astrobarry

You've received plenty of recent horoscopes encouraging you to behave however you're so moved to, to have a lot of fun, and to not worry so much about ensuring everyone else is on board (with a few small caveats, of course). Well, now, Aries, you must prepare for a shift toward more dutiful and diligent handling of the business at hand...swapping some of those unadulterated freedoms for voluntary enlistment in the unglamorous army of getting shit done. By next week, ‘playtime' will be officially over for the time being. In its place, you'll have to hunker down and make the next month-and-a-half of Mars in your 6th really matter. Further down the road, you'll actually be able to look back and see how the relative success of your entire 2008 will partly hinge on how much day-to-day task-mastering you accomplished during this coming July and August. That's right: You're reaching a pivotal couple of months ahead, in terms of whether you're capable of putting your money where your mouth is. (You Aries are renowned for tapering off on the follow-through, after your initial efforts are made.) Whatever last-minute expressions of whimsy or gestures of defiance need be made before returning nose to grindstone... well, just do what you need to do, without the hassle of a long-winded conversation. (The right people will get the message.) Soon enough, your hands will be too dirty with the actual work to bother.

Enough with trying to address ‘Life's Big Questions' for this present phase. By this point, you've gathered a handful of interesting theories, ripe possibilities and tentative solutions, which will give you plenty to chew on for the next little while. And along this way, Taurus, you may have gotten yourself totally wrapped up in such ‘serious considerations'...and completely neglected to appreciate the many small pleasures that already surround you every day. This overlooking of simple delights right in front of your face is natural, given how occupied with your own internal stuff you've been, and is to be forgiven. But don't dwell too long on what you haven't been doing lately, or you'll end up back inside your head, rearguing a case against some imaginary judge or jury. Externalize yourself. Pour conscious loving energy into the casual encounters that comprise your day -- smiles at the bus driver, compliments for the receptionist, a helping hand to the stranger trying to carry too many bags or boxes to her car. You might be startled at how a few friendly interactions with folks you hardly know (or don't at all) can boost you up into a fantastic mood. Superficial as the situational terms of such interactions may be, the small-talk itself can actually be quite meaningful...if genuine emotion, such as basic kindness or well-wishing, is indeed swapped. You'll also experience an exchange of energy, which can significantly help you Taureans (who have a tendency to stay put in this-or-that emotional state longer than other signs) shift perspectives, due to the influx of fresh input. You've had enough private contemplation for awhile. Get out, get reconnected, and get chatty...even if you keep telling yourself you're not interested. Remember: You're going for a shift, and it has to start somewhere.

Let's begin by reminding ourselves that Mercury, the mischievous messenger who's also your ruling planet, has been in your sign for two full months now (thanks to his recent retrograde). While the mental and logistical hyper-stimulation Mercury's provided may have been intensely invigorating for you, it's also undoubtedly triggered nervousness or overwhelm in those less equipped to handle the faster-paced proliferation of options. And since you, Gemini, are so closely associated with this almost-too-quick Mercurial cleverness and its entertaining-multiple-options-at-once openness, you could find yourself on the receiving end of others' annoyances -- that is, they may project their ‘over-it'-ness with Mercury onto you, unfairly blaming you for being too slippery, hard to pin down, or in it only for yourself. However, you can promptly nip these misguided notions in the bud with glaring shows of generosity...forefronting your kindler-and-gentler side (right when they were about to claim you didn't have one) with tokens of how much you really do care. (Even if you feel a bit like you're pandering to them when you've done nothing ‘wrong', you must also admit that perhaps your mind has been elsewhere lately.) Once they see how thoughtful you actually are (as opposed to the appalling self-centered image they've created of you in their zany minds), they'll immediately stop holding you accountable for shit you didn't do -- and happily accept your heartfelt gesture.

