The Question of Venus Retrograde

Dear Friend and Reader:

We've been witnessing the effects of the Venus shadow this week, and now Venus is about to station retrograde. This week will end on a different note from the one it is beginning on, particularly in the public sphere.

Yet in the private sphere, the retrograde seems to be begging a question. I'm not sure what the question is; something like: How do you feel? What do you want? What do you need? What are you afraid of? What is your deepest secret?

Who are you, and who do you want to be?

Rather than interpreting this week's aspects, I want to let these questions hang in the air, and in inner space. The direction of the retrograde is surely inward, and toward the past; yet to be meaningful, I would propose we embrace these on the level of an inquiry rather than rushing to a conclusion.

There are many questions that deserve not just answers but careful and thoughtful consideration.

Your weekly horoscope is below. I've looked closely at the astrology in the second segment of tonight's Planet Waves FM. The first half-hour of the program addresses my first few years of astrological practice, my learning to work with Chiron, and the process of healing from trauma and transgression.

Thank you for listening, thank you for being a subscriber, and thank you for trusting us as your astrologers.

With love,

Dear Planet Waves Reader:

Nearly every client who comes in has questions about their intimate relationships -- any astrologer will tell you that. Over the years I've been doing this work, though, I've made an observation: astrology is terrible at predicting the outcome of relationships, but excellent as a tool for analysis.

Prediction is dicey in any event; are we creating what we predict? Yet as a method of understanding what is so, I've found astrology to be of excellent assistance, something that can help you solve puzzles and communicate with yourself more effectively.

Eric Francis.

With Venus about to go retrograde, there are questions of unspoken needs, unresolved emotional material, and an invitation to be more honest with oneself. I am reading Venus retrograde in Scorpio as an invitation to look within, what you might call the ultimate spiritual gesture.

And this week, I'll be finishing a set of astrology readings designed to help you do just that. My Empathy series of readings look at the light and shadow sides of Venus. I am looking at the recent Mars retrograde, and its connection to Venus.

I also devote time in each reading to discussing Chiron's transition from Pisces to Aries, and look ahead at what that might be about.

These transits align with our unusual, somewhat tense moment of how the genders relate to one another, our culture-wide identity crisis, and the quest for some sane direction. Only my approach is personal, in the spirit of an individual reading.

The first four signs are done; I am scheduled to wrap the rest by the time Venus goes retrograde. We are delivering signs as I complete them. Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn are done. Tomorrow I plan to do Taurus and Scorpio.

My readings are easygoing, gently paced, and in human language rather than astrologese. They can be downloaded or played on any kind of device, and will keep giving new information with each playing. And for astrology fans, they are perfect for binge listening.

You only need one purchase per household! You may share them with the people you care about. You may get all 12 signs here, still for the preorder price of $88, or individual signs here. Be sure, at least, to get your Sun sign and rising sign.

You may purchase by phone at (845) 481-5616.

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

With love,

PS -- Each reading comes with original music by Vision Quest. We are including the charts used for the reading as well. Daily Horoscope Returns to Four Winds Almanac

Planet Waves publishes a nifty daily astrology newsletter called the Four Winds Report. After a brief hiatus, we have now reinstated the daily horoscope, plus there are a few additions, including the Photo of the Day and On This Day in History.

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.

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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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 on the first Thursday after the Sun has entered a new sign. Aries (March 20-April 19) -- Recent developments in your chart are supporting your ability to discover a solution to a healing-related matter. The chart image looks like you're able to enter a space of twilight sleep and peek between the worlds, and glimpse at exactly what you need. Yet this will depend on your receptivity above all else, and your choosing not to jam your frequencies with false solutions. Pay particular attention to early morning dreams, the kind you wake up from in the 4 am range, when the world and the psychic fields are quieter. The information you need is right in your mind. You may get it in a series of small "transmissions" that contain one or two items per visit. In this zone, you also have the ability to shape who you want to be. You may notice that you can tap into a kind of pre-existing archetype of yourself, one you aspire to but rarely see. Get your full Aries reading here.

Taurus (April 19-May 20) -- Notice what it's easier to say when you've had a glass of wine. There's an old (as in very old) expression, "In vino veritas," which means that people are more likely to speak the truth under the influence of alcohol. Assuming you're not in recovery, I suggest you do this as an experiment, if you happen to like the stuff. But not, however, with any subject matter that's particularly important. The idea, wine or not, is to consider your inhibitions, and how you manage them. There would seem to be something you want to express or reveal to an intimate partner. This may be an entirely affirmative admission, of a desire, a feeling, a need, or a loving thought you want to share. It's the type of thing requiring some vulnerability on your part, and here is where in vino veritas might come in. It would be better if you do this in a clear state of mind. Take it slowly, and don't be attached to the outcome, as much as humanly possible. Get your full Taurus reading here.

