Scorpio Full Moon, Square the Lunar Nodes

Dear Friend and Reader:

Tonight is the Scorpio Full Moon, exact at 8:58 pm EDT (00:58 UTC). This is one of the two annual Full Moons across the Taurus-Scorpio axis (the other occurs in the fall), which I describe in more detail in tonight's edition of Planet Waves FM.

The Full Moon implies the integration of an axis of the zodiac; in this case, Taurus and Scorpio. Yet tonight's Full Moon is square the lunar nodes in Leo and Aquarius, making it energetically similar to an eclipse. Though I don't understand it, the "Moon wobble" effect has been noted when the Sun squares the nodes (if anyone is tracking that phenomenon, I would love to hear from you).

Full Moon over Grandville, Michigan. Photo by Rachel Kramer.

At minimum, tonight's Full Moon is midway between the eclipses of this past February and this coming August.

The Sun square the Nodes is a turning point, particularly when the Sun rules one of them (the North Node, in Leo). This is a caution against skipping steps in your process. You will know that you're skipping steps when you find yourself back where you started, seemingly having made little or no progress.

So take the time to take each step consciously and carefully.

With this Full Moon, we leave some unusually rough astrology behind us: the Mercury retrograde with its Mars-Saturn conjunction; Mars conjunct Pluto; Mercury making many aspects to Capricorn planets; and several other wrinkles.

Chiron has begun its nine-year trek across Aries, and Uranus is about to begin its seven-year trek across Taurus (more on that soon). We are in a watershed moment on many accounts, and tonight's Full Moon is a reminder of that, an energetic boost; something to add to the momentum.

Today my collaborator and fellow astrology student Amy Elliott has written your weekly horoscope, for the second week running. I plan to be back one week from today. My daily horoscope has been running continuously. Here's the current daily (connected to the Four Winds almanac), and here's how you may sign up for that publication.

Thank you for tuning in.

With love,

Larry Harvey, Founder of Burning Man (Jan. 11, 1948 - April 28, 2018)

We are saddened to report the death of Larry Harvey, the founder of Burning Man. Larry was a visionary, a philosopher, a builder, an idealist, and a friend to humanity. To me he was the living representation of Aquarius at its most creative, intuitive and evolved.

I fell in love with his ideas when researching my original Burning Man series of articles in 1999. This link takes you to the main piece in that series, where you can read parts of an extensive interview with Larry at the end of the piece. He likened Burning Man to the analog version of the internet.

"Unlike conventional media, the Internet is radically accessible, interactive, egalitarian and non-hierarchic. It is not easily made subject to central control. Because it is so readily available to vast numbers of people, it has the potential to generate manifold personal connections that transcend normal boundaries within our society.

"Burning Man is an analog of this process. It forms a concrete image of the internet. Participants in Burning Man are empowered to create unique virtual worlds of their own devising, much as web sites can be generated within cyberspace. They are also enabled to interact with other people on the basis of an absolute equality."

I mention Burning Man many times on tonight's program -- I had no idea he had passed.

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Chiron in Aries: The Challenge of Individuating

Dear Friend and Reader:

Chiron is now in Aries, for the first time since 1977. This is about the quest for individuality in the most deeply personal way: the cultivation and growth of your soul. There are challenges associated with doing this, which I plan to address eloquently and in a way that you will find reassuring and helpful.

Eric Francis at his video desk, in Kingston, NY.

Chiron in Aries is good news for those who love learning about themselves, growing and living in a way that is fully committed to who you are. Following up on The Art of Becoming 2018 annual edition, I'm honored to offer you The Sacred Space of Self spring reading.

The Sacred Space of Self will come in the form of 12 video presentations, each approximately half an hour in length. These readings will apply to Sun sign, Moon sign and rising sign. They are offered as a package, and will interlink with and support one another. 

One topic I will focus on is the special challenge of growing and evolving when you're involved in an intimate relationship -- and your partner is not growing as fast as you are, or does not want to.

The Sacred Space of Self will cover Chiron's transition into Aries over the next nine months. I will also look back at Chiron in Pisces, which began in 2010. I will give a detailed reading of Mars retrograde in Aquarius (June 26-Aug. 27). And I will introduce Uranus entering Taurus. (NOTE: In the Midyear Reading over the summer, I'll further develop Uranus in Taurus, and give a detailed reading of Venus retrograde in Scorpio.)

Delivery is projected for the month of May. Given the complexity of the project, there's no way to give a better estimate, but May (as early as possible) seems doable.

Pricing Policy: Please Read Carefully

First, this is one purchase per household. You may share with your significant other and relatives. This reading will contain useful information for both adults and children.

Planet Waves products are introduced at the lowest price, and then we increase gradually. We are introducing all 12 signs of The Sacred Space of Self for $66, which is $5.50 per sign. Soon after, we will increase to $77, then $88, and then, right before publication, $99. Once we publish, the final price will be $111. If you want the best bargain (nearly half price), please purchase early!

