Planet Waves :: Your Monday Morning Horoscope

New York, Feb. 18, 2018 | View as Webpage | Order 2018 Annual | Individual Signs

Rediscovering Buoyancy

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Dear Friend and Reader:

The Sun entered Pisces today, joining Mercury (which entered Pisces yesterday), Venus, Neptune and Chiron. On Friday, the asteroid Juno will join the pool party. You may be noticing that last week's edginess is softening, or feel a sensation like pressure has finally equalized.

Partly this is a typical shift after any eclipse, but it's being emphasized right now by the cluster of planets in Pisces.

Floating ice near Antarctica. Photo by Oliver Dodd.

I realize as I type this that it's also possible all the current water-sign activity might have you feeling more sensitive, a little overwhelmed or even desiring some measure of escapism in the aftermath of last week's tragic, horrific and maddening school shooting in Florida. If that's the case, rather than withdrawing completely, you might see if you can call on all this Pisces energy to shift into a more creative mode. That can include tending to your self-care.

Over the weekend, the Sun and Mercury entered Pisces, one day apart. They join Venus and long-term visitors Nessus and Neptune. On Friday, the asteroid Juno will join the pool party. The movement from Aquarius to Pisces signals a shift in emphasis from the intellect to the emotions; from groups as a political structure to the collective as organically unified; from disruption and pattern-setting to visioning and moving toward that vision.

As if to underscore the point, most of the more prominent aspects this week feature these planets in Pisces. The first of these is Venus conjunct Neptune, exact on Wednesday (and in effect now). Even when these planets meet in other signs this is an inspirational, dreamy, romantic, poetic, musical, psychically sensitive merging of energies. But in Pisces -- a sign Neptune rules, and in which Venus has a special affinity -- we may have the apotheosis of their combined expression.

That said, like any aspect with any planets, there can be a more functional side and a less functional side to it. At its best, this is a tremendously creative influence that orients us on beauty, and on selflessness in the highest sense toward loved ones. That said, it can be a little tricky in relationships; namely, if you've set your expectations of someone too high and have confused the ideal with the real. The reminder here is to stay grounded regarding the other people in your life, but to let your imagination soar if you're involved in anything artistic (and that can include things as mundane as picking out a new set of bed sheets).

Yet, operating at the same time we have another interesting aspect pattern, also exact Wednesday: Mercury makes a conjunction to Nessus in Pisces, and they sextile Saturn in Capricorn. Before I offer some thoughts on this, it's worth noting that the Sun makes the same aspect pattern at the end of the week. This indicates we'll be processing whatever material this pattern represents first on one level of consciousness, and then on another.

A Mercury-Saturn sextile is said to represent a practical, disciplined, responsible frame of mind -- one that allows a person to see what needs to be corrected and then do so, or to teach and be taught. Yet what's up with Mercury conjunct Nessus?

Detail of photo by Zoltan Voros.

One quality of any conjunction is that it can represent a merging of the two planets' energies.

With that in mind, it occurred to me that Mercury-Nessus might indicate a need to notice whether your thinking is overly identified with an abusive dynamic; for example, a victim mindset, or other habits of thought that perpetuate the effects of a prior transgression.

With Nessus' theme of 'stopping the buck', perhaps Mercury-Nessus represents an ability to align your thought processes and communication with your ability to say, 'I'm done with this'. Saturn in Capricorn looks like it not only offers some traction for this, but also the 'safe container', stability, attention to details and inner authority to do so.

As we move toward the end of the week, Venus and Mars come into contact (simultaneous with the Sun-Saturn-Nessus configuration). On Sunday Venus in Pisces moves into a square with Mars and Vesta in Sagittarius.

We'll explore that pattern more later in the week; for now, you'll want to track how you're handling your passion versus your love. They're not actually the same thing; and with Venus in a water sign and Mars in a fire sign, that difference could become very clear in ways that create some tension -- or steam, depending on your circumstances. With Vesta in the mix, the questions of what do you devote yourself to, what are you sacrificing yourself to, and what else do you need to hold space for in your life might arise.

With so many planets gathering in Pisces, hopefully you'll notice an increased ability to flow with any of the questions or challenges you encounter this week. You may realize you have more wiggle room than you thought, and greater buoyancy.

Yours & truly,

Amanda Painter

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-- Jennifer, on the Art of Becoming annual readings

Dear Friend and Reader:

Did you know that The Art of Becoming readings for Virgo, Libra, Scorpio and Pisces are now available for instant access? These four signs join the five we've already published: Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, and Leo.