Gemini (May 20-June 21) -- Juno, one of the original four asteroids, is making an interesting maneuver in your sign. It reached Gemini on Sept. 29, and stations retrograde on Oct. 12, in the first degree. This is an invitation to unravel your ideas about monogamy, jealousy and attachment. You won't get to the bottom of the matter, though you peer down, as if you're in a glass-bottomed boat. What's down there, under the surface? What expectations, what unresolved experiences, and what hopes for the future? The question would seem to be, how much of your impulse to be monogamous is driven by a desire to be with one partner, and how much is influenced by jealousy? That could be your own jealousy, or your fear of a partner's jealousy if you spend time with someone you want to get to know (whether sex is involved or not). The point here is not to "get over" your jealousy or feelings about it. The idea, in the worlds of Dane Rudhyar, is "the revelation of unconscious energies and submerged psychic structures." Get your full Gemini reading here.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) -- Do what you can to bring people together, even if in modest ways. Contemporary American culture is about driving people apart. It is considered open season on whatever people deem bad, with little thought or consideration. This is not going to serve the world, and it's not serving you. Start, if you like, with even a small group of three or four people. Do that Cancerian thing you do so well, which is to put on the Ritz -- just make sure that everyone has to contribute something, for their own good. The shift I'm talking about here is from "service economy" to "community," which means having life be a bit communal. We all have plenty to share, and the gift economy must reach out in all directions and touch all walks of life. So, be generous, and be welcoming, and also be open to receiving any assistance that you need, and that others are willing to offer. Get your full Cancer reading here.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) -- The Libra Sun is making a trine aspect to Mars in Aquarius. The image is one of you being in the position of negotiating your way through any potentially thorny situation. You will, of course, need to keep a positive attitude, the better to tiptoe through the briar patch of society's current obsession with being cranky, judgmental and negative. This is a good job for you, and it's a good time for you to be doing it -- though remember, this may be on your own behalf. Take care of that first, and make sure you're on solid ground and in good standing with those you will reach out to on other topics, potentially a community issue that dearly needs attention. You may be wondering what, exactly, people are so worked up about. Gaze on that with some amazement, as if it's a strange marvel of nature, and don't let anyone wear you down. The fact is, most people have little clue how good they have it. Get your full Leo reading here.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) -- It is worth devoting yourself to what you love even when it does not seem to give you much back. Studying music, you might have to practice scales for hundreds of hours before your melodies sound like much. You might need to write and rewrite every day for years before your point comes across, and the words don't feel like bricks. You might need to fill many sketchpads before you get an idea for a piece you want to make life-size. And it could take years of gradual softening and introspection and experimentation before you start to access your deeper erotic feelings. All of this is worth doing, and focusing on, with gentle discipline, love and ever-increasing awareness. Don't worry if you don't seem to get a result. That is not the point, certainly not under the influence of Vesta and Saturn. Rather, it's far more worthwhile that you make space and time for what you want and then fill that space with your love and attention. Get your full Virgo reading here.


Libra Birthdays and Rising 2018-19:
Instant Access to Your 2018 Libra Astrology

"Eric's uplifting, thoughtful commentaries and imaginative cosmological worldview gave me great comfort during the depths of an extremely painful episode. He was my friend in absentia, as I am his in spirit. Thanks for all you do at Planet Waves."
-- K.S.

Dear Friend and Reader:

Last week the Sun entered your sign for the equinox, which was promptly heralded by a rather incredible Full Moon in Aries, your relationship sign. To honor this rather potent astrology, Eric recorded the two astrology segments of your 2018-19 Libra Astrology Studio (previously called the Libra Birthday Reading) -- and they're available for instant access.

Although he has not yet recorded the tarot portion of this audio reading, he plans to soon -- which means you have limited time to lock in the current price of $44 for the full reading (plus an extended description of your sign, and photos of the chart and tarot cards).

Some of the themes Eric has identified in your next year's astrology include being shaken loose from the priority structures of those around you (particularly regarding your relationships and finances); designating a space that's entirely your own, as defined only by you; and truly learning to live in the present, not in the past. You can hear Eric discuss these themes in this audio sample.

"I'm 'addicted' and these recordings make great educational options on a 17-hour flight!"
-- P. Hoback

Also on the agenda: some thoughts about what the retrograde of your ruling planet, Venus, has in store for you. Venus will move in apparent backwards motion from Scorpio into Libra between Oct. 5 and Nov. 16.

Remember, if you give the 2018 Libra Astrology Studio to a loved one as a gift, they'll get instant access to the two astrology sections -- and we'll send them an email when the tarot portion is ready.

