The View from the Other Side

Dear Friend and Reader:

At last, the major astrology of this week (this month, really) has occurred: Mercury is retrograde in Pisces as of Monday; Uranus is in Taurus as of yesterday, and the Pisces New Moon is separating. As I write this, it's all so fresh that I'm still getting a feel for whether the edginess and sense of anticipation I'd been experiencing has dissipated.

I've tried to think back to last May, when Uranus first dipped into Taurus, to compare how I felt and what was going on for me, to see if there are any correlations. I have to confess, though, I feel like last year's ingress was easier somehow.

Utility poles in Orkney, Scotland, the day after Uranus -- the cosmic light socket -- ingressed Taurus in May 2018. Photo by Amanda Painter.

That could be more the result of time softening the edges of memory than an actual contrast. But I'm curious to hear whether anyone reading this has a similar sense of it all.

I know that last year, like this year, I was involved in a theater production; immediately after, I traveled to Orkney, Scotland, for an intensive workshop on voice and breath for theater. It was during that workshop that Uranus entered Taurus. I recall feeling busy before the trip; maybe a little overwhelmed; but when Uranus actually made its move, I was simply focused completely on the workshop and on exploring my surroundings when I was not exploring my own breath and voice.

So I've been wondering: was it partly being in a strange place, on an adventure of self-discovery, that aligned with the energy of Uranus and therefore seemed to smooth the change? Are my situation and activities somehow less in harmony with Uranus this year? Was it the resonance of a voice class with the sign Taurus (which rules the neck and throat)?

Or does this year's edginess in the lead-up relate more to the succession of other planets we've had hanging out in the final degrees of signs? Maybe having Chiron in the sensitive first degree of Aries, conjunct Salacia, is providing more agitation than I've been giving it credit for?

How have you experienced these two ingresses of Uranus? Has one been easier or more fraught than the other in ways you did not expect?

I also want to mention a curious correspondence astrologically that I only noticed when I double-checked the dates when Uranus was last in the first degree of Taurus. Just like yesterday, when Uranus entered Taurus on May 15, 2018, it coincided with a New Moon the same day -- that time in Taurus. Not only that, but when Uranus retrograded from the first degree of Taurus back into Aries, on Nov. 6, 2018, that also coincided with a New Moon (within 24 hours) -- in Scorpio, the sign opposite Taurus.

I have not studied these charts enough to make too many interpretations, but I do think it's uncanny how this particular shift of Uranus has been timed with New Moons. It's kind of like getting a personal-level reminder of what ‘new' feels like, as the generational planet of innovation changes its mode of expression. Or maybe it's a cosmic way of offering the space in which something unexpected can manifest, on a level we mere mortals can actually relate to.

It remains to be seen what, exactly, this particular journey of Uranus in Taurus signifies -- though areas such as resources (personal, material, global financial markets), values (both in the sense of ‘morals' and in the sense of how much things are worth), our bodies and senses, and the Earth itself appear to be topics of focus -- and perhaps of challenge, or outright disruption. Same with things like routines and habits (how much of a shock does it take to change them?), stubbornness, and jealousy or possessiveness.

In the meantime, I thought I'd mention a couple of aspects in effect between now and the weekend. One is a square between the Sun, Neptune and Vesta in Pisces with the centaur Asbolus in Gemini, exact today.

Ring of Brodgar, Orkney, Scotland in May 2018. Photo by Amanda Painter.

On one level, this aspect pattern adds some specificity to the theme of ‘space holding' that's currently being highlighted, and seems to describe a couple of questions. One would be: how do you actively hold space for the ways you've survived in this world, and for who you are as a survivor? Another might be to ask how you integrate your intellectual understanding of that survival with your faith in yourself to continue -- and to continue healing and thriving. Any action made in answer to these questions will likely help to ease any tension you may feel around the topic.

Note that faith versus intellect is a false dichotomy, but one our current culture keeps hammering on relentlessly. Can you rationalize what your intuition tells you? Do you need to? Or is it enough simply to verify necessary facts and then trust the small, still voice inside?

The other aspect is retrograde Mercury in Pisces square the centaur Ixion in Sagittarius. Mercury made this same square on March 2 in direct motion -- which may help you to connect some dots as to what this signifies for you.