You'll want to have very clean hands, dear Cancer, since so many fawning friends and affectionate admirers will be eating out of ‘em. Yes, now that Venus is comfortably situated in your sign and forming an opposition to Jupiter in your 7th, you can count on being incredibly likable to virtually everyone you come into contact with...perhaps even more so than you may believe you actually deserve. (It's not that you're ‘undeserving' in any way, but rather that some of their exaggerated fondness may be a factor of how well you appear to fit their desired bill -- as opposed to what you might really think but aren't necessarily letting on). As a result, you hold the power to be extremely persuasive...without even attracting much attention to the fact you're pulling magic strings from behind your invisible curtain. (Here's a logistical hint on how best to finesse it: Non-verbal cues make all the difference.) But I wasn't kidding about keeping ‘clean hands', despite how they may seem to achieve everything they want with a single wave through the air. You may have a supreme amount of influence for the time being, but be impeccably responsible with this fleeting authority. Nobody likes to discover, after the fact, that they were manipulated. Without an untarnished conscience on your side, they'll be able to track the misdoings back to you -- and eventually give you hell for it.

Finish making any big moves or grand stands still hanging over from the previous month or so...since, by mid-week, you'll be ready for some time away from the bright lights, the loud music, and the starring role in the production. Trust me, Leo, you need a break. Everything that's just happened while Mars has been in your sign (from May 9 through this week) will require its settling-in period. And despite how much fun it's all been, you cannot stay in super-active yang mode indefinitely -- it throws off the natural balance of give and receive, do and don't do. Now that Mars will be in your solar 2nd from Tuesday on, you've got some self-organizing tasks ahead of you: balancing and budgeting finances, hunkering down or shoring up, applying analytic skills to plan the rest of your year. (Don't make this harder on yourself than it has to be, by repeating how much you don't want to do this. Without these periodic spells of tighter responsibility, the soaring phases of jubilance would simply sink you beneath a lack of preparation.) Venus also hints at some much-overdue backstage rejuvenation, hiding from public view in your 12th. In opposition to a 6th-house Jupiter, however, her call for a passing hibernation could easily get ignored by you...dare you refuse to recognize there are limits to how far you can push your physical body before it rebels, whether with an actual case of the sniffles or a harder-to-treat influx of the grumps. The only preventive remedy is rest.

You're about to recapture the get-up-and-go you need to make things happen again, now that Mars is heading into your sign for the next month-and-a-half. Along with the energetic oom-pah-pah, you can also expect the urge to withdraw from the world to begin subsiding soon enough. So ‘Hooray!' to all of that, wouldn't you say? Now, Virgo, how do you intend to use this burst of fresh initiative? Well, for starters, I'd suggest attending to whatever loose ends were recently left hanging. (After all, it's quite likely you've been somewhat distracted over these last weeks...which is not actually too much of a problem, now that you can look back and see what other stuff you were dealing with at the time.) The last thing you'll want, moving forward into some of your most productive weeks all year, is to have remnants of unfinished items bleeding over from the past and taking up your precious mental energy. (And we know that, as long as it's still dangling, you're still going to be thinking about it on some level. You're just like that.) If you can clear away those bits of mental clutter (and their evil twin, the time-wasting anxiety), you're going to be so very ready to accomplish huge strides between now and the middle of August. If not, you're going find your wheels spinning round and round -- and what a way to squander an otherwise super-efficient-and-effective Mars transit.

Now that your ruling goddess Venus sits atop your solar chart in the 10th, you should intently focus or promoting an ‘open-door policy' toward whatever possible developments in your career or other public sector of life are surely presenting themselves. I'm certain your only shortage of such possibilities, should you claim to be experiencing one, is merely a limited sight-line (or lack of imagination). In fact, Libra, I'd assume you have so many burgeoning prospects for how things will be turning over the coming few weeks, you're more likely to overlook what's going on at home...simply because it's not quite as dynamic and, thus, easier to ignore. But if you share your living space with someone (or someone's) else, you probably can't get away with completely neglecting the household. Strange though it may sound, your housemates and/or family members are apt to take it personally if you act like you have ‘better things to do' than to washing your dishes, paying the rent on time, or giving your feedback on pressing house issues. Sure, you may be legitimately busy, sidetracked by a crunch time at work, or otherwise indisposed...or so you may tell yourself. Yet, you still must make sure to fulfill your end of the domestic details -- or they'll think you don't give a crap. Of course, if you actually don't give a crap, that's a whole different story...

