Planet Waves
New York, Nov. 5, 2017 | View as Webpage | Pre-order 2018 Annual Edition

Shifting Focus: Mercury and Venus Change Signs

Dear Friend and Reader:

This is one of those weeks when the astrological tone shifts slightly; think of it like putting on glasses with colored lenses, except these glasses go on your mind and emotions. What's going on around you has not changed, but the tint of how you perceive it might.

In a world like the one we're living in -- constant political and natural crises; the internet dictating what we see, react to and believe; media whiplash with every cultural backlash -- every ounce of deliberateness counts. Life is overwhelming, and many people feel the need to tune out, go numb and seek 'entertainment'.

Planet Waves
Photo by Amanda Painter.
Others want so desperately to fix the pain around them, they forget to take care of themselves. And with the idea of 'outrage du jour' becoming almost literally a new outrage every single day, it can be hard to track how your own process of evaluating issues and responding to them -- as well as how you relate to loved ones -- might be shifting.

Which brings us to the astrological highlights of this week: both Mercury and Venus change signs this week.

Mercury just left Scorpio and entered Sagittarius earlier today. Venus leaves Libra and enters Scorpio on Tuesday at 6:38 am EST (11:38 UTC). Whereas Mercury in Scorpio might have had your mind acting something like a sleuth's magnifying glass or a surgeon's scalpel -- focused on getting beneath the surface with strong intention -- Mercury in Sagittarius could feel a little looser. OK, your thoughts and communication might feel a lot looser: shooting from the hip, an easier sense of humor and, perhaps, needing more effort to stay focused.

Meanwhile, Venus leaves one of the signs it rules (and where, therefore, it feels more comfortable) -- Libra -- for a sign where it tends to have a harder time 'acting natural'. Scorpio is opposite Taurus (the other sign Venus rules) and is traditionally ruled by Mars. This puts the planet of receptivity and the female archetype into a sign that shares the assertive masculinity of Mars.

Yet Scorpio is also a water sign: emotional and deep. Venus here needs to remember "real lovingness," as astrologer Isabel Hickey puts it. That is, it might require more conscious effort to feel one's way into empathy if possessiveness, jealousy or fear begins to encroach into a relationship situation (or any interpersonal interaction).

Having Mercury in Sagittarius should help to balance things out, and bring some ease or resiliency into the mix. But as anyone who sells things for a living will tell you, most people make major decisions based more on emotion than on facts.

Planet Waves
A hemispheric view of Venus in false color to emphasize the topography. Image by NASA/JPL/USGS.
So while the mental landscape is more attuned to the big picture rather than details, it's worth remembering that one of the emblems of emotion in astrology -- Venus -- is in an especially reactive space for the next three-and-a-half weeks.

Often feeling deeply leads to reacting strongly; sometimes this is warranted. Sometimes, however, it is not. If you notice a reaction (yours or someone else's) that seems much larger than the issue at hand, that's your clue to step back, take a breath, and consider what's really going on beneath the surface.

So, pay attention to what glasses you're wearing these next few weeks. You would not want to drive with your reading glasses on or wear your sunglasses at night. And while you cannot control what signs the planets are in, you can stay aware of how your perception might be altered. That allows you to be more deliberate in everything you do. The world could use more of our intellectual rigor in our consumption of media.

At the same time, we could all use a little more softness in our dealings with each other; that is, the awareness that we're all just human beings trying to survive, wanting to be loved, wanting to feel good, wanting to know we have a positive impact on those around us. When Venus enters Scorpio Tuesday morning, the Moon will be in the first degree of Cancer, making a beautiful trine. That's really your image for how to navigate the next few weeks: feeling all the feels, letting it feed your creativity, and taking care of those you love -- and yourself -- with open arms.

Yours & truly,

Amanda Painter


Growth Is Inevitable. Becoming Is an Art Form.

Dear Friend of Planet Waves:

Here's the thing: Life goes on. No matter how crazy the world is, we who are alive must keep on living. And that means we must keep growing and becoming.

The more chaotic the world becomes, the more we need a tool that can help us spot the patterns in the chaos -- and that would be astrology. I have long considered astrology just one resource among many potentially useful ones, though with each passing day, the gift of pattern recognition, and how these patterns relate to our lives, is a service that astrology is uniquely suited to provide.

Planet Waves
I have begun preparing THE ART OF BECOMING, the 20th annual edition of Planet Waves. This letter will tell you more about the project, which, if all goes reasonably well, will be delivered during the month of January.