This means that nine of the 12 Art of Becoming signs are available for instant access -- whether you purchase one or two readings individually, or go all-in and order all 12 signs to share with your household.

We anticipate having Sagittarius up soon, followed by the two Saturn-ruled signs -- Capricorn and Aquarius -- soon after. Please note that for signs not posted, there are materials on those pages, including some prior readings for review; as well as videos that go with The Art of Becoming series, located on the front page.

"I just wanted to say thank you for The Art of Becoming. As usual I have so enjoyed your writing and your insight and I have my fingers crossed that as a Taurus and reading the effects of Chiron, I can go with the flow and change my life for the better."
-- Marissa on the Art of Becoming reading for Taurus

If you have any questions, please email us at cs@planetwaves.net. Or call from within the U.S. at (845) 481-5616, or from outside the U.S. at (206) 567-4455. If you leave voicemail, please be sure to leave your number in the message, and we'll call you back as soon as we can.

Thank you so much for your continued patience and goodwill as we work to deliver these readings.

Yours & truly,

Amanda Painter

P.S. Here's what others are saying about The Art of Becoming:

"Dearest Eric, I just wanted to acknowledge how beautifully insightful your work always is and how moved I was reading your essays. Thank you so much for continuing to be such a guiding light along the way. Much love and appreciation."
-- Maureen, on the Art of Becoming annual readings

"The leadership aspect of what you offered really assists me to understand what my being is up to in the world of work. True, it is rarely discussed in astrology in this way for Cancer. It is not always an easy road, but it is certainly not dull. This year I have shifted direction and am discerning what parts need to come with, and what needs to be left as no longer required. This is across relationships, views, methods and tribes. Your articulated integration of the various dimensions influenced through the realms is a gift and valuable resource in curating the conditions required. Received with gratitude."
-- Rebekah, on the Art of Becoming annual reading for Cancer

"I am deeply appreciative of your integrity and the depth from where your being resides. Many blessings on your path."
-- Desiree, on the Art of Becoming annual readings

"I will put this in a very safe place, and reread it over the coming days, weeks, months. This has been an extremely tough beginning of the year -- it seems that I'm no longer being allowed to play out my life without really addressing what/who runs it from the shadows. You write about all this so brilliantly. Thank you for this stunning reading, dear Eric, for your extraordinary insights, wisdom and guidance."
-- Liz, on the Art of Becoming annual readings

"Thank you, Eric, this reading is exquisite in its most absolute form. My sense of where my life is heading is reflected back to me in this annual with such elegant cohesion; your writing simultaneously feels to be a healing balm and a road map to a territory unknown except for the consistency of its beckoning."
-- JeanMarie Murphy, on the Art of Becoming annual reading for Gemini

Your Monthly Horoscopes and Publishing Schedule Notes

Your extended monthly horoscopes for February were published on Thursday, Jan. 25. We published your extended monthly horoscopes for January on Thursday, Dec. 21. Please note: we normally publish the extended monthly horoscope on the first Friday after the Sun has entered a new sign.

Monday Morning Horoscope for Feb. 19, 2018 | By Eric Francis Coppolino

Aries (March 20-April 19) -- Don't worry if the week gets off to a stormy start. Take a day to reorient yourself consciously now that the Sun is in a new sign, Pisces. You're now living between the dream world and the real world, even a little more than is usual these days. The message is that you must stay grounded, which means orienting yourself in the physical world of place and time, of your commitments, and your physical surroundings. You will inevitably be drawn into the cosmos of fantasy, and you must draw yourself back out, and plant yourself down to the ground. If you can do that, you will get to experience the abundance of creativity that's flowing into you and through you -- though this is not so useful if you can't engage it in the world. Part of engaging with ideas means to dance with the unpredictable, and that's the best approach to any changes of plans today.

You can now get instant access to nine signs of the 2018 Planet Waves annual edition, The Art of Becoming -- with more to follow very soon. Order all 12 signs here to read your Sun, Moon and rising sign and those of loved ones, or choose your individual signs here.

Taurus (April 19-May 20) -- You may be feeling restless or anxious, though you won't show it. That's a good thing, as you're at your most visible and social at the moment. Just so you know how others are likely to perceive you, dreamy is the word; and people might project their fantasies. This is true to some degree all the time; we tend to see one another as we are. Yet with Venus and Neptune glowing in the social universe of your 11th solar house -- the one where you mingle with the world around you -- people see you as shining that unusual invisible light of beauty. You might just dance with this and have some fun. You don't owe anyone anything for being seen however someone wants to see you. And you have your options open; though, of course, the fantasy of who someone thinks you are is different from the reality. If you engage with someone, you get to take them from one place to the other.

