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Dear Friend and Reader:
We’re now in the last week of Mercury retrograde, and what a tangled web it’s weaving. This won’t last forever, though it needs to be handled carefully now.
Because I’m writing a daily horoscope, I’ve had these aspects under a microscope, watching them go by day by day. It’s been interesting to observe.
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Today, retrograde Mercury is conjunct Uranus. That combination, particularly in Aries, is what’s best describing the high-pitch and chaotic stress of the moment. I described a strategy for handling this in Monday’s edition. I won’t repeat that material here.
This is a formula for all kinds of chaos, and it will help if you lay low and be cool. The less you say the better, particularly about matters of deep personal importance. I am not usually one to counsel reserve and retreat, though the astrology calls for it — in all aspects of life except the creative ones, where there’s more room for error.
Even in the most ordinary social activities, though, it will help if you’re cautious and keep your wits about you at all times. This is an occasion to have a designated driver and a designated co-pilot.
Mercury will backtrack over Uranus, and then station direct right in the crevice of the Uranus-Eris conjunction on Wednesday. This is like a tap into the chaos of our times. I would say we may see some unusual things happen over the next week, but that’s become a pointless concept. What used to be interesting and weird is now just getting monotonous and even painful.
I am concerned about the level of despair that I see and feel in the world. I’ve had a few moments of my own, feeling like I’m a little kid in a world full of adults preoccupied with their problems. Only these adults include most young people, whom one cannot really blame for feeling so grouchy and alienated.
Mercury conjunct Uranus-Eris is a bold caution about what digital technology is doing to people. We become like the tools we use, and the entire digital sphere is a robot. We’re becoming like it faster than it’s becoming like us. Long before computers are said to have any artificial emotional capacity, humans will be depleted of theirs.
This is manifesting in the form of everything needing to be pushed or dragged to an extreme, with little room between the zeros and ones for gradient, color, hue or shade.
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Eventually, this will drive us all insane. And this is not even factoring in the content of what we see, which also has an emotional impact, amplified by the environment itself.
By content, I mean the ongoing exposure to narratives of unfairness, exploitation and warfare: we have a problem on our hands.
And I’ve been pondering, with all my heart and soul, what exactly we might do about it. I think the single most helpful thing will be treating one another as people.
That is to say, slowing down, even pausing; listening to what your fellow beings are saying; and noticing what they’re feeling. Heck, even noticing what you’re feeling would be a fantastic start.
I think we must do what we can to make one another’s lives easier. What I mean by that is stopping every now and then to notice when someone is struggling, and doing what you can, whether you “know” the person, or not. When you find someone who is helpful, do your best not to exploit them: and pass the goodwill forward.
Get time with people away from devices, and even away from activity. I’m one of those humans who is still bothered by the fact that most places people are expected to socialize are too dark and too loud to have a conversation.
I get that we’re all feeling the stress, feeling like we have precious little time to do the things we love, and even less time to just stop and replenish the well.
When we finally get around to doing this, we’ll see, feel and remember what we were missing.
With love,
Weekly Horoscope for April 27, 2017 , #1149 | By Amy Elliott
Aries (March 20-April 19) — At this time you may need to focus on communicating efficiently and honestly with loved ones. It’s important that you measure your words and actions carefully and with a reasonable idea of how they might be received. It’s equally necessary that you understand yourself. Dealing with something from your past now may be an act of personal growth; and a sincere exploration of your feelings relating to it could be especially beneficial. If possible, bring someone in on that — discussions of this kind can help you foster lasting intimacy. — By Amy Elliott.
Taurus (April 19-May 20) — You seem to be feeling the need to withdraw inside yourself. Reflection is a useful thing, and you’ve recently discovered the creative source hiding within your depths. You would almost certainly gain, in terms of wellbeing at least, from setting aside a space to nurture that gift. However, you also need to put the results out there, in the public sphere. As long as you don’t expect instant accolades, all should go smoothly. It’s likely that once you make the initial effort, you’ll receive support from friends or peers, and everything will start to flow more naturally. — By Amy Elliott.
