Dear Friend and Reader:

The most serious resource problem we face as a society — besides an attention crisis — is about time. There is nobody 50-years-old who was not 40-years-old a minute ago. Today we measure time in nanoseconds, and live in a world where everything seems to happen simultaneously. 

“Not having time” is how we are crowded out of our own lives. We have this sense that “time is running out.” Even when there is plenty in the way of other resources, time seems to be the bottom line.

Astrology is many things, though the most important is a practical, detailed means of tracking time. It’s a study in natural cycles. Many people think it’s about “predicting the future” and “reading into things,” though in the end, astrology is about understanding what time it is.

Unlike on a clock, the time represented by a planetary cycle comes with information about the meaning and purpose of any given moment.

Just like you would wait for the tide to start going out before you head out to sea, some times are better for some things than others. There are moments such as right now when new factors are trying to get your attention. Often it’s true that we won’t pass this way again.

There are certain unique factors that make our moment distinctly special. By moment, I mean a brief phase of time for the next few seasons.

Many major cycles are resetting now. All the outer planets are in the process of changing signs or have recently done so (Saturn, Chiron, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto). This alone is enough to describe the instability and chaos of our era. It’s the feeling of everything, all at once; of too much, too fast.

Astrology offers insight on changes in relationships, family, or relationship to other groups, and the ongoing assault by the future shock of technology. Most important is the rising sense of how urgent self-awareness is — right now. We are under tremendous pressure to wake up and pay attention to what’s happening to us and around us.

When everything is changing, you need reference points — and astrology provides them. Astrology is not so much about the future but rather how to orient yourself in your time, right now. And then from there the future is easier to see and understand. That is where I can help shed light on your understanding of time, and your time in particular.

“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

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.

“Excellent, in-depth readings that definitely apply to me personally. I particularly appreciate how Eric presents the possibility side of situations. Other astrologers with the negative approach seem to smash into my psyche and just cause pain. Eric is like a deep, cool drink of refreshing water on a hot, sunny day at the beach. Thank you, Eric.” — Diana on Somewhere In Between, The 2024 Annual Edition

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.

“Just wanted to say that I found the video readings to be a wonderful compliment to the written. To be honest, I wasn’t sure what to expect considering how thorough the written ones were, but you did an excellent job making them feel different, fresh, and filled with even more relevant information.” — Amanda on Somewhere In Between, The 2024 Annual Edition

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’ve been subscribing to Eric and his annual reports for the past 12 years. I have consistently found accurate, informative and provocative information in his annual reports. They are simply the best value in astrology anywhere to be found.” — John Y. on the Annual Edition