April 25-May 1, 2008
A chance to talk it over. You'll have many constructive
conversations over the weekend while Mercury contacts the planets governing the
natives of a wide assortment of signs. Venus moves into Taurus, the fertile earth
sign, and rules on Wednesday to accentuate the pleasure principle, as well as
prospects for a more peaceful coexistence. Favorable trines on May Day from the
goddess to regenerative Pluto in Capricorn and Saturn in discerning Virgo can
increase the appeal of the usual powerbrokers. The next day, Mercury enters Gemini,
the air sign it rules, and, after almost five months' retrograde, Saturn
turns direct.

Aries

Once again, push comes to shove as your independent Mars ruler opposes protective
Jupiter in your career midheaven. Will this confrontation result in another delay,
or will you finally extricate yourself from domestic issues that intensified when
Mars first entered Cancer in September? Will a new lease on life await you after
Mars crosses into high-spirited Leo on May 9, the same day Jupiter turns retrograde
for the summer? Because the Lion and the Ram play well together, expect four months
of creative fun.

Taurus

Round two of the gifts being bestowed on you should take place shortly after your
Venus ruler makes a grand entrance into Taurus on the 30th. Along with the beautiful
stuff and desirability the goddess offers, this year, because she favors and is
favored in return by both Pluto and Saturn, you're liable to draw some pretty
powerful people to your side or to your current cause. The threesome can provide
the stabilization on which earthy Bulls thrive, and, while there might be a sexual
attraction, it's not the main focus.

Gemini

You know the direct-retrograde drill by now. Your Mercury ruler speeds up a little
more each day until, just before it hits the wall and flips into reverse, the
little guy is nowhere to be found. So, by mid-May, when nothing is moving fast
enough, when Twins start to feel disoriented, don't ask, “Is Mercury
retrograde?” Right now, your ruling planet is racing along at two degrees
a day. Since its next turnaround is slated for Memorial Day, how about ordering
supplies, scheduling repairs, confirming reservations and generally covering your
tracks now?

Cancer

Before restrictive Saturn — still retrograde in early Virgo, and therefore
still very much in most Moon Children's second house of values, assets and
acquisitions — turns direct on May 2, feel free to milk as much as you can
from goods, services and the cold cash that have been previously promised. The
official arbiter of constructive criticism will advance ever so slowly, revisiting
situations that may have made you uncomfortable or, more to the point, caused
you to grow up sooner than you intended. Karma is a bitch!

Leo

The main event may have occurred last week, when the down-to-earth Taurus sun
at the top of your chart, where your reputation is made, energized “forgive
me” Pluto and “respect me” Saturn. This week, it's Venus'
turn to shine her countenance on those stalwarts of the establishment. Since the
goddess seeks both peace and pleasure, you're liable to be more popular
and, we hope, less conceited. One of the problems of being king is that annoying
sense of entitlement the other denizens of the jungle object to.

Virgo

Trust the ambitious Virgin to use whatever respectability and/or modicum of restraint
you may have gained last week, when your Mercury ruler formed an alliance with
Saturn in your sign, to promote something huge. However, if your enthusiasm doesn't
pan out according to plan, try laying the blame on the supportive trine between
Mercury in Taurus and expansive or, in this case, extravagant Jupiter in Capricorn
— your house of creativity and risk. Perhaps if you didn't ask for
such a big bite of other people's money?

Libra

Stop with the guilt; you're not being neglectful. You're simply preparing
to adopt a new set of priorities, something that naturally occurs whenever your
attentive Venus ruler leaves one sign for another. While her transit of red-hot,
true-blue Aries may have exposed a different aspect of an ongoing relationship,
Venus' visit to practical yet pleasure-seeking Taurus could show you yet
another. Your best bet is to follow up on recent developments, polishing them
so they reflect Libran grace, affability and charm.

Scorpio

It's possible that after gentle Venus enters your Taurus complement on the
30th, not only close co-workers but other significant others will become more
willing to embrace the softer side of the Scorpion. Not that you'll let
your guard down completely, but some allies, perhaps even a worthy antagonist,
might ingest a temporary dose of goodness and mercy; and it wouldn't hurt
to see those attributes in action. Another plus: These people could appear much
more attractive to you. A win-win situation at last.

Sagittarius

Time for a lot of discussions with people advocating a wide range of opinions
before you make a fairly significant financial move regarding your own and other
people's money. Investing the family fortune? You'll have plenty of
time to second-guess yourself once your protective Jupiter ruler turns retrograde
in your Capricorn money house on May 9. The planet of good luck (and frequently
wild optimism) retraces its path back to mid-February, before it faces forward
again on September 6. Did the Pro Bowl, the Potomac primary or the WGA vote affect
you?

Capricorn

The best is yet to come. So far this year, beneficent Jupiter's transit
of Capricorn has been good to you. But how will you fare while the jolly giant
is retrograde from May 9 to September 6? Perhaps you should bank some of your
good fortune so you can cruise through the summer. Or perhaps you'll have
another opportunity to accumulate even more of the good health, wealth and happiness
Jupiter bestows. Good news for the easily annoyed: Irritating Mars exits your
Cancer complement on May 9, not to return for another two years.

Aquarius

More often than not, a cool-air sign such as yours needs an occasional wildfire
in its life. You might be pleased to learn that for the first time in two years,
red-hot Mars will pass through your Leo house of significant others from May 9
to July 1. Don't let this opportunity to forge a warmer, more exciting relationship
pass by. Despite the occasional flare-ups, you'll be glad you did. Besides,
with Mercury in airy Gemini at that time, you'll still remain relatively
rational when it comes to assessing the risks involved.

Pisces

If the face across the table has been slow to react, it may please you to know
that Saturn, retrograde since the winter solstice, finally goes direct on May
2. Having such a rock-steady influence in your Virgo house of partners serves
some Fish well, while it might hinder others. Only you can determine how great
an influence you'll allow co-workers, health professionals and your mate
to exert over you. Being a free-flowing water sign, Pisces could be grateful for
the boundaries a consistently constructive earth-sign planet sets.

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