Gemini (May 20-June 21) — Keep the faith. You are gradually learning to feel more comfortable within yourself, and less buffeted by circumstance. It’s not been easy, but you are finally seizing control of your life, and have a better idea of who or what has been getting in your way. It might help to exercise a little patience as you emerge into the improved life awaiting you; patience, however, is not the same as passivity. Make the most of your new understanding of yourself and your environment, particularly your social circle. Do what you need to nurture and strengthen yourself. — By Amy Elliott.
Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Asserting your independence could help you, especially in close relationships — though you may be inclined to keep the peace by any means necessary. Make sure you duly honor your aspirations and gifts, and take note if there seem to be unreasonable or unnecessary hindrances to their development. This includes being able to express what you feel honestly and openly. Afford both yourself and others appropriate respect. Be courteous; don’t overstep the bounds of good manners; but at the same time see that you have the autonomy you need. — By Amy Elliott.
Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — There’s a Buddhist parable that illustrates how we don’t see things as they really are in the darkness (presumably, of a non-enlightened state). Without suggesting you’re about to become the next bodhisattva, you appear to have found a torch that allows you to see reality more clearly, at least to an extent. You’ll know this is occurring when you feel a sense of relief, or of appreciation. It’s easy to tie oneself in knots over a problem that’s relatively minor. Once you start to look past that, you’ll realize you don’t need to worry quite so much. — By Amy Elliott.
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — You might have rather more on your plate than you’d like just now, but that’s no reason not to take care of yourself. You have the right to make sure that your food is nutritionally healthy, that your body receives sufficient exercise, and that you have at least a little peace and quiet every day. It’s easy to ignore physical needs, and tempting to lose oneself in cerebral realms — particularly for those with a strong Virgo. The flaw in this equation is that our minds and bodies are inextricably joined, and we must serve one to support the other. — By Amy Elliott.
Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — Be open with your significant other(s) this week. It might seem easier to conceal a specific matter, especially if you’re worried about a proverbial can of worms. Yet in fact being completely honest now could turn out to relieve you on that score. Loved ones will appreciate it, even if there are points of disagreement, and even if those points happen to be momentous. What’s more likely is that the response will be unexpectedly supportive. Act on the principle that everyone has the right to make fully informed choices. That includes you, by the way. — By Amy Elliott.
Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — Eric has suggested before that the ideal job is doing what you love. Many people seem to measure advancement by the expansion of their wallet, or of their prestige. You’re made of finer stuff, and you know better than to allow the mercenary spirit to narrow your field of vision. You work best, and live best, when you’re doing it from the heart. It’s also likely that expressing yourself through creativity at present could be immensely cathartic for you. Focusing on activities into which you can bring the full force of your devotional energy is an important key. — By Amy Elliott.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — You seem to be at a breakthrough stage of your personal development, and are beginning to feel more at home amid all the changes that have taken place. A part of you that may have been concealed or internalized is now gradually emerging into the light. There is still some progress to be made, but you can see the outline. If you feel ready, now might be a good time to involve someone you trust; or perhaps you may just enjoy spending time with a partner and having a bit of fun. Doing that might inspire you further, as well. — By Amy Elliott.
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — It’s time for you to escape the confines of the past and reach for your potential. You may think this is easier said than done; but freedom has been a long time coming, as every day has made you a little better acquainted with yourself. You are now as familiar with your internal world as many people are with their physical home. This phase of your life was necessary: you had a lot to process. You have every reason to be proud of what you’ve achieved in getting this far, however inclined you might feel to dismiss it. Now you can look to the future. — By Amy Elliott.
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — Remember that duty and pleasure need not conflict. Life may feel a little topsy-turvy just now, but that will pass. If you’re getting bored with your present routines, you can always experiment with switching them up. It’s important, however, that you avoid situations in which having fun feels like yet another task. Draw on the support of friends if you need to. Those who care about you most are aware of your devotion to your cause. That’s equally true of the people you are serving. Don’t be ashamed to ask for help, or to step back and breathe every so often. — By Amy Elliott.
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Take a moment to appreciate how far you’ve grown and strengthened as a person lately. For the present, understanding how you have evolved may be as important as the changes themselves. Put some energy into fostering your self-esteem; not only because it’s deserved, but because it will help you in your onward journey, much like laying a firm foundation so that the rest of the construction will remain stable. Keep in mind that your merit belongs to you alone; it does not depend on the recognition or the praise of others. The same goes for your achievements. — By Amy Elliott.