -- however you might feel about it -- there does seem to be a perception shift regarding Blasey Ford's experience, and her decision to speak about it now.

Not in all quarters, certainly. Suspicions are rife that she is coming forward now simply to bring down a ‘decent guy' who ‘deserves' a ‘fair' trial, and that the Democrats have orchestrated it because it's the only chance to get their way.

I'm seeing many other people, however, working to shift the narrative: they're framing this revelation in terms of how Blasey Ford has had to work to heal this trauma her whole life, no matter whether Kavanaugh was too drunk to remember the incident -- and that missing out on a lifetime SCOTUS appointment is not an undue consequence.

They're pointing out that the senators on the Judiciary Committee who would hear her testimony (if she testifies -- she has requested an FBI investigation first) are almost all men, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) being the only woman. They're aware that Blasey Ford is receiving death threats for speaking out. Many are recalling the way Anita Hill was raked over the coals, thanks to coming forward about the sexual harassment she'd endured, and how Clarence Thomas is now a sitting Supreme Court justice.

This not, by any means, intended to pitch the discussion into an us-against-them, women-versus-men space. Far from it. I simply mean to describe the ways these two cultural conversations reflect a long history of power imbalances, and how complicated the rebalancing process is -- and will continue to be.

Chances are, you can see how easy it would be to fall into a "supermassive hunger" for justice -- the kind of hunger that can never be sated; the kind of hunger that creates the spiritual black hole Philip Sedgwick associated with the M87 galaxy in Libra (the Super-Galactic Center). Spiritual black holes of that sort remind me of revenge dramas in Renaissance theater, in which there is never justice or equilibrium reached, just a swinging pendulum and a great deal of pain for all involved. I can think of other global dynamics that fit the bill.

Yet, this triple conjunction of the Sun, Mercury and M87 in Libra is opposite Chiron in Aries. Chiron is retrograde, suggesting that much of the current process of learning, healing and finding a point of negotiation is likely to be primarily internal right now -- even as we sort through it all via our relationships. I can't ignore the Aries Point, though, ringing as it is. Any process of integration and healing on a personal level has to have wider repercussions on the collective level. This year's Libra equinox simply brings a particular phase of it to the forefront. Let's all get in there and deal with our essential selves.


Update on the Fall Reading

Dear Friend and Client:

This year's fall reading focuses on Venus retrograde in Scorpio and Libra. I pick up the story from the end of Mars retrograde, connect the two events with the Venus-Mars square of Oct. 10.

In this chart, for Venus square Mars, there are many planets in Scorpio -- Mercury, Venus, the Moon, the Vertex and Jupiter.

This is an astrology study in gender identity, and also in the relationships between women and men, in our fraught moment of history. Yet in the square relationship between Venus in Scorpio and Mars in Aquarius, there is an description of the introspective nature of this whole process. 

Though it is being dramatized in the news and on the internet, the matter of how you feel inwardly is, by definition, deeply personal. Borrowing a turn of phrase from Sir Elton, we can't fight one another out in the streets to find out who's right and who's wrong.

The structure of the central chart for this reading (Venus square Mars on Oct. 10) describes how our inner state manifests outwardly. The chart seems to ask: what is your concept of what it means to be a woman, and what do you think a woman really is? For men, this relates to their inner feminine side. 

What's so interesting is that the combined retrogrades of Venus and Mars so perfectly describe our current social milieu. This reading will focus your mind and give you room to explore these questions on your own terms.

I am planning to start delivering signs early next week. You can still pre-order now for the early-bird price of $88 for all 12 signs. The reading will top off at $111 for all 12 signs; individual signs will go on sale Sunday night.

Thank you for being a Planet Waves customer, and for trusting me as your astrologer.

With love,
This Week on Planet Waves FM Astrology of Paul Manafort and Pres. Trump

Dear Friend and Reader:

In this week's edition [play program here], I look closely at the charts of Paul Manafort and Donald Trump. Manafort is the former campaign chairman who was recently convicted of eight counts of fraud, then last week turned state's evidence and pleaded guilty to the lot of what the special counsel had charged him with.

Paul Manafort, Pres. Trump's former campaign chairman. He reached a plea deal with the special counsel's office on Thursday, according to news reports. Photo by Andrew Harnik.

I got Manafort's data through a mutual friend, so we know it's reliable. I look at both his and Trump's natal and progressed. Here's the chart file for Trump and the chart file for Manafort.

Much of the program is about the Venus and Mars retrogrades and what I see them describing.

I begin, though, with some housekeeping related to the end of my sabbatical, which is now officially over. The daily horoscope resumes one week from today, and I am about to record EMPATHY-PATHOS, which will, if all goes well, come in within a few days of the equinox.

Please note I sent a special letter to all of our customers Sunday night. If it didn't arrive in your inbox, here is a link.