Wishing you an amazing year,

Amanda Painter

P.S. Whether you have a Libra Sun, Moon or rising sign, you can get a lot out of Eric's audio readings. Listen to last year's Libra Birthday Reading as a gift to find out for yourself!

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Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) -- Venus, your ruling planet, turns to retrograde motion this week. The image in your solar chart is one of deep personal reevaluation. Most of the lives we live are designed as a kind of wallpaper glued over our real questions about ourselves and existence. You've reached a turning point, and your new direction is deeper within yourself. Why are you on this planet? What do you feel that you have to share? What is your mission, and when will you take yourself seriously enough to act on it with the total commitment necessary to bring it into fruition? These are the questions of Venus retrograde, which lasts between Oct. 5 and Nov. 15. Fortunately, at the end of this particular phase of searching, there would seem to be a fairly simple resolution. You are holding the answers you need, right within yourself. All of your searching and preparation will point you toward one deep resolution and then making a few decisions that you've long known you had to make. Get your full Libra reading here.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) -- Many struggles in our lives are associated with not being able to see and feel life from the perspective of others. As I write, I am looking for words that describe "viewpoint" that don't imply vision. (The word "perspective" comes from a Latin root that means looked at closely.) What you need is not going to be provided by the cool, detached visual sense. Rather, it will be about taking in and actually feeling where someone you care about is coming from, in the emotional sense. You need to understand how they experience their total human condition. This will require, at first, a degree of embrace and acceptance of another that may be unusual to you. All matters of power must be set aside, because that will only serve to corrode delicate trust. It does not matter how you actually feel about this person, whether they are the love of your life or your worst enemy; your business partner or some kind of competitor. This astrology applies to everyone in your environment. Get your full Scorpio reading here.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) -- You have protection from everything except your own intentions. Therefore, you must always strive to do the right thing, even more than usual. That is the part that you alone must handle, and handle with the utmost awareness of your influence over your own life. The imagery in your astrology is about being conservative with your values and your choices. That means acting with discretion. It means setting aside any notion that all is fair in love and war. It means refusing to tolerate any form of cruelty, no matter how subtle. This is a time in your life when you are establishing a tangible moral code that you will live by for the rest of your life. This is rarely enough done, and it's also never done merely from theory, and it cannot be a precept. True morality is learned from hard experience. Yours must be flexible enough to handle the complicated lives that we are soaked in at the moment, and be wise enough to penetrate the ambiguity that is currently fogging over our minds and our society. Get your full Sagittarius reading here.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) -- You will need to live with certain mysteries for a while, particularly regarding how your relationships seem to turn out different from how you plan them. What you must remember at this time in your life is that Saturn in your sign -- and the fast-approaching Saturn-Pluto conjunction of 2020 -- will be holding you to a hard line. Saturn raises the karmic stakes for everyone involved. Matters of ethics, of truth and of impartiality must be handled with the utmost awareness. It is likely that, during this time, you will need the guidance of those older and certainly wiser than yourself. All important decisions must be made on a delayed basis. There will be no bending your interpretation of events to suit your purposes. You will need documentation of everything you state as a belief. And when you don't understand something, hold your mind open, and be observant. Do not make up a story. Get your full Capricorn reading here.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -- Make sure you take good care of yourself this week, and persist in doing so. Get things started right: emphasize self-care as much as you are inclined to emphasize work. This simply must become a way of life for you, and this does present certain challenges that you'll need to meet head-on. Food, rest, getting outside and, most of all, making sure you have and indulge whatever special thing makes you feel the most human. Also, with Saturn and Pluto in your solar 12th house, you will need to be aware of your anxiety level. This is off the charts in society as a whole, as we live our lives as if perched on the roof of a fireworks shed and have noticed a little smoke coming out of the corner. Much of your anxiety will relate to what you feel you do not know. Therefore, one result will be awareness, beginning with self-awareness. Meanwhile, keep learning and observing and connect the dots in pencil, not in Sharpie. Get your full Aquarius reading here.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) -- Take a scientific approach to all things. I say that knowing that a man regarded as the greatest scientist of the 20th century, our fellow fish Albert Einstein, got his best idea intuitively, while walking on a flight of stairs. But then he had to follow up with the mathematics, and the experiments, and peer review by other scientists. By scientific approach, I mean knowing what can and cannot be proven; what can and cannot be established in facts; knowing what you know and do not know; and being willing to be proven wrong, in the interest of establishing the greater truth. Science always involves a delicate balance between intuition and firm knowledge. The two must support one another. What cannot be proven must be honestly recognized as such, though held open for potential validation. The truth itself does not change, though the road to it can indeed be winding, and long. Get your full Pisces reading here.

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