You may pre-order The Sacred Space of Self here.

Thank you for your business, and for trusting me as your astrologer.

With love,

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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.

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Four Winds Almanac Now Includes Daily Horoscope

Planet Waves publishes a nifty daily astrology newsletter called the Four Winds Report. Designed as a fast read arriving early in the morning, we're now trying an experiment -- we're including the daily horoscope for everyone.

Were it not for horoscopes, I wouldn't be an astrologer. It was the Patric Walker daily that convinced me there was actually something to astrology, and I got my basic education studying his column each day in the New York Post.

I pack a lot of energy into each sign's 50-word write up. Part of the value of astrology is the timing, and daily allows for precision, as well as chronicling a narrative day by day.

Your almanac also includes information about Mayan astrology (long count and short count dates), several formats of the current date (including Hebrew and Islamic), a daily birthday reading, and special discounts on products and services.

Best of all, we take no outside advertising.

Sign up free here.

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Planet Waves: A Truly Rare Resource



Monthly Horoscopes and Publishing Schedule Notes

We published your extended monthly horoscopes for May on Thursday, April 26. Your extended monthly horoscopes for April were published on Thursday, March 29. Please note: we normally publish the extended monthly horoscope on the first Friday after the Sun has entered a new sign. Aries (March 20-April 19) -- Chiron in your sign certainly offers profound and extensive healing opportunities. Yet I appreciate that sometimes it can feel like an exacting schoolteacher, the sort who would always notice one's errors and seemed to exist for the very purpose of doing so. Chiron has been called the 'inconvenient benefic', which I think describes its teaching function succinctly. With Juno now also in your sign, you might perhaps be inclined to dismiss the 'benefic' part of that phrase. I suggest you hold space for it, and continue to allow yourself the room to adjust. You are in fact more than capable of mastering the subject of your personal growth. -- by Amy Elliott Taurus Birthdays 2018: How Will You Dance with the Unexpected This Year, Taurus?

"Awesome, so uplifting and so 'IT' -- a wonderful birthday message."
-- Eryca Willinger

Dear Friend with Taurus Sun, Rising or Moon:

In just a couple weeks, Uranus will enter your sign. As Eric described in your Taurus annual reading for this year, "Uranus transits are exciting and a little nerve-wracking. There can be the sensation of a constant buzz running through your mind and your feelings, along with an ongoing dance with the unexpected."

Eric Francis.

He goes on to explain that, "the alchemy of Uranus and Taurus will create some interesting, exciting effects. If you allow it to, it will bring out the best in you. It seems that to do this effectively, with the least struggle and the most adventure, you need to identify as an agent of change rather than as one who resists changing."

As you might imagine, in your 2018 Taurus Birthday Reading Eric will be doing his best to get you prepared, limbered up and excited to meet Uranus on solid ground -- the kind of ground upon which you can move and think with agility, respond to the unexpected with grace, and initiate new adventures with confidence.

In two segments of astrology (at least 30 minutes each) you'll get the motivational coaching, insight, reassurance and practical tools you need to get this new phase of discovery and growth started on the right foot. You can download the audio to listen as many times as you like, and you'll also get an extended description of your sign.

"It's like Eric was talking directly to me. Everything he said is what has been happening. The last year has been a tremendous challenge in pretty much all areas of my life, but the birthday reading gives me hope that I really am on the right track. Thank you for such a great birthday reading Eric! Longtime Planet Waves fan."
-- S.R.

If you're new to Eric's audio readings or would like an in-depth review of your last year, please accept the gift of last year's Taurus Reading here.

Also, please note that when you pre-order your Taurus Reading early, you secure the lowest price we offer. The price will increase as publication nears -- and then again after it's published.

Wishing you the best in your role as an "agent of change,"

Amanda Painter

P.S. As always, the 2018 Taurus Birthday Reading makes a fantastic gift, sure to be valued by your favorite Taurus friends and family members.