Brief note on pricing policy: we offer the best price for those who purchase sooner. The current price point is $99; this will be increased again soon to the final pre-order price of $111.

My annual readings provide not only insight but spiritual and psychological leverage. I am not here to predict the future, but rather to help you design your future.

The project began as an extended January monthly horoscope; it's now more like an astrological novel, written with the pacing and detail of well-crafted fiction writing. My focus is on love and work: your relationship to yourself, followed by your relationship to others; your professional activities, financial matters and tapping your creativity.

In the end, I consider myself a motivational presenter. I see my job as helping you get excited about your own potential, and describing the specific ways you can manifest your desires into reality.

In the next section, I will describe some of the transits I'll be writing about in THE ART OF BECOMING. I present these events in human language, using technical terms only as necessary -- and explaining everything as I go. As a journalist, I write to be understood.

This is astrology written for humans, in human language, using concrete examples and images.

Read more...
Planet Waves
Don't forget to take advantage of this special gift: Eric's Daily Horoscope can arrive in your mailbox by 7 am ET, containing great astrological guidance for all 12 signs. You can sign up with our compliments, though we welcome donations.
Scopes

Your Monthly Horoscopes -- and our Publishing Schedule Notes

Your extended monthly horoscopes for November were published on Thursday, Oct. 26. We published your extended monthly horoscopes for October on Thursday, Sept. 21. Please note: we normally publish the extended monthly horoscope on the first Friday after the Sun has entered a new sign.
Scopes

Monday Morning Horoscope for Nov. 6, 2017 | By Eric Francis Coppolino
Aries
Aries (March 20-April 19) -- You must have the discipline not to take things personally in your relationships. This is challenging because relationships are so personal; and yet now, more than ever, people are inclined to live in their own world. What someone is going through may be an unfathomable mystery. It may involve making the same mistakes repeatedly. You might use what you're witnessing as a kind of therapy process. Are you doing any of this? More significantly, to what extent are you orienting your life on your involvements with others? If you do, you become subject to getting lost the moment they get lost. Start with your own feelings, remembering that "how you think someone feels about you" is coming from you. Your ideas and feelings about sex may provide additional details to your mind-map. Tune in even deeper and you will hear a clear, steady and seemingly new source of information.
"One's relationship to change is the underlying reality that determines how one handles transits. This relationship counts for a lot now, and you would be wise to bring it to full awareness. What you're currently experiencing is the culmination of six years of nonstop and ever-increasing energy. All of that has been excellent preparation. Now, you're experiencing the actual threshold, the invocation of your new life."

-- From your 2017 annual reading by Eric Francis, The Book of Your Life -- which you can read hereEric's beginning work on the 2018 annual edition -- you may pre-order that here.
Taurus
Taurus (April 19-May 20) -- You seem to be a few steps ahead of the complication that's gripping so many people in your life. You can safely offer your assistance and guidance without the risk of getting too involved. Yet when your ruling planet Venus changes signs Tuesday, you'll feel more willing to be drawn into someone else's world in a way you may have never experienced. There is an emotional depth coming through your charts now that's inviting you to take deeper risks. You may even be feeling a craving to be more vulnerable, which will come as a refreshing development. The people closest to you, including intimate partners as well as the people you collaborate with, have something unusual to offer; though you need to bring yourself fully to the experience, and be willing to hang out a while. Live that day-by-day. You don't need to double-book your evenings. One plan is enough.
"You possess actual creativity, actual devotion and a strong tendency to be ethical. If you don't let fear contaminate your mind, you will be able to connect these things in the form of your true vocation. If you are involved in what you consider to be your true vocation, you will have opportunities to go deeper and to bring in something that has the power to change you and change the world around you. That's the mark of truth: it's alive, it's active, it's provocative, and it compels you to establish an ongoing relationship with it."