One possible line of questioning involves how you feel about past second chances -- especially those you've squandered -- thoughtless ethics slips you've made, or intentional-but-kinda-immoral choices you've made. What do you believe about yourself because of these actions?

Do you need to say or do anything to anyone about it now to make amends? Do you feel too stuck in guilt or shame to want to face the situation -- even just within yourself -- honestly? If so, that would be the first thing to address; shame can send us spiraling down the path of repeated detrimental choices. Owning the ways we think we've screwed up does not involve defensiveness; so if that's what you're expressing currently, can you take a little time to gently untangle those threads? Speaking with someone non-judgmental, and who's not directly involved, could help you to find the space you need to forgive yourself and figure out the next steps.

I say this knowing that Mercury retrograde in a soft-focus, imaginative sign like Pisces could make the process a little slippery. Then again, it may offer the instinct, vision and sensitivity necessary to see the third option you didn't realize was open to you. Perhaps Uranus is now in a position to help catalyze something surprisingly tangible in response.

Yours & truly,

Amanda Painter
Whadda You Lookin' At? By Amanda Painter

With Mercury currently retrograde in Pisces -- and the Sun conjunct Neptune in the same sign -- how confident are you of your ability to perceive the world around you accurately? Although some have looked at one or the other version of the photos above and thought it was someone in a pair of gray fuzzy slippers standing on the edge of a tall building, closer inspection shows two curious pigeons perched on the camera of a photographer lying on the floor. Personally, I think it looks like a scene from The Godfeather. I had no idea pigeons could look so tough.
New Planet Waves FM: The Sacred Space of Self

Dear Friend and Listener:

Thank you for your response to last week's request for membership. Many of you came through with one-time or monthly donations, which are now covering about half the costs of producing Planet Waves FM.

Let's go for 100% -- there are more of you than there are of me!

iMac selfie a little after finishing tonight's program.

It's an honor to show up here faithfully each week and do the program. It's been a labor of love to develop the show over these years, to build the studio and to get us into the Pacifica Network.

If the program is a touchstone for you each week, if you come here to learn astrology, if you have caught onto my intention of creating a haven and a place of sanity on the wild and chilly internet, please consider helping us pay for the program. A little goes a long way -- and $10 a month means a lot more to us than it does to a massive organization.

All contributions are tax deductible through our nonprofit organization Chiron Return. If anyone considers themselves a philanthropist and wants to help us get to the next level of our work with our 10-year-running project, please contact me directly.

This week's program is ready, covering the Pisces New Moon conjunct Neptune and Vesta; a remarkable Mercury retrograde; and Uranus in Taurus. You may listen here, on the Intelligence website.

Thanks for tuning in.

With love,

PS -- Don't miss our local homegrown music. Peter Gabriel fans will recognize the names Tony Levin and Jerry Marotta. Christian rock fans will recognize Phil Keaggy like Deadheads recognize "Garcia." This unusual supergroup was organized by the dad of Planet Waves musician Daniel Grimsland.
Listen to Vision Quest on Live Stream

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

Dear Friend and Reader:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Continue reading this letter here.

Instant Access for Your Pisces New Moon, and a Gift

Dear Friend and Reader:

Eric recently completed Parts One and Two of your 2019 Pisces Astrology Studio reading -- just in time for the pretty astonishing New Moon we just experienced in your sign on Tuesday (right after Uranus enters Taurus). It could not come at a better time, in my opinion, just based on how many people I know who are struggling to stay centered in this wild world, and during this provocative astrology.

Here's some of what Eric wrote recently about the Pisces New Moon, and Mercury now retrograde in your sign:

The series of events now developing in Pisces all point to Neptune, and the question could be phrased: what did you believe in the past, that turned out not to be true?

What beliefs were later challenged by information that "came out"? Where was that information before it "came out"? Were you aware of any part of it?

Reviewing the past and making better decisions is not the same thing as being stuck in the past, or obsessed by the past. Rather, it's the lack of coherent reflection that leads to stuck and obsessed.

He adds:

Vesta maintains its own order, its own rules, its own ability to hold space for what people really need -- that is, space for a real exchange, or for one person to consciously help another.

