By Len Wallick
Aries (March 20-April 19) — Whether or not your heart’s desire is a solitary endeavor or a team effort, achieve it as though you are a creative collaborator. Examine what got you this far in your efforts to find or achieve a sense of gratification, then figure out what it would take to extend your endeavor a step further. Don’t duplicate what has already been done, but don’t ignore it either. Instead, allow yourself to be inspired, but not limited, by the past. Then, and most importantly, remember that some tool, posture, reflex or practice that has worked very well up to this point will probably best be replaced by another implement or protocol more suitable to now.
Taurus (April 19-May 20) — Matters of partnership should matter for you more than ever, even if you find yourself somehow at odds with partners. To begin with, and just for the sake of argument, rule out arguing with others — at least for the foreseeable future. Even if it appears for all the world as if you are being short-stopped or obstructed by somebody else, pretend it’s actually you who are in your own way. Then, figure out what particular change you could make within yourself that might, just for the sake of argument, make things easier for everybody with whom you are involved. Allow yourself to make that change to see if things get easier for you.
Gemini (May 20-June 21) — Consider alternatives to optional long distance travel next month, but be confident if necessity requires you to make a long trip or two. You should consider your options, because the shadow (or ‘echo’) phase of Mercury’s next retrograde begins about a day before the Pisces Full Moon of Aug. 29. Mercury’s apparent reversal won’t actually begin until Sept. 17, and it continues until Oct. 10 — often we get a taste of the retrograde in those couple weeks before it starts. On the other hand, should business or other compelling reasons require you to traverse the Earth, remember that this next Mercury retrograde will be taking place in your simpatico air sign, Libra. Hence, no matter what you encounter during your sojourns, it will probably be something you have seen before, and you will almost certainly be ready to go with the flow.
Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Just for the fun of it, practice being more mysterious. This does not mean being deceptive or disingenuous. It means hinting at, rather than showing and telling others, what is going on inside you. That way, you will find out who, among all those you know, wants to go beneath your intriguing surface to know you better. This will mean being in conscious contact with your own feelings and emotions, while also remaining the constantly detached observer of your inner workings. Then, figure out how to hint at what you observe. Finally, step back to observe any who show interest and ask yourself if you are genuinely interested in them.
Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — It is absolutely imperative for you to be self-aware at this time. It is probably not a good idea, however, to be self-involved. To find a good example, make an effort to get away from human society and domesticated animals as much as possible; you need to observe and learn from wild creatures. Even something as simple as investing an hour watching a spider weaving a web will do the trick. As you watch the wild things you have found, put yourself in their place and notice how in touch they are with their own physical being and environment. Then strive to emulate their style of awareness and being in all you do.
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — You know the necessities of living in a material world as much as anybody. The question is the extent to which meeting those necessities becomes who you actually are. Now, more than at most times, you need to be on guard against slipping into scarcity consciousness. For example, when you go to shop for groceries, watch to make sure that you purchase only what you need for the time being. Resist any temptation to overstock as a means of assuaging insecurities. Remember that you really do live on more than food alone, and that you need a balanced diet of intangible nourishment.
Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — Go ahead. Indulge in examination and reflection, but only to the extent that you can leave regret and remorse at the door. Whether you know it or not, you will soon be crossing a threshold into a place more mental than physical, if you have not already. It is a place in which you will be able to slow down and examine your thoughts, dreams, aspirations and inspirations repeatedly; this will allow you to see them in more detail and with greater appreciation. To make the most of your new headspace, however, you will have to occupy it in a state of unconditional acceptance and love for what you are. Make no apologies, especially to yourself.
Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — If things are not proceeding in an optimal manner, count your blessings. There is probably a jewel or two hidden in the proverbial mud. In addition to looking to get out of where you are, look around while you still can, and get what you can out of your circumstances. Before this time in your life passes (which it will), make sure that you have not overlooked anything which you will want to take with you, either as a keepsake or a medium of exchange to secure a future purchase. If things are going smoothly, good for you. Just be careful to move on slowly, lest you spin your wheels and get in your own way.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — ‘Getting real’ need not mean compromising your standards. In all probability, being realistic at this time simply requires you to adjust your values. For example, give at least some thought to how delayed gratification might actually be a good thing. You don’t need to go for all that you can get now. Allow yourself to consider how much more you can acquire if you invest your time and resources in a thoughtful effort, to eventually obtain what is currently beyond your means. Please consider exercising one caution while keeping it real with yourself, however. Don’t try to force reality on others. Everybody else is not as evolved as you are.
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — Focus on taking care of yourself. Don’t sacrifice what you know you need in an effort to pursue some vague notion of what you want. Instead, make a list of all you have very probably done in recent years to improve your situation, and then give yourself a pat on the back for being the person who made those improvements happen. That way you will not take either yourself or your means of supporting yourself for granted. Yes, there is another side of the fence where the grass may appear to be more lush and green. Before jumping that fence, however, think about what you might miss should you not be able to jump back.
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — Use your imagination, which should be a very rich resource right now. Specifically, imagine being magically and mysteriously transformed into a creature perfectly adapted to the environment you now live in and the challenges you now face. Consider the details of what that imaginary and perfectly adapted creature would look like; then look around both your inner and outer life for tools that resemble those adaptations. Once you find those tools and start using them, you will, in fact, be transformed by them. Yet you’ll also have the luxury of being able to leave nothing of what you have always been behind — unless you want to.
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — No matter what your circumstances, if you can acquire the skill of relaxing at will now, it will serve you very well later. This does not mean indulging denial. Admittedly, denial can be a tool, but only to be used in the sort of emergencies for which fire extinguishers are designed. In all probability, however, your metaphorical house is in no danger of burning down at the moment. Yet there is the possibility you are living through a tense point in your life. If that is the case, make a point of being able to relax no matter when, no matter what, by focusing on breathing out as much as (or more than) breathing in.