Gemini (May 20-June 21) -- There's a place in every chart called the 10th house, and it covers both reputation and responsibility. You would think the two go together in the world, but not in these tough times, where many people want all glory and no accountability; power and no rules. Your 10th is where the action is now: your ruling planet Mercury has just arrived, as has the Sun. Venus is there, and so too are Neptune and Chiron. This is a moment of leadership for you, and that means leading by example as well as by your words, thoughts and plans. You may need to overdo the responsibility/accountability angle. This is not just about your reputation; it's about the longevity of your work, which is based on whether people trust you in the long run. Living "in the moment" is all the rage; however, you will benefit greatly from aligning the past, the future, and your mission and calling right now.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) -- The Sun has entered your sympathetic water sign Pisces, which has a way of making you feel better about life. For those of us who live in the northern climes, winter is losing its grip, the Sun is coming back to warm us, and the possibilities are opening up. You have a life, and you have more than that: you have faith in yourself, which has come through many trials and tribulations, large and small. When there are many planets in water signs (which currently include Mercury, Venus, the Sun, Jupiter, Neptune and Chiron), your life flows. Rather than push the river, you need to guide your vessel. It's true that we live in what seem like horribly uncertain times, though that's a reminder of how life has been in most times and most places during the human experiment. We are not guaranteed certainty; there is no such thing, and the illusion of it never works in your favor.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) -- If you want depth, you will need to open up a little and let it in. You might feel like if you open the gate just a crack, the unknown will rush in and flood you. You may feel like there will be too many demands, or that you'll lose your individuality. None of that is true. The sky is dominated by planets in the water signs right now; and when that is the case, everyone has to learn how to swim. You move differently in water compared to how you do on land, though there's nothing like it. It used to be that fire was the element hidden away, replaced by electric stoves and microwave ovens; smoking has become vaping, and who exactly has spent time sitting next to a campfire? Today, however, water is the "secret element," portioned in little plastic bottles, mixed with flavors and colors; and, in our times of rising seas, it is considered the enemy. Turn up the heat. Dive in. Water is your best friend.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) -- Planets are gathered in your opposite sign Pisces, the one that represents your intimate relationships and work partnerships, and which describes your environment. This tells me you may have a lot of suitors showing up. While everyone loves attention to some degree, this might be a bit much to manage. However, actively resisting is not the best idea. It's a little like when you're at the beach and a big wave is coming: the best thing to do is dive right into it, and you emerge safely on the other side. If you retreat, push back, or hide away, you'll only feel the tightness of your own defenses. Take this opportunity to engage people openly. Have the courage to speak, to ask questions, to share your thoughts, and to decide what you want to do with whatever attention comes your way. You remain in control of the decisions you make. Don't let anyone convince you otherwise.

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) -- Work may be the last thing you want to do this week, especially at work. If you have some extra vacation days, or personal days, this would be an excellent time to take them, and do something rather un-21st-century: nothing special. However, if you have work to do, or if you must show up and take care of the tasks at hand, find a way to make the experience as pleasant as possible. One thing about Libra and its affinity for beauty is your biological need to work in a fresh environment: with lights and plants and some artwork. You are not the cubicle type. You're not the chicken factory type. You are very much the work-at-home type, or the one who takes on the unofficial role of beautifying the office. See if you can find other "Venus types" (Taurus and Pisces come to mind), and get some help tidying up, washing windows, investing in plants, and bringing some art objects into your work space. And whatever you may do, do it beautifully.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) -- Yours is the sign associated with sex, all the way back to the earliest days of the astrology that we use. This is associated with biology, and it can be described using evolutionary science. But you don't need books, studies and reports to know this basic truth, especially now, with planets collecting in one of the most sensuous and erotic regions of your chart, Pisces. Here's the thing: your imagination may be all kinds of freaky right now, though your true calling is to translate this into physical form. With Mercury in the picture, this is more about a conversation and less about getting lucky or seeing what happens. Use a wide definition of sex, which includes a spectrum of sensual experiences, from food to music to the atmosphere of the space you're in. However, the presence of Pisces is calling for private rather than public spaces; making your own food rather than paying someone else to do it for you. Find out what partners and loved ones want, and what's on their mind -- and make the very most out of their creative ideas.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) -- Mars (the planet of desire) in your sign is conjunct an asteroid called Vesta, which is making a long-term visit to Sagittarius. Vesta is one of the most interesting elements in astrology, in that it describes unusual relationship scenarios. The ordinary interpretation of Vesta is about people who try to distract themselves from intimacy by staying at work. However, on a subtler level, Vesta suspends the usual rules of love and romance to make room for the many other kinds of desire that people feel, including those that are lesser known (or understood). You might say that Mars-Vesta in Sagittarius is offering a direct connection to the most spiritual elements of sex and relating. For you, the suggestion is to hold space for whatever is happening. Stand back a little, and observe rather than judge. Make sure you account for the fact that you and anyone you relate to need a kind of sanctuary, where anything can happen. Let that be a quiet space, free from electronics, interruptions and time limits.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) -- You may have a lot to say right now, and no idea where to begin. You could start with describing the weather. Keep a weather journal for a few days, as an experiment. Do this in a little notebook, which will remind you that old-fashioned tools are the ones you like the best. Describe how the air feels, how the sky looks, and how you relate to the temperature. Start by restricting your report to just describing the conditions of your environment as you experience them. Then gradually let the entries get longer, and expand, just a little, into how you feel about the prevailing conditions. Then, notice what being so observant is doing for you: how it's changing your perception, and what else you notice. You have an important mission, which includes developing your awareness and your power of observation. This can be done in the very simplest of ways, all of which start with being in tune with your senses, and the part of your mind that receives the information.