If you'd appreciate more insights of this sort as you begin your new solar year under some highly unique astrology, I hope you'll order your 2019 Pisces Astrology Studio today. Even though both astrology segments are available for instant access, we're holding the current price -- just $44 -- for the time being. Once Eric publishes your Pisces 2019 tarot reading, we'll raise the price once more.

"No longer am I amazed that what you convey is spot on… it's just the way things are."

-- Rob Moore

Wishing you all the best this year,

Amanda Painter

P.S. If you're new to Eric's readings, or if you'd like to review your past 12 months, you're invited to listen to last year's Pisces Birthday Reading, as a gift from us.

P.P.S. If you have questions or prefer to order by phone, please give us a call at (845) 481-5616 during Eastern business hours and someone will get back to you shortly. Monthly Horoscopes and Publishing Schedule Notes

We published your extended monthly horoscopes for March on Thursday, Feb. 21. Your extended monthly horoscopes for February were published on Monday, Feb. 4. Please note: we normally publish the extended monthly horoscope after the Sun has entered a new sign.

Aries (March 20-April 19) -- "Measure twice, cut once" is especially good advice to keep in mind this week. Those measurements are best taken internally; clues as to where to cut, what you're actually building, and why, may arise from less than fully conscious recesses of your psyche. The project you're engaged in must reflect your truest self and values, and is a work in process that will extend into the foreseeable future. Though the next few weeks are akin to a gestation period for you, if your actions meet these criteria you have an opportunity to take constructive steps in the next several days to lay some key foundations.

Get your full Aries INTELLIGENCE reading by Eric here.
Taurus (April 19-May 20) -- Restrictions that may not have bothered you in years past are becoming increasingly unsupportable; you've outgrown many of the established ways you interact with the world. You probably realize this already, but sense that your freedom will entail passage through the unfamiliar and unsettling. You've got time to figure it out, but Think Big: goals that may have felt like impossible dreams are not. Evolutionary changes you've experienced, both internally and professionally, have led to this turning point. Allies who are able to assist will require your patience for a while, but tentative steps may be taken this week in your quest to venture farther than your old self ever dared.

Get your full Taurus INTELLIGENCE reading by Eric here.
Gemini (May 20-June 21) -- Your intuition is your greatest ally this month. You'll need both emotional and mental intelligence to navigate any complexities, confusion or frustrations you encounter in handling worldly responsibilities. Let your inner Zen master take the wheel, and in the midst of demands on your time, do your best to step back for an overview of just how you want to show up in the world. Subtle yet powerful forces at work in the deepest levels of your psyche may be tapped this week. Use them to inspire practical strategies for furthering goals related to shared values, including financial ones. If opportunities arise for some kind of second chance in relationship matters, bring your best self to the table.

Get your full Gemini INTELLIGENCE reading by Eric here.
Cancer (June 21-July 22) -- Dreaming awake is a high art, for the most part lost in our culture. It requires bringing your waking consciousness into the dream state: a deliberate shift in awareness that's different from passive daydreams or obsessive thought loops. Concentrated yet relaxed 'soft focus' is necessary; a self-induced trance entered with creative intent. The next several weeks are ripe for your own exploration of such an approach; you need a vision, one inaccessible from your routine perception. Inspiration through a co-worker or friend is available, if you're open to receive it. A new cycle of alliances is beginning now; Keep your antennae tuned for omens and signs that will show the way.

Get your full Cancer INTELLIGENCE reading by Eric here.
Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) -- Although your focus may have been on professional achievements recently, allow yourself to dive in for a spell of psychic housecleaning. Various upheavals over the last two years may have triggered deep emotional issues that haven't been fully processed. Gentle but courageous work in this area is necessary preparation for the revolutionary new cycle commencing now, related to your place in the world. Instinctual drives, issues related intimacy and security, fears, motivations, taboos -- you're at the point where a compassionate look into a few psychological corners is key, to fulfill your career aspirations. This process will be easier to harmonize with your public role and daily tasks than you suppose, and will support your physical wellbeing.