By placing a premium on your knack for strategy, you'll hopefully set yourself up to contain the risk of blowing lucky opportunities with careless impulsivity. Want to attain that high honor, that precious reward, that lusted-for renown? Then pursue each step, no matter how small, by design. At various moments, your strong-willed ways will either demonstrate that, yes, you mean business...or get you into deep doo-doo, if you can't tone ‘em down when the situation calls for it. Reacquaint with what I wrote you last week, Scorpio, because it's quite close to what I'm telling you now. Only in the latest version, I'm definitely emphasizing the importance of continuously upholding your goal in the clearest forefront of your vision -- without ever allowing a surge in emotion or a hot-under-the-collar turn in the talks to momentarily overshadow it, with the risk that you'll forget what your main purpose is. In other words, keep reminding yourself what it's all for. Should you lose sight of it, even temporarily, you could find yourself in hot water. And if you stay stubbornly focused on the one big overarching intention, you'll find it easier not to quarrel over the little details, which would only draw out potential problems longer than necessary. (Redirect such strained instances of difference toward areas where everybody agrees.) It's all about knowing when to let tense situations pass...while never neglecting to highlight your unshakable attachment to succeeding at your efforts.

Let's not insult either your or my intelligence, and I'll just lay my observation on the table: You're a totally willing participant in whatever drama's continuing to play itself out. It doesn't suit your purposes, then, to try coming off like you're Mr. or Ms. Innocent. Such denials of complicity will ring disingenuous. We don't often think of you as somebody who sticks around in undesirable encounters, sitting in politely passive silence as other people force you to partake in their tactical games while secretly wishing to be long gone. (Are you really that powerless?) Instead, Sagittarius, we assume you'd have taken to the hills by now if, in fact, the situation was so torturous for you. Therefore, it's safe to conclude you're actually enjoying the act of pushing that certain someone's buttons...though, at the same time, you might deign to complain about their reactions, as if you weren't the one instigating them. Sure, complain if that makes you feel better. But don't dare pretend you have no clue where it's all coming from. You wanted the excitement. You asked for it, even. And there's absolutely nothing wrong with any of that, since it beats the crap out of being bored...and, along the way, you might learn a thing or two. So, revel in this supposed ‘torture' -- or else, if it's really that bad, stop already.

Your week ahead provides a couple distinct options, Capricorn, dependent upon whether you'd prefer to follow the influence of Venus or Mars. From Venus's perspective opposing Jupiter from your 7th, you can look forward to stumbling into smooth interpersonal connections...with the sense that typically glaring differences between you and whomever has your attention will seem to magically disappear. The Venus-Jupiter aspect makes for a wonderful ability to get along with just about anyone -- but with the danger that, in the pleasant whir of ‘getting along', the other person will get the wrong idea about you. To hear Mars tell it, however, you might have trouble getting past certain recently-riled-up feelings or attitudes...and, in fact, experience very little desire to even try, since it's also kind of fun not to ‘get along' (why? just because!). Mars's 8th-house trine to Pluto (hiding once again in your 12th) indeed indicates an instinctive drive toward catharsis, perhaps even impelling you to make more of a big deal than a situation requires. Of course, that means sacrificing Venus's smooth connections, in order to feed Mars's shit-stirring tendencies without a clear concept of what exactly you'll gain from it (other than the satisfaction of letting ‘em have it). So do you go for the easy get-along, with the heightened potential of being misunderstood (which could end up causing disappointments later)...or do you opt for stirring shit up, with the heightened possibility of finally working through some long-pent-up feelings, but without knowing exactly how disruptive the final outcome will be?