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Taurus (April 19-May 20) -- This week's Full Moon arrives at what seems to be a pivotal moment in your identity development. You'll soon have Uranus in your birth sign, and perhaps are already beginning to feel the seismic movements in your mental landscape. I suggest you go with the flow to an extent, and most especially don't get caught up in what you think you know at present. This also means that you need not limit your flights of imagination. Once you're aware of the possibilities, you'll then have an opportunity to start afresh, to knock down anything that's acting as a barrier, and to reshape your environment into one that works far better for you. -- by Amy Elliott Gemini (May 20-June 21) -- A change would seem to be brewing in the depths of your psyche, which as yet is probably not making itself known in your demeanor. With Venus in your sign, you're likely to come across as your usual friendly self, with a dash of added charm. Even in yourself, you might not notice much of a difference to begin with. You may find it playing out in little ways, though, such as moments when you are simply unable to tell anything but the bare unvarnished truth, without the little finesses or hyperbole. The point of this process is to help you better stand in your power; the more you assist it actively by refusing to compromise yourself, the easier it's likely to be. -- by Amy Elliott Cancer (June 21-July 22) -- Tonight's Full Moon in Scorpio takes place in degrees whose Sabian symbols discuss community and what that actually means. One thing many people are likely to discover in some form during the forthcoming nine years of Chiron in Aries is that when we place limits of any sort around our concept of community, we all too often end up with a clique instead. There is another option: to view the whole Earth as our collective home, and all of humanity as our brothers and sisters. This path ultimately means living honestly as your whole self, and refusing to compromise that for the sake of conformity, or for a sense of belonging. Arguably, this is a lesson we all need. Keep it close by this week. -- by Amy Elliott Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) -- You may be about to make progress or changes in your career. Be patient: what's approaching may still need some simmering time; and though from your perspective all the materials may seem to be in place, the astrology suggests that some elements have yet to emerge. Be prepared also for some developments to be sudden or random-seeming. A good rule of thumb may be simply to continue doing and being your best, and keeping expectations (though not aspirations, desires or wishes) in check. Even if your environment does become a little erratic, that's no requirement for you to be the same. One last: it may help if you keep a discreet tongue, and pay careful attention to people and events around you. -- by Amy Elliott Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) -- You are slowly coming to realize that there is no such thing as half measures when it comes to spirituality and the pursuit of higher ideals. That includes having the confidence to state your needs and know that you have the right to at least ask, even if the circumstances are not always optimal to meet them. Humility is a deeply important and necessary virtue in this imperfect world of ours, but it only carries you so far. There is a line we all must draw at which humility becomes a lack of self-respect. Be clear on where that is for you; and if you find you've been crossing it, I suggest you make a commitment to stop doing so, now and forever. -- by Amy Elliott Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) -- Making a commitment almost always carries a degree of uncertainty or risk, since people and circumstances change; or sometimes we don't initially know all the facts. What at first seems like a perfectly reasonable point of agreement can eventually become a tie that chafes. Often this is a sign of personal development: we outgrow the restrictions that used to seem more like guardrails. In part, this shows that the only true security is in one's integrity and commitment to oneself. If a contract or promise is no longer working for you, at the least you might subject it to a close review, in order to know the reasons and your potential options. Then do what you believe is right. -- by Amy Elliott Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) -- It's important in relationships to be open to the possibility of change -- in one's partners or in oneself. It helps if a relationship contains sufficient space and freedom for those involved to grow on their personal path, as opposed to holding anyone back. As Uranus prepares to shake up your opposite sign, remember that one essential ingredient in all partnerships is communication. Don't be afraid to ask when you need clarification, to state your needs, and to listen with an open heart to what loved ones are saying. Be aware when you might be carrying patterns from early life or previous experiences into the present day. We all do it from time to time; recognizing that is a sign of maturity. -- by Amy Elliott Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) -- For healing to really work, there often has to be a sense of discomfort; which is probably what's behind the folk concept of medicine always tasting bad. Openings for healing can also appear suddenly and unexpectedly, which might feel disruptive, especially for anyone who thinks they don't need it. There is nothing wrong, however, with the idea of healing being a lifelong process. Particularly in an environment where quick, easy answers are considered optimal, long-term and involved holistic work may seem unappealing. Nevertheless, it's almost invariably worthwhile. It helps if you're willing from the first to take in the bumps and hurdles as well as the smoother parts of the journey. -- by Amy Elliott Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) -- Just as most if not all of the things we do for fun, such as games or sex or messing with paints, can be turned to a higher purpose, so too can we make a career doing what we love best. This is perhaps one definition of the term 'vocation'. It would seem you are now being called to consider this question for yourself. Is your work, as the saying goes, a daily grind? Or is it a labor of love, or self-fulfillment? You might think of it as the difference between suppression and expression. If you're feeling at all hemmed in, there may well be something you can do about that. Make a plan, and then take one step at a time, as gently and organically as possible. You should feel your wings stretching. -- by Amy Elliott Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -- You have a chance to set yourself free from the vestiges of past challenges and habits that don't serve you -- perhaps more than ever before. We all owe something to our roots, our ancestors and our early existence; these inevitably help to shape our adult selves. There's a difference, however, between respecting that fact and allowing it to trap you in the past. A change in perspective may help you recognize when what you thought was a kind of security turns out to be a wall through which you now need to break. Take courage, and have the confidence to form and stand by your own opinions. Honor your wisdom and integrity: they are more than sufficient. -- by Amy Elliott Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) -- There is a contrast often upheld between the idea of justice, on the one hand, and mercy on the other. Justice in this sense relates to following the letter of the law; applying similar rules regardless of personal circumstances. Mercy represents a more thoughtful and loving approach: one might condemn or correct the error, but love and forgive the person committing it. At present, our culture is abundant with those seeking and fighting for justice, while mercy is all but forgotten; perhaps because behind it is the inherent understanding that we are all flawed, and that we are all connected. In this you have the capacity to shine, and to lead by example. Start with yourself. -- by Amy Elliott

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