Planet Waves FM is distributed without profit by Chiron Return, Inc. We are part of the Pacifica Radio Network. Please support our efforts with a recurring or one-time donation in any amount. We are an official nonprofit corporation; all donations are a tax write-off. If you cannot afford money, please post our programs to social media and forward them to your friends.

with love,

PS -- As promised, here is my article on Trump and his progressed chart. And here is the article Dark Side of the Aquarius Moon about Syd Barrett. At the Halfway Point
By Amanda Painter

You can find artists all over the world creating beautiful, thoughtful, impermanent art in nature; one such artist is the UK's James Brunt. His mandalas, spirals and other circular designs may be his most elegant, and hint at profound ideas about how we move through time -- perfect for aesthetically refined Libra, our current seasonal turning point, and even for the holographic mandala that is astrology itself.

Brunt sells prints via an Etsy shop he links to from his website. You can see larger versions of some of the images at thisiscolossal.com and mymodernmet.com.

Brunt is also co-founder (and lead "creative chap") of the arts organization Responsible Fishing UK, along with Timm Cleasby. Don't let the name fool you -- it has nothing to do with catching actual fish, and everything to do with creating art that people can engage with meaningfully. Take, for example, their school program Camp Cardboard -- an interactive and sneakily educational building project using only recycled boxes, paper-based tape, and the limitless imaginations of children.
Listen to Vision Quest on Live Stream

Planet Waves has an in-house music ensemble, called Vision Quest. We have a 38-hour loop of our music, which you can listen to any time. Included are finished pieces, rehearsals, live concerts, drum grooves, and spoken word recordings. I consider it a kind of musical divination. Click in randomly at different times of day and see what you discover. Our Gifts to You: A Little Something Extra

Dear Friend and Reader:

It took me a long time to figure out what kind of gift to offer for new and returning subscribers. Tee shirts seemed too complicated; you need at least six sizes to get started, and not everyone wants a shirt. Tote bags are useful but kind of boring.

So I thought: journals. I love notebooks, and just about everything I write starts scribbled down on paper. I know my readers are a little old-fashioned, so this seemed like the perfect thing.

Black smaller, pink larger, embossed with the Planet Waves logo. There are a few hand painted sketchbooks left, with heavy, acid-free paper.

Then...I researched embossed journals for about six months. That's how long it took. I requested or purchased samples of the best that suppliers had, and all kinds of stuff came floating in the door. It was more challenging than I imagined to find a nice one, though finally I did.

Everything had to be right: the paper, the lines, and how the book feels in your hands.

However, the one I selected was being discontinued. I ordered as many as we could reasonably afford. We now have two main options: small black ones, and larger pink ones (these are new).

Together, they are the approximate color of Good & Plenty candy. I am one of these people who loves anything pink (sweatshirts, nail polish, headbands, a hot pink Squier guitar that I gave to Zosha a few years ago). We also have a few hand-painted notebooks left, which are acid-free sketchbooks.

You can get an embossed notebook with any monthly, quarterly or yearly membership to Planet Waves. If, by the way, there's a calling for hand-painted ones, I will make one more-or-less to your preferences (for those who sign up for a full-year Backstage Pass).

Continue reading this letter here.

Monthly Horoscopes and Publishing Schedule Notes

We published your extended monthly horoscopes for September on Thursday, Aug. 30. Your extended monthly horoscopes for August were published on Thursday, Aug. 9. Please note: we normally publish the extended monthly horoscope after the Sun has entered a new sign. Aries (March 20-April 19) -- Over the past few months, you've made some significant discoveries about your role and identity as part of society, and as a unique being. As the zodiacal emphasis now shifts to the zone of your one-to-one relationships, you can apply this new information in that realm also. Even in romantic partnerships where we're encouraged to merge ourselves with the other, it's becoming clearer to you that you're nevertheless a whole person in your own right, and with no missing parts. Get your full reading here.

Taurus (April 19-May 20) -- In the age of indifference, rudeness and lack of compassion, you have the power to remind people, through your actions, what considerate behavior looks like. This is less about superficial manners -- though politeness is an art that's getting lost amid all the trolling -- and more about empathy, and caring for those who are struggling. One important thing to remember is that just about everyone is struggling these days, yet most seem to have limits to their kindness. Make a point of having no exceptions to yours. Get your full reading here.

Gemini (May 20-June 21) -- The Sun and Mercury are entering your 5th house of creativity and pleasure, in a powerful opposition to Chiron. During the next few weeks, it would be worth making a point of visiting some of your favorite places and people, and of enjoying those moments. Indulge your love of life, for its own sake. If you produce art of any kind, keep your creative tools with you and take as many opportunities as you can to work on your projects. Any and all of this can result in profound healing and growth. Get your full reading here.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) -- Brains can be tricky old things, and sometimes events can have an impact on them via a rather circuitous route. That said, with effort it's usually possible to trace the steps. In understanding how recent experiences may have played out for you, there's likely benefit in following this trail carefully. Notice what factors might lead to similar responses, and what you're extrapolating from the event. The result you're going for is a deeper and more thorough understanding of how your mind operates; this would perhaps help you change anything that doesn't quite work for you. Get your full reading here.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) -- You have something beautiful to say, and as of this week you have the floor; or rather the stage. If you feel a bit rusty and need to get some practice in, grab yourself a blank notebook and write about anything that comes to your mind. Don't worry if it sounds nonsensical to you; perfect first drafts are extremely rare, which is why editors exist. One thing that helps is if you write what you know; another, if you write on what you care most about. Passion infuses just about anything with light and color.Get your full reading here.