-- From your 2017 annual reading by Eric Francis, The Book of Your Life -- which you can read hereEric's beginning work on the 2018 annual edition -- you may pre-order that here.
Gemini
Gemini (May 20-June 21) -- Use your sense of humor, even if you're dealing with dark subject matter. The world is a mess right now. You have it pretty good. Using your sense of humor does not mean that everything is so funny. Rather, it keeps your mind on, and evaluating your experiences, and what you see and hear, rather than merely being subjected to them. That you'll be aware of the serious side of any situation is a given. Yet you are not trapped. You're not subject to anyone's power. And the way you maintain your freedom is by keeping your perspective open and circumspect. Walk all the way around something a few times before you decide how you feel about it. If you're in a meeting, get up and stretch, just so you can see the view from the other side of the room. Note people's body language. It will reveal more than their words.
"The two most significant aspects of life -- love, and work -- are coming in at full strength at the moment. You're in a moment unlike any other you've lived through, at least speaking from the viewpoint of your astrology. It's all so much that you might not be so thrilled; you may not see the opportunities in the wild mash-up of factors that are influencing your life. To begin with, I am here to remind you that you're larger than it all." 

-- From your 2017 annual reading by Eric Francis, The Book of Your Life -- which you can read hereEric's beginning work on the 2018 annual edition -- you may pre-order that here.
Cancer
Cancer (June 21-July 22) -- Keep guiding yourself into adventure, whether creative or romantic or erotic. Adventure means the unknown and unfamiliar. This is currently not the way of the world and many people in it: being stuck to familiar patterns is the modern psychic safety net. You don't need it. You can make new friends and go new places and try things you've never done. If you've ever had a creative impulse in your life, such as to write or paint or make music, or to dance or act or take photos, or to create lavish dinner parties: now is the time to get busy. This is the year you come into your own as someone who contributes, who feeds the universe with soulful beauty. A year seems longer than it is. Four seasons pass quickly. Dare to experiment and step into your self-expression in a way you never have before.
"You are the kind of person who must become your intentions and give everything all you've got. You feel better when you do this, even if you're having to stretch a little. Being half-hearted does not suit you. You are a whole-hearted person, you want to feel that fully, and you want to be appreciated for what you do. This is the essence of self-esteem and it's currently one of the most basic elements of your astrology."

-- From your 2017 annual reading by Eric Francis, The Book of Your Life -- which you can read hereEric's beginning work on the 2018 annual edition -- you may pre-order that here.
Leo
Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) -- You can say anything you want, as long as it's true. You might over-share, fumble around a bit, feel stilted, or need to repeat yourself: it's all good, as long as you're saying what is actually valid and honest. Even if you change your mind or your point of view, you're still covered: you won't have to issue a retraction, only a revision. This is the creative process in action. As one artist said, paintings are never finished; they just pause in interesting places. So, by that measure, even your silence matters. Hesitation is a creatively pregnant place. One reminder your charts are offering is about not needing to prove anything. Your true colors will come out when you don't have to establish the validity of what you say, do or make -- as long as you know you're being real. From your point of view, experience is its own reward.
"The more you take a proactive and creative role, the less it will feel like changes are happening to you and the more it will feel like you are working with the incoming forces to create the change that you want. Therefore, pay close attention to just what that is: know what you want to change. I suggest you work with two lists: what you want to resolve or eliminate, and what you want to create. Both will happen as part of the same process."

-- From your 2017 annual reading by Eric Francis, The Book of Your Life -- which you can read hereEric's beginning work on the 2018 annual edition -- you may pre-order that here.
Virgo
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) -- Don't be quick to make financial commitments, or to decide that having money is a lost cause. The single most important thing to remember about finances is that motivation is the key ingredient. From the outside, it may seem like luck or opportunity intervenes in the lives of successful people. That's merely the window dressing. On the other side of that display is hard work, imagination and the willingness to delay gratification. And behind that is drive. You now have that power flowing through you; and you merely need to harness it, and be steady and dependable about getting your projects done. Your solar chart is vibrating with the message that your ideas are your most valuable asset. This relates to your experience and your base of knowledge. Don't talk yourself out of this, or let anyone else even try to. Put your mind to work, stick with it, and watch the results.
"You could say that apart from all the psychological concepts attached to self-esteem, the experience you're looking for is feeling good about who you are. This is a feeling, not a concept. Rather than strive for the feeling, the thing to do is give yourself the experiences that you want; the experiences that will enrich you and help you develop into your personhood. To feel good about yourself, it's vital that you know how to express who you are, and what you feel."