Just because ‘a little' of something may be good, that doesn't necessarily translate to ‘lots more' being that much better. Balance isn't just a word the savvy new-age marketers print on snazzy spa candles to get you to buy one. It's a real virtue to bear in mind this week, Aquarius, when you might find yourself on a seemingly innocent downward slope, being temptingly nudged further along by impassioned companions (or heartier party-goers). But you're wrong to imagine there'll be no negative consequences from going too far...which is why you probably want to stay continually abreast of where your limits rest, and to maintain moderation in the face of rascally influences. This just isn't the best time to let naughty pals convince you to push the envelope, though they could make it sound like way too much fun to miss out on. It's not just the next day's strained muscles, stretched-out stomach, throbbing headache or empty wallet (obvious signs of overindulgence) you have to watch out for -- these deflating aftereffects, after all, will dissipate soon enough. It's also all the creatively invigorating ideas you'll miss out on generating, developing and expressing, if you're too exhausted to think straight. Maybe you won't even ‘miss' what you haven't gotten to...until you sit back down at the empty desk, white page or blank computer screen and wonder what to do next.

What do you discover when you touch your finger to the stove that's on? Well, whaddaya know...it's hot. So why, oh why, would you expect to encounter a different sensation, should you touch another finger to that same still-on stove? Touch it, and it'll still be hot. With this lesson in logic under our belts then (and I'm only playfully insulting your intelligence, Pisces, with no actual hurtful intentions), we could extend our thinking to the relationship zone and state, with all confidence: You shouldn't expect anything new to happen romantically, as long as you keep on trying the same old thing. If you want it to be different, you've got to do something differently. Really and truly, it could be almost anything...and should require no guarantee that, if you do x, suddenly your other half will begin to do y. This is more of a crap-shoot than that. (Yes, a crap-shoot...in the same way that virtually all risks we take are just that: risky.) If you want to up the stakes, then you'll have to gamble what you've already got. No two ways about it. As long as your hands are busy clutching the scraps of some barely-satisfactory coupling or leftovers from the last one that went bust, they won't be free to grab the next thing that comes across their path. While, as I said, there are absolutely no guarantees, you will know you're onto something good if you have no friggin' clue what's coming next...but you're eager enough to see what develops that you're willing to stick around and find out. If it's predictable, however, we can predict exactly what next week and next month will bring. (Dare I say it? More of the same.)

astrobarry

Horoscopes Week of June 23 to June 29, 2008

By: astrobarry

Aries (March 21-April 19)
Taurus (April 20-May 20)
Gemini (May 21-June 20)
Cancer (June 21-July 22)
Leo (July 23-August 22)
Virgo (August 23-September 22)
Libra (September 23-October 22)
Scorpio (October 23-November 21)
Sagittarius (November 22-December 21)
Capricorn (December 22-January 19)
Aquarius (January 20-February 18)
Pisces (February 19-March 20)

Why fixate on the shifting sand beneath your toes? You have everything you need, right there in that nifty little self of yours, to hold your footing (if that's what you need to do) -- or to hastily get yourself way the hell away from that sinkhole before you fall in. Nothing in the astrology tells me which response is better suited...only that you'll likelier to be moved to it by impulse or sensation, as opposed to too much agonizing analysis over each option. Your body already knows if it wants to stay and fight, or take off and never look back. Can you feel the physical symptoms: either a hunkering-down tightening or a ready-to-run lightness? If you can read these signs and determine the necessary step to take, well, by all means, take it. But do so wisely...staying emphatically on message, in order to achieve the result you know you want, rather than letting their dipping and swerving confuse your resoluteness. While ordinarily you'd think I would encourage you to hear ‘em out, find middle ground, compromise, or who-knows-what-else, I'm not sure there's any more of that left to do, if in fact you're already ready to zip away to the next Zanzibar. And even if you'll be sticking around to ‘work things out', you can't lose sight of your full-body truth, though the other party could try swaying you out of it with a sly ‘loosen up!' or a condescending ‘don't take it so seriously!' Asserting yourself with unwavering concentration could mean the different between making yourself clear...or making an even bigger mess.