Aquarius Solar Eclipse Reading from Planet Waves

Dear Friend and Reader:

I've just finished the Aquarius audio reading. It's now available for instant access.

This is a separate project from the annual edition, different in every way. This is a 75-minute astrology reading in two sessions, based on Thursday's solar eclipse in your sign -- the last solar eclipse in Aquarius until Feb. 17, 2026.

Chart for Thursday's solar eclipse. The monograph behind it is by the German philosopher Dieter Duhm.

This chart has a lot to say about relationships, self-esteem, family and ancestral matters. I do my best to help you orient inwardly to experience these dimensions of growth and healing not only as real, but as accessible, workable places to focus your energy and time.

Your reading is available for $66. My audio readings are some of the most unusual astrology you'll encounter. I believe they go deeper than the work that most professional astrologers do, reaching the spiritual essence of the chart's message, though without the need for a natal chart. This reading will stand up to many playings.

Doing this work takes experience and preparation; if sold as "self help" these readings would be going for many times the price. My intention is to keep them accessible and affordable.

I've prepared a sample of the reading lasting about six minutes, which you can play as an mp3, or download as a zip file. The music is an original piece by Vision Quest, the Planet Waves in-house ensemble.

My method of reading opens up so many dimensions that I could devote hours to each chart. Yet this reading distills certain vital messages, catching you up on the past few months of Saturn in Capricorn, and previewing the transits of Chiron in Aries and Uranus in Taurus.

I'll be following up with a tarot reading in a month or two, a feature that's included with your reading, though is about to be split off as a separate product. That's not delivered on a schedule -- it's ready when it's ready.

Your reading also includes access to last year's audio reading (so that you can review it) as well as The Book of Your Life 2017 written reading.

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

With love,

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -- Last week's solar eclipse in your birth sign is gradually working its effects on you. When an eclipse is building, it's like an invisible storm is blowing in. The psychic air pressure changes, there's tension in the atmosphere, and a sense of things running out of control. Now that the eclipse has passed, you may have noticed a drop in the pressure, and a sense that you have more influence over your own affairs. Take a deep breath. You are involved in a clearing process, one that's taking you deep into some problem areas, compelling you to reorganize, restructure, and expand your awareness to every facet of your life. This also includes your relationships, which may seem out of sorts or in transition -- though you can trust that this process is leading you somewhere you can actually place your feet on the ground. Make the changes you feel called upon to make. Clear out space in your mind and in your life. Set your priorities, and act on them.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) -- In astrology, the 12th house is the one that is usually said to correspond with yours, the 12th sign. This is the most mysterious house, which is about all things invisible, and not available to the normal senses. How have your dreams been? Have you noticed that you're doing some kind of deep working out? Have you noticed that the air feels a little cleaner, like in the morning after it's rained all night? Last week's eclipse took place in your 12th house, which was like a psychic purge. Periodically, this house needs the pressure equalized with the rest of your life, your mind and your chart, and that's what happens when there's an eclipse in this area of your chart. Notice your new clarity, feel it, and pay attention to what you notice. Make sure you do that Pisces thing and keep your point of view moving rather than fixed. One benefit to this event was that it's helping set you free from thought-forms that had grown too rigid. Look at everything and everyone, including yourself, from as many angles as you can.

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