-- From your 2017 annual reading by Eric Francis, The Book of Your Life -- which you can read here. Eric's beginning work on the 2018 annual edition -- you may pre-order that here.
Libra
Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) -- You're not as confused or as off-course as you may seem. It's true there's a lot going on, and there are those days you seem to be running in circles. Yet what you need to do is prioritize. Ask yourself what's really meaningful to you and what is not. Ask yourself what's actually necessary, what's a sincere desire, and what is a whim. If you take the time to review your experience of the past few weeks, you may notice that you make the mistake of giving up what's the most important to you, just when you have the chance to make it real. You don't have to do that, and certainly not for the sake of another person. It's true that you provide an important point of reference for the people you care about, though in that case, you would be wise to set the example of taking care of yourself.
"Your workplace must be not just habitable but truly supportive. You simply must like the place where you work, or you risk your mental and emotional health. Others can get by with jobs they hate, or substandard working environments; you cannot. Therefore, invest the time and energy you need to have a place of work that supports your creativity, your health and your wellbeing."

-- From your 2017 annual reading by Eric Francis, The Book of Your Life -- which you can read hereEric's beginning work on the 2018 annual edition -- you may pre-order that here.



Scorpio Birthdays 2017-18
Sensing Behind the Veil: Your Guide into a Big Year
"Your passion, deep care and love always shine through; and you have the gift of all great teachers, of making one feel that one is being personally addressed, respected and taken care of."
-- Liz Glanville
Dear Scorpio Friend and Reader:

Here we are in that time when the veil between this world and unseen realms is said to be thinnest. I know many people, including several Scorpios, who revel in the sensations of this season. Yet tuning in takes conscious intention; it asks you to make time and psychic space for subtler forms of connection than what modern life generally facilitates.

That's one of the beauties of your 2017-18 Scorpio Birthday Reading: it's the ideal tool to help you tune in -- to yourself, to the astrology, to your soul's purpose in this world, and to your connection to the subtler realms.

Scorpio
Your solar year is beginning with astonishing potential, thanks to Jupiter's presence. And while Jupiter is not exactly 'subtle', it still asks you to make conscious contact with its energy -- Eric will guide you in how to make the most of it.

With Saturn, Uranus and Chiron changing signs, your environment will be shifting -- yet another great reason to focus your bandwidth and deepen your awareness.

In particular, Uranus entering your opposite sign and 'relationship house' -- Taurus -- could bring some surprises over the next few years. Listening to your birthday reading will help you get oriented on the inherent creative potential, and to channel your energy and emotion in deeply productive ways.

Your reading will include two astrology segments of at least 30 minutes each, plus a tarot reading using the Voyager Tarot by James Wanless (you also get an extended description of your sign). Recorded in pro-quality audio, you can listen as many times as you like.

And, you'll want to: Eric creates these readings to combine the best of his motivational life-coaching skills; the best of his therapy training; and the most down-to-Earth, practical, jargon-free astrological insights you'll find anywhere on the internet.
"A devoted follower of your work since 2008, and a supporting member now for more than a year, I feel your readings are spot on so I keep coming back."
-- Lesley (Scorpio x 3)
If you'd like to secure your full reading at the lowest possible price of $33, you'll want to pre-order the 2017-18 Scorpio Birthday Reading here. And you'll want to do it soon: the price will increase as publication nears, and then will increase again upon publication of the full reading.

Yours & truly,

Amanda Painter

P.S. If you know and love anyone with a Scorpio Sun, Moon or rising sign, the 2017-18 Scorpio Birthday Reading makes an incredible gift.



Scorpio
Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) -- You're doing well working with partial information. Said another way, you know some things and not others, and that may be working to your advantage. For example, your choices need to go beyond what will serve the purpose of a romantic relationship. Sure, relationships are important, though your emphasis needs to be on your chosen purpose. This is not about what you will do with "the rest of your life," but rather about heeding the calling to do what you need to do. We live in the age of excuses and distractions. We also live in a time when what passes for the world has been shrunk down to the size of a hand-held video screen. The actual world is a vast, mysterious and unpredictable place, and you would benefit greatly from getting a sense of its actual scale by traveling with your physical body. Go someplace unfamiliar and notice how you change and grow.
"You must gather with people who share common values with you. You can no longer afford to invest your precious time and psychic energy with people who do not embody the highest vibration of what you desire, and know to be true. You will feel better about yourself when you can speak openly about what you value the most, and spend time with those who share your spiritual goals and your purpose for living."