How would you like to start your solar year with some of the most useful, most accessible, most empowering audio astrology available online? Your Tarot reading for the year (called the Virgo Tarot Studio) will be published later -- but you'll get both the astrology and the tarot for just $44 if you order today. Please be aware that the price will increase again when Eric publishes the tarot segment -- order soon to receive the Virgo Astrology Studio (which includes the Tarot reading) at the current price. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) -- This week's astrology for you has a certain gravitas. There's a specific matter on which you're being called to step up and make a commitment of some kind, even if only to yourself. Part of this relates to your most strongly held values, and how they inform your character. You'll likely be required either to stand by them, or to review them. Just remember that you're the only person who can really know what's best in your own life. You can also, at least in this instance, choose a path that's a win-win for everyone involved. Get your full reading here.

Libra Birthdays and Rising 2018-19:
Balance and Beauty: A Perfect Reading for Your Year Ahead

"I am absolutely impressed with my Libra birthday reading! It's like Eric was talking directly to me. Everything he said is what has been happening. Thank you for such a great birthday reading Eric! Longtime Planet Waves fan."
-- S.R., on a previous Libra birthday reading

Dear Friend and Reader:

Things are about to get interesting for your ruling planet, Venus. In just a few weeks, it'll station retrograde in Scorpio, and progress slowly back into your sign. For you, this is likely to cover themes such as your identity, values, resources and self-perception.

This rare retrograde phase will be just one of the factors in your solar year that Eric will discuss in your 2018-19 Libra Astrology Studio (formerly known as the Birthday Reading).

Eric's readings are consistently reliable, high-quality sources of knowledge that you can draw on repeatedly for guidance, delivered in a friendly, accessible manner. Eric uses his 20-plus years of astrological wisdom to get right to the heart of what's important to you.

"As always, your reading is spot on and validates what I am experiencing in life at this time. The sheer acknowledgment that as a Libra I need balance, beauty and aesthetics in my life to make me tick on was just what I needed to keep going."
-- Ginger Aarons, on an earlier Libra reading

The Astrology Studio reading consists of two audio astrology sessions of 30 minutes or more, an audio Tarot reading of 30 minutes or more (the Tarot Studio), your extended sign description and links to other resources. It's the perfect primer for your 2018-19 solar year and beyond, and makes an excellent and unique gift -- whether for yourself or for the Libra you love.

Pre-order today to lock in the lowest price of just $33 -- a great value for a lasting, comprehensive reading.

With best wishes,

Amy Elliott

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) -- You are capable of a powerful love that can spread into the wide corners of the universe. Indeed, you know -- perhaps better than anyone else you know -- what it means to love universally; if owing to nothing more than your innate sense of fairness and justice. The world could use some more open hearts right now; it's necessary somehow to buck the rather dangerous trend of feeling 'these people are mine, and I will care for them; these are not, and I will ignore them'. Ultimately, we are all children of the same Earth. Get your full reading here.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) -- It's not been long since your classical ruler Mars stationed direct; your modern ruler Pluto will soon follow suit, while Venus is preparing to turn retrograde in your sign. This is likely to be a potent time for you, and it's possible you're processing some strong emotional material, mainly through the more instinctual channels. Your intuition will probably be very finely honed, so keep an eye out for any messages it might be sending you, including through dreams. Taking time for reflection may also prove useful. Get your full reading here.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) -- Part of the reason why so much feels uncertain right now is that we're collectively exploring new territory in terms of social codes of conduct. This isn't necessarily just about etiquette -- such as when it's okay to use your smartphone in public -- but covers the wider issue of basic respect, and our duty to one another as humans. Your ability to take a broad view may stand you in good stead here. If you should have specific ideas in this field, by all means share them. We could use some guidance. Get your full reading here.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) -- There is a tendency to consider any relationship involving some kind of power imbalance as negating any requirement for civility, compassion or due consideration of the other party as a human person. This seems to be true whether one possesses more or less power in the exchange. Try to emphasize, in your interactions, what you share in common with others rather than your differences; and remember that you are equally complex, unique creatures. Be prepared to bring kindness and respect to the table first. Get your full reading here.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -- The Sun entering your fellow air sign Libra this week provides you a path to restoring your sense of trust -- both in your fellow humans and in the benignity of the cosmos. This is difficult for many of us right now, and it's tempting if you feel like you've been through the wringer lately to respond by closing off. Yet while this can be a useful way of coping through stress, it is no more helpful on a permanent basis than cortisol is for the brain. Let yourself receive the love and gentleness that's offered to you. Get your full reading here.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) -- Holistic philosophy bears some resemblance to astrology, as both consider the various elements of a person as interdependent rather than operating separately. Whatever might be challenging you right now, especially if it has an emotional component, would probably benefit from a holistic approach; by giving care or relief to your body, mind, heart and spirit. As part of this, make sure you treat yourself with the respect and love you afford others; at least that, and for now make your wellbeing your first priority. Get your full reading here.