Dear Friend and Reader:

It is getting difficult to have any hope or optimism these days. We’re living with a sense of being cut off from our potential, from the future and from one another. This need not be. While world conditions and in particular digital conditions have thrown many people into crisis, the greatest opportunities and potential also exist in such times as we are in. In a world of bad news, I have good news for you.

We are living with the infiltrating effects of digital conditions that seem to be overpowering any spiritual influence. We seem to be living in a state of oppression, loss and chaos.

But as Tibetan master Khenpo Rinpoche reminded us, “The dharma remains unchanged.”  

There are ordering and organizing principles that exist behind the veil of visible life. They are not merely ideas; they are accessible patterns we can learn from. They provide a sense of innate purpose.

Astrology remembers this. Astrology connects you to the dharma, and your personal expression of it. If you are doing your best to focus on who you are or why you’re here, astrology remembers. If you want to tap into your original instructions or commitments, astrology remembers.

I recognize that many people are struggling and need practical information about employment, resources, relationships, family and health. You were born knowing how to handle these things, but you may need to be reminded. Astrology remembers, and I will be translating the planets into plain language for you.

“Eric Francis is a very nice chap — and a clever one too. He writes with a rare combination of passion and insight and his astrological judgments are both shrewd and sensitive.”— Jonathan Cainer, horoscope writer, The Daily Mail and The Daily Mirror and Eric’s old boss and business coach.

Beginning in 1999, the first year of Planet Waves, I’ve created original, extended written astrology readings every year. Many of you have purchased these year after year and have traveled with me as I’ve grown into my ability to read for you in this unusual way.

I’m happy to announce that this tradition will continue with the 28th annual edition of Planet Waves, Inner Light / Inner Peace.

These are book-quality readings, carefully researched, written and edited. I start fresh every year, from a blank page and new charts, and create something that has never existed before. I do the work of translating the astrological patterns into understandable language; that and nothing else is a professional reading.

These readings will keep giving, they work for casual reading or close study. They are organized and will sound many familiar themes from my Planet Waves articles. There will be a resources area provided to facilitate additional inquiry.

Planet Waves annual editions are the only long-form written astrology readings left; any others that may exist are either blurb-length, or assembled from computer databases of one kind or another (and I fear, seemingly inevitable A.I.).

In the world of fast, impersonal and automatic, my readings are created slowly and thoughtfully, paragraph by paragraph, with you in mind. I use the same basic methods as Linda Goodman, Patric Walker, Jonathan Cainer and many Sun-sign writers before me. However, I have developed them to their full capacity.

The rest of this article will answer your questions about Inner Light / Inner Peace.

Here is how to pre-order.

Thank you for your business and your trust.

Your faithful astrolover,

PS — The readings are presented as printable PDFs and are downloadable. The idea there is so that you can take ownership and experience them offline.  

Inner Light will be classical written readings in the Planet Waves annual tradition. Usually they are 15 to 20 pages long. This is applied astrology, not theoretical, psychological or mythological. I’m describing your environment, your potential, your resources and your challenges. They require no astrological knowledge, and I keep the use of technical language to the bare minimum.

This year, I’ll be adding summary features (printable separately) while preserving the narrative style that you love. These readings are presented on printable PDFs so you can read away from the digital environment. They include the chart and a video introduction. This will be available by Dec. 31, 2025.

These readings are valuable for more than a year; they are still useful years later. Inner Light will account for events into early 2027 and in some cases beyond.

These readings are suitable for adults and young adults ages 14 and up.

“Eric has been deeply dedicated to astrology for decades, and his prolific work is based on the application of astrology to the living field of human experience. He engages with the full spectrum of astrological considerations, and I’ve been grateful for the many illuminating (and fun!) exchanges we’ve had down the years.” — Melanie Reinhart, author of Chiron and the Healing Journey

Since nearly the beginning (Aquasphere, 2003), my readings have come with an audio or video component. Usually this is a ‘straight’ reading that is an alternate take on the written. This year I’ll be doing this more in the style of astrology meditations.

This will include astrology, though in a way tuned vibrationally so that it enters your aura more easily. I will describe how the astrology feels, as well as what it means. These recordings will include original ambient compositions for each sign by Vision Quest. These presentations will be downloadable, and will stand up to many playings. They are safe to fall asleep to.

These will be available by Jan. 21, 2026 latest, probably sooner.

These meditations are suitable for adults and young adults ages 14 and up.

“Eric is knowledgeable yet humble. I admire his ability to open my mind with his insights without having to impress me with his expertise. He’s the kind of teacher I like best — specific and authoritative in communicating what he has discovered even as he pushes ahead into the unknown with relentless curiosity.” — Rob Brezsny

My astrology is a handmade product, and I make my own ingredients. I’ve been developing unique delineations of planets since early in my career. I use hand-drawn charts with data from a diversity of sources, including an ephemeris tool originally written for me by a friend in England.

The big news of 2026 is that Chiron enters Taurus and we begin the Chiron return of Chiron. Jupiter enters Leo for the first time in 12 years. We’re still in the peak of the Chiron-Eris conjunction. We are entering the peak of the Saturn-Neptune conjunction. Venus will be retrograde in Scorpio and Libra. (There is no Mars retrograde.)

Saturn, Uranus and Neptune are all still involved in world-rocking sign-changes and I’ll be covering those — as well as Sedna in Gemini. I also read a diversity of minor (meaning smaller) planets which I will include in a special short reading for each sign, Your Astrological Fingerprint.

These readings together take three months to write, and many prior months to research, cast and interpret the charts. Each written reading takes about 12 hours to compose. We are leaving the prices the same as previous years, however this year offering the written and audio both separately and together.

The earlier you purchase, the lower the cost. The reason to get more than one sign is because you’ll want to read them all, and you will want to share certain readings with loved ones.

The initial price will be $111 for all-12 of Inner Light, $111 for all-12 of Inner Peace, and $133 for all-12 combined. The prices will increase on Nov. 1 to $122 for the separate publications and $144 for the combined publication. The prices will go up again in December.

Individual signs go on sale in December. The initial cost will be $33 per sign for written, the same for audio, and $44 for combined written and audio. These prices will increase by $11 each after publication.

These readings are shareable. We invite customers to share with family members and intimate partners.

For those new to my work or those who may want a reminder, my professional background is in investigative journalism, business reporting and general news writing. After therapy training and several years of prior study, I entered astrology on my 30th birthday and have studied with many of the people whose books appear on the shelves of astrologers older than me.

These include Chiron pioneers Melanie Reinhart, Dale O’Brien and Barbara Hand Clow; Laurie Burnett, the uncredited coauthor and editor of Pluto: Evolutionary Journey of the Soul; and I learned classical astrology from the founders of Project Hindsight, including Robert Hand, Robert Schmidt, and their student David Arner. I’ve written and published more than 1,500 astrology articles, and my horoscope has appeared worldwide since 1996 when it first was published by America Online.

I have additional background in A Course in Miracles, Gestalt Therapy, Hakomi Therapy, Holistic Therapy and the great body of wisdom known as Tantra.

You may read my astrological autobiography — My Life as a Horoscope Writer.

Thank you for your business and your trust.

“I am in awe, again, and I do not use that word lightly. Your annual astrology readings have guided me for years and this one just sat down in my being and said yes! This is what needs to be done. Your summation is the very best guidance I could have asked for. The very best. You amaze me, Eric, every single time. Thank you.” — Jeanne Treadway