-- From your 2017 annual reading by Eric Francis, The Book of Your Life -- which you can read hereEric's beginning work on the 2018 annual edition -- you may pre-order that here.
Sagittarius
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) -- Mercury has just entered your sign, which will clear up some lingering questions you've had about a relationship. Yet if Mercury is doing its job, you'll have better questions, and you'll ask them sincerely. You might do it now, while the subject is fresh in your mind and while relationship partners are in the mood to speak. Everyone will benefit from a real conversation, conducted in person, face to face, with all devices left in your bag or in the car. Relationships must never be taken for granted: not the brand-new ones, not the cute old couple sitting on the park bench, and not anything in between. Right now you're the moderator of the conversation. You set the tone for the quality of communication, and the emotional content you're willing to share. If you listen with open ears and an open heart, you will learn surprising things about the people closest to you.
"To succeed, your work plan must have metes and bounds. You must choose the specific things you need to accomplish within a specific timeframe, and these choices must be prioritized. This does not mean that you will follow your plans exactly, and you'll very likely alter your priorities as you proceed. Yet it's essential to start with some organized scheme, so that you have an overview, and you have a first draft to revise."

-- From your 2017 annual reading by Eric Francis, The Book of Your Life -- which you can read hereEric's beginning work on the 2018 annual edition -- you may pre-order that here.
Capricorn
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) -- The world is hungry for justice right now, and you can help provide it. The first way to do that is by being a fair and just person in all that you do, particularly in your most intimate relationships -- but in truth, all the time. This will involve coming out of automatic mode, and consciously assessing every situation you find yourself in. While you're doing this, you may notice the first five or six times how easy it is to go back into robotic thinking, which is another way of saying not really thinking at all. When you take over, you'll discover that you have more power than you previously thought. You have the ability to intervene in situations where you do no harm -- and that is the true metric of fairness. What seems unjust is almost always about one person taking advantage of another. You're free to declare you've had quite enough of this.
"You are someone who is more connected to the wider flow of the human experience than you might otherwise be. Even if you're not an official leader, or into politics, you are connected (often rather consciously) to aspects of life that extend far beyond yourself. This connection sometimes comes bursting into your life when you're not vaguely interested. Sometimes you feel it as a direct calling, and you may or may not know what to do with that."

-- From your 2017 annual reading by Eric Francis, The Book of Your Life -- which you can read hereEric's beginning work on the 2018 annual edition -- you may pre-order that here.
Aquarius
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -- You've been getting the message lately: you need to lighten up. This will take practice, though once you see how well it works, you'll have additional incentive to stick with the program. You have significant and realistic goals you're working with, and it will take some time and effort to materialize them. What will help you the most right now is a kind of public relations campaign. I don't mean writing press releases: I mean relating to friends, colleagues, clients, customers, and whatever you think of as your 'public' in a direct and candid way. Go to them rather than having them come to you. Putting this in the simplest terms possible, reach out to people who matter to you, and with whom you want to make contact -- and connect. At minimum this would best be voice to voice, though you will go a long way if you bring your body along; go for eye contact.
"Within the morphogenetic fields of your sign is an inbred rebelliousness of mind. This comes with the refusal to accept patterns imposed by others; the capacity to hybridize one's views and have original positions on social and political issues; which in turn leads to a kind of eccentricity that is very much a quality of your nature. So too is a distinct inventiveness, if you can keep your mind awake, alert and young."

-- From your 2017 annual reading by Eric Francis, The Book of Your Life -- which you can read here. Eric's beginning work on the 2018 annual edition -- you may pre-order that here.
Pisces
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) -- You know that when you find yourself in the midst of an insecure spell, it wears off as fast as it came on. So you might skip it altogether, and focus on your confidence. Over and over again, you've proven that it's worth having faith in yourself, because you so dependably come through. If you can remind yourself of that, you won't hesitate taking on new commitments, especially the ones you truly care about. The theme of your life through the remainder of the year is completing a kind of leadership program that goes all the way back to late 2014. That was a very different time in your life, and part of why it was different is that you've put so much energy into making it so. You have other changes that you need to make, and reflecting on what you've already accomplished will feed your gumption.
"After many adventures, misadventures, developments, challenges and crises, you've integrated the many seemingly separate facets of who you were into someone who you now most distinctly are. I suggest you make a study of this gradual transformation that's taken over your life, and which is nearly complete. Feel the ways in which you've worked out problems that seemed to have no solution. Notice how your confidence level has increased."

-- From your 2017 annual reading by Eric Francis, The Book of Your Life -- which you can read hereEric's beginning work on the 2018 annual edition -- you may pre-order that here.



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