Rockie GardinerIf you know your ascendant, read it too.
GENERAL FORECAST: Brand new, plus more of the same. Today courageous Mars enters Scorpio, the security-conscious Water sign it co-rules with powerful Pluto, where it’ll dig up dirt until mid-November. On Monday, the Libra sun and Mercury retrograde meet to exchange much-needed information that the media may immediately jump on. On Thursday, artistic Venus trines innovative Uranus to prove, once again, that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
ARIES (March 20–April 19)
Now that your crusading Mars ruler is in Scorpio, the fixed Water (as in ice cube) sign it co-rules with Pluto, you have a good excuse for abandoning an attempt at maintaining harmony with either an ally or an adversaries. Battling Rams involved in a lawsuit might choose not to settle, but to soldier on. A whiff of recklessness emanating from the top rung of your solar chart suggests that your boss, a client or an optimistic parent is eager to take a chance you don’t agree with. Stick to your guns until the Aries full moon on the 14th sheds more light on the subject.
TAURUS (April 20–May 20)
As long as your Venus ruler is visiting your Scorpio marriage house (until Oct. 18), the Bull would be wise to follow where the goddess leads. Even if it means headfirst into an event that’s bound to surprise, possibly even shock you. And yes, assorted acquaintances, particularly the weird ones, will be present. The aftermath of that occasion could result in more heartfelt apologies and mea culpas than you’ve heard in a long while, enough to inspire an artistic interpretation of the entire experience. Bring the camera.
GEMINI (May 21–June 20)
Is it a true romance or simply recreation? While your Mercury ruler takes its retrograde trip through your Libra house of pure love and/or pleasurable pursuits, you may have to make a choice. Before you commit to one definition or another, let some time elapse. You’ve endured enough periods of retrogression to know that information you were unaware of tends to pop up when you least expect it. Also when it is especially uncomfortable. Because it’s been six years since the Messenger flipped in Libra, you need to be reminded.
CANCER (June 21–July 22)
The Moon Child shouldn’t linger too long contemplating various domestic issues. While Mercury is retrograde, those matters are bound to go through some sort of metamorphosis. Nonetheless, if other family members are heavily invested in what’s going on — e.g., if it’s a more serious question than what color the hall walls should be — by all means slow down and consider the ramifications of your choice. Just don’t make it final until Mercury has been facing forward for a while, say a week after the full moon on the 14th clarifies the situation.
LEO (July 23–August 22)
That little bird may be telling you something important, so take the time to listen to your inner voice and trust your instincts. That’s what the meeting between your sun ruler and Mercury on the 6th is for. Even when retrograde, the Messenger’s job is to inform you about something related to your current situation. That the data may change when Mercury is direct again is just the way the ball occasionally bounces. A reward for having faith in your partner is due during the Libra sun-Aries full moon polarity.
VIRGO (August 23–September 22)
Since a lot of the forecast revolves around your Mercury ruler you might benefit from reading the entire column. The Mercury-sun conjunction on the 6th, one of six a year, could stop you dead in your tracks. Because the merger takes place in your Libra money house, what you learn may help you figure out what to do about your assets. Just remember that Mercury, by changing direction again on the 15th, can provide an entirely different perspective. Some of the questions you had answers for will have to be decided again.
LIBRA (September 23–October 22)
Rather than track Mercury’s retrograde trip through your sign for the first time in six years, recalling personal history you’d rather didn’t see the light of day again, concentrate instead on the progress your Venus ruler is making. On the 9th the goddess perfects a heartfelt trine to innovative Uranus that could show you something you weren’t completely aware of: e.g., a sudden attraction to Kitty’s vet. How much faith you should place in this realization may be revealed before the Columbus Day weekend is over.
SCORPIO (October 23–November 21)
Follow the feminine, not the femme fatale. Although Venus traipsing through your sign may be leading you on, the goddess can offer her unbridled support to your involvement with a neighbor as well as your predilection for unusual playmates. What she doesn’t favor, and what she could give you grief about, is your willingness to believe the delusions permeating the atmosphere at home. Maybe your landlord is being deceitful, maybe a relative is out of touch with reality or maybe you’re watching too much TV.
SAGITTARIUS (November 22–December 21)
Until Mercury comes out of retrograde on the 15th, you could be stuck in the past. Issues that recently seemed of utmost importance can be subject to one revision after another. Not to worry; the purpose of a retrograde session is to give you sufficient time to review what’s been happening and, since this one takes place in sociable Libra, to renew your ties to former colleagues and members of your club. Chances are something beneficial will emerge from your current trip down memory lane. You’ll just have to wait and see what it is.
CAPRICORN (December 22–January 20)
Maybe it’s still a favorite fantasy or maybe you’re actually earning money from an image you created or the music you play. Either way, there’s some sort of reward in store when the sun in your Libra career zone supports artistic Neptune in your money house. Because it might not materialize until the Aries full moon mid-month, don’t make the folks in charge uncomfortable by asking if the check is in the mail. Deep down you know that lucky Jupiter will watch out for you while it remains in Capricorn. After that, it’ll protect your assets.
AQUARIUS (January 21–February 18)
Don’t jump to conclusions. A terrific opportunity could morph out of what appears at first to be a stressful situation. That’s likely to happen when value-conscious Venus in your Scorpio career house puts pressure on impressionable, idealistic Neptune in your sign. Water-Bearers, especially those involved in the arts, may be forced to come up with an exceptionally imaginative solution to the problem. Others might have to wing it or string a demanding boss along until the end of October when fact-finding Mercury favors Neptune.
PISCES (February 19–March 19)
Thinking about ways to get your hands on more of it and/or making plans for how you’re going to spend OPM (other people’s money) could be on your mind until your solar eighth house, the area currently hosting the planets in Libra and Scorpio, is finally empty. Prepare to be patient; it may take until Thanksgiving dinner before you see your way clear of the complications accompanying this tricky business. While you’re at it, why not give some thought to where you want to spend the holidays and with whom.
Curious about the future? Order a personalized Transit Forecast (30 to 40-plus pages) detailing the major themes and issues that will arise over the next 12 months. Send name, date, time and place of birth, with a check or money order for $40 plus $3.50 s&h, to ROCKIE GARDINER, 6701 Colbath Ave., Valley Glen, CA 91405.
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