Get your full Leo INTELLIGENCE reading by Eric here.
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) -- You're poised to enter a cycle of discovery unlike any you've experienced. Calcified belief systems will be tested and forced to evolve, while open minds will explore some vivifying and unusual new terrain. It appears that to commence on the journey, however, you must first rekindle, renegotiate or reconsider certain important relationships. Approach this with courage and sensitivity, trusting that an element of the sacred accompanies the process. Renewed ties will help bolster your faith in yourself; feeling supported can make every difference in the world. Honest, emotional reckoning must also be embraced. Remember that all relationships are teachers, and that you thrive on learning.

Get your full Virgo INTELLIGENCE reading by Eric here.
Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) -- Self-care is in order. Re-establishing healthy routines is essential, and will go a long way toward mitigating job-related stress you may be under. Consider the tradition of ritual baths, sanctuaries of healing and spiritual renewal. Surprising insights may arise while relaxing in a hot tub, along with revelations and release of repressed emotion and anxiety you mustn't hold on to. Tending your own wellbeing will foster self-esteem and empower you to skillfully negotiate uncertainties or reorganization that affects you in work-related affairs. A seven-year cycle of profound psychic awakening lies ahead. Think of the next few weeks in terms of a requisite period of purification, and restoration of your physical instrument.

Get your full Libra INTELLIGENCE reading by Eric here.
Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) -- A creative project that has languished wants your attention. An easy, playful attitude toward rewrites or reimagining your vision will refuel your soul. Romantic involvements might also be due for reassessment. If so, take time to clarify for yourself what you actually want, and make every effort to communicate honestly, with compassion. Authentic creativity springs from fundamental self-acceptance, and the time has come to examine your genuine emotional response to patterns in more established relationships, whether personal or professional. Your needs and motivations have evolved. Your closest relationships will increasingly mirror those changes you may not yet be consciously aware of. How you express yourself -- or don't -- matters.

Get your full Scorpio INTELLIGENCE reading by Eric here.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) -- Your process of self-discovery and liberation has reached a new stage. In the course of testing your wings and releasing old patterns, you've been forced to examine personal values and resources, which has fostered a new level of maturity in terms of self-reliance and self-worth. You've prepared the ground to submit to a higher purpose. Revolutionary changes in how you bring your work to the world may require new skills, including the ability to balance the need for freedom related to your job with patient, tenacious determination. Attention directed toward your roots, in every sense of that word -- your past, your family, your inner, secret self -- will help clear the path.

Get your full Sagittarius INTELLIGENCE reading by Eric here.
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) -- Slow down. Intense recent mental activity and exchanges with others may have left residual frustration, confusion or agitated exhaustion. You don't have to figure everything out right now. With sensitive, thoughtful attention you're in a good place to re-think creative solutions and tie up loose ends. However occupied you may be with material concerns, never forget the mighty power of your intuition; it's among your greatest gifts and inspires your finest achievements. You're on the cusp of a new era in personal creativity. Beckon the muse by deliberately turning your focus inward as much as you can. Moments of gentle, private whimsy may lead to exciting projects that bring you much joy.

Get your full Capricorn INTELLIGENCE reading by Eric here.
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -- Examine what security and freedom really mean to you. What values take priority in each category, and what do they have in common? Allow yourself creative leeway to contemplate what you genuinely require to feel good about yourself, and what makes you feel safe -- materially, emotionally, and in terms of your core identity. Guard against confusion in mundane affairs right now, clarify agreements, and don't assume what hasn't been specified. Your power to manifest what you desire is formidable, and inner guidance is available at the moment to help solve practical challenges. Freedom and flexibility go hand in hand. Remember this, as you're gearing up for a personal revolution on a foundational level.

Get your full Aquarius INTELLIGENCE reading by Eric here.
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) -- Yesterday's New Moon was the symbolic Pisces birthday. Celebrate your re-emergence with some deliberate, physical gesture this week. You're in the midst of what could be an awe-inspiring personal renaissance that propels you toward fulfilling your vision of highest achievement. Nurture yourself in ways you might have neglected recently. Demonstrate genuine self-valuation and focus on what you truly desire and need. The world is awaiting your voice, and the time has come to share it. The more you invest in yourself right now, the greater your power to tap opportunities to test those waters this week. Powerful, supportive allies are available, urging you on. Your mind is set to expand to a radical degree. Honor the moment with concrete actions.

Get your full Pisces INTELLIGENCE reading by Eric here.