BY ERIC FRANCIS
Aries (March 20-April 19)
Many of the worst patterns that we pick up in childhood are dramatized not by our superiors (such as parents, teachers or bosses) but rather in our relationships with our peers. Those we call friends are capable of perpetuating some of the most negative and debilitating childhood dynamics, preventing us from being full adults. These include violations of trust, deception and misuse of power. Be vigilant for this conduct in anyone who you call a ‘friend’. Notice how you feel around people; notice who has a tendency to hold you to your past. These are among the patterns you’re trying to let go of. They may be embodied in one or more people you would prefer to let go of: and if so, the sooner the better.
Taurus (April 19- May 20)
It’s been three months since Beltane, the May holiday that happens around the time of your birth. August is always a turning point for you, for this reason — but in what direction you turn remains an open question. A professional move is high on the astrology agenda: it involves recognizing the psychological hang-up you have about succeeding in your career. Have you considered the possibility that someone intentionally tried to hold you back? For example, the way in which your potential success may have threatened them? You may wonder what difference something makes that happened so long ago; but this awareness will make a difference and if you allow it to, it will do so now.
Gemini (May 20- June 21)
Mercury in Virgo is here to remind you that you’re not a computer. There are days you feel that way, except for one little detail — feeling. I won’t deny a computer the potential of experiencing emotions; neither do I deny it to you. Lately you may be encountering some of what you came up against, walked into or otherwise encountered when you were a child. Those experiences taught you to respond a certain way, but unaware why you were doing it. That is part of what leaves you feeling like a robot sometimes, or like your life is following a script. There’s only one, which is awareness. If memories come flooding back, pay attention.
Cancer (June 21- July 22)
This month’s lunar eclipse is compelling you to act in the highest integrity in your relationships, and it’s insisting that you demand that same integrity of others. In truth there is no difference between the two. You live in one environment, and that contains your ideas, your relationships, your feelings and your needs. The less dividing you do, the better. It’s good to be honest, but it violates your integrity if you allow someone to be dishonest to you, or in truth, someone you’re aware of. You may not think you volunteered for the role of upholding virtue in your personal world, but if not you, then who?
Leo (July 22- Aug. 23)
You are excellent at seeing the bright side of people, and making contact with their best qualities. Now would be a good time to bring out that technique, not just as something you quietly practice, but something you demonstrate as an open example for your peers. How we handle the black sheep in the family says everything about the family. How any social group handles uniqueness, a dissident or a rebel says everything about the social group. You have a very special gift: you know that the negative actions of others don’t reflect badly on you, and this is quite a powerful resource to possess. Among other things, you demonstrate that it’s even possible.
Virgo (Aug. 23- Sep. 22)
You’re in a rare moment for aligning yourself with your greater mission in life — and I do mean this in the highest sense of your purpose. Well, highest? I would say: yes, so far. Now as an astrological counselor, I know that these highest purpose conversations tend to fall into two categories: the highest purpose related to a new pair of shoes or making more money; or an aspiration such as manifesting a creative or humanitarian vision. I’m talking about the second kind. And you’re probably talking about the second kind. You have worked considerably with your feeling as an idea. It is the feeling more than a concept that will lead you to take action.
Libra (Sep. 22 – Oct. 23)
Venus in Cancer is certainly about you putting your best facet out to the front, though you may not recognize that it’s all about love. Or perhaps you do but don’t grasp that this is a legitimate means of leadership or of creating success. I assure you, most of the alternatives are not friendly. Yes, it’s possible to abuse the power of beauty, of trust or of love; but you’re unlikely to do that. Rather, I suggest you employ these attributes of yourself and allow them the opportunity to shine into the world. When you need people to do what you want or what you need; or to help you in any way, they generally do it for one reason only: they want to.
Scorpio (Oct. 23- Nov. 22)
You may wish you could go back to an earlier phase of your life, though that’s not going to help. The stretch of time you long for involves your ability to orient on what is the most meaningful to you, whereas now you keep having opportunities to focus on what is the most meaningful to others. I suggest that, while the opportunity is present, you work at finding the intersection; the point of symbiosis. This is not only the most meaningful equation in your life right now, it’s the little piece of code, the metaconcept, that will save the world from its presumed downward spiral.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22 – Dec. 22)
The human ego is capable of some truly profoundly dark thoughts. Those who understand that they are capable of anything that any other person is are onto something. Without overstating the case, this would be a good way for you to process any negativity that you feel in the coming weeks, such as fear or judgment. The larger point is that you can use those emotions to guide you to a creative space. In other words, the idea is that everything, every thought, feeling and personal encounter can be your teacher; or rather, it will be, one way or the other. You get to decide which way.
Capricorn (Dec. 22- Jan. 20)
You don’t need proof of what is true. The details will eventually back you up — but you know. There are times when your belief system provides too fine of a filter, which strips out the essential nutrients of the ideas that want to take part in your consciousness. And I do mean take part: ideas have life, just like we do. The difference is that we are the ones who give the ideas expression; we give them a voice and an opportunity to have an effect. In this way, you’re a vessel for another living thing, something that exists apart from you, but with which you’re intimately involved. Now is a profound moment for evolving that relationship. Let it grow.
Aquarius (Jan. 20- Feb. 19)
You could make a long list of the people who have been unkind to you; who have abused your trust; who have acted in ways that affect you without concern about the consequences. This is called neglect. These events, some of which you didn’t notice, shaped your personality, primarily affecting the part of you known commonly as the inner child. The coming weeks present you with an opportunity, perhaps inner or perhaps in a relationship, to let go of some of that pain, which has, in a strange way, taken over your identity from below. In the scenario described in your charts, a veil lifts and reveals the source, which you will need to acknowledge for the healing to take place. Look directly; call it what it is; pause for a short while; and walk on.
Pisces (Feb. 19- March 20)
Keep your eye on what you don’t say about yourself. Pay close attention to your dreams, particularly any that seem difficult to remember. You’re on a hunt for something, something that’s been challenging and troubling you, and you’re about to get a handle on what it is. Problems are more difficult to resolve if we don’t know they exist, much less what they are or who they involve. There is a dark piece of your distant past that you’ve been carrying around that’s ready to give up its power — if you are wiling to have it give up its power. You have stalked this issue for years, at times to great frustration. You will be surprised when you make this discovery, but don’t be fascinated. Rather, be free.