That Mars in Leo really wants to make sure you've gotten something out of his current transit through your solar 4th (May 9-July 1), during which he's jabbing you in your most tender places so you can't help but reconnect with what drives you on a primal level. All week, Mars builds toward a powerful ‘don't mess with me' trine with Pluto in your 8th (exact next Mon Jun 30), before finally heading into earth-sign Virgo, where you'll find him much easier to work with. But for the time being, you're left with one more week of potential offenses, overreactions and stubborn insistences on continuing to drive your same point home (though it's now been made several times over). And with Pluto-in-the-8th trine factored in, these last bits could be some of the nastiest -- and, more importantly, the most cathartic -- as you hit the logical extreme of how hard you can fight before you must give in to reality, accept that the pain is what it is, and simply move on. (Trust me, by mid-next-week, ‘moving on' won't seem as ridiculous as it does now.) So, Taurus, when friends urge you to let something go, you should probably take their advice. They can clearly see the upset from a while ago you're still clinging to, which of course is causing you much more trouble than it's worth. They know as well as I do (and as well as you do too, somewhere deep inside) that ‘moving on' isn't about who's right or wrong. It's about deciding not to care anymore...that it's more important to free up that energy for something else more future-oriented...and that it's ultimately for your own benefit.

As this is the first full week of Mercury's moving direct in your sign again, you may have some following up to do... with regards to any missives that were misdirected or improperly communicated, dangling bits of business that need to be reconfirmed or revisited, and temporarily strained relationships that require mending (or, as the case may be, a more complete mangling). The image I'm getting is of that first week back home or at the office, after a chunk of time away and little conscious thought having been given to what was left behind -- and now that you've ‘returned', you have to attend to all the bill-paying, call-returning, plan-making and self-resituating. Because the whopper of last week's full moon fell in your 7th, Gemini, much of this follow-up will probably deal with clarifying those cryptic messages (either sent or received) about what's really going on with you two...or at least with restoring contact and connection with those important people you've left in wait, due to the overload of other influences and engagements that recently had your head spinning off its neck. If any awkward air hangs out there with anyone as a situational consequence to your limited or divided attention, it's on you to clear it. And the longer you don't nip it in the bud with your totally reasonable explanation (and mea culpa), the heavier it will weigh upon those folks left to read their own meanings into your absent-mindedness or sheer absence. (Left to wonder, a lot of us will go to paranoid places.) Get back in touch, and clear up those previously unclear signals. Little gestures like these go really far in preventing lasting relationship damage.

If you know what's good for you, Cancer -- and I'm wishing you all the self-awareness it takes -- you won't let yourself get talked into contributing even more of your generous efforts, unless you'll also be getting that much more in return. This horoscope's advice isn't about being a bah-humbug or saying no to draw some arbitrary line-in-the-sand. (Actually, it'll work better if you focus on selectively granting yeses, rather than racking up a bunch of nos.) I did just recently remind you, however, that you needn't push yourself quite so hard for the coming spell...and thus, why would you want to break your back, for no incentive other than a pat on the head and a fleeting thank you (if you get that much)? So they'll continue to see you as, like, the most caring and considerate lad or lass in the whole entire galaxy? What about you...and what you need? It's way too easy (and familiar) to convince yourself they're counting on you to keep giving and giving -- at the expense of your own self-worth, which won't be gaining any ground if you expect nothing in return. Venus is in your sign now, and therefore it's your turn to do some receiving. If you're going to do any bit of work above and beyond the baseline requirement, then you better reap a reward (better yet, a reward you actually want). Otherwise, it's not a worthwhile expenditure. You are in it for you, aren't you?

You'll stop at absolutely nothing to get what you want... isn't that right, Leo? No? Well, that's how certain people have been seeing you for a little while now (perhaps since Mars has been in your sign, which began May 9). And this week, with Mars coming into trine with ruthless-powerhouse Pluto in your self-concerned 5th, that impression may only grow momentarily stronger...before, quite likely, easing up late next week. So the question then becomes: Is this a problem? Your most honest answer, proud Leo, has everything with whether you're trying to hide (or even merely downplay) your intentions or come across like you don't care what happens. That's because you do care, and it shows. Whether that means you'd do whatever it takes for your desired outcome is another issue entirely (though you may really want what you want, you could still have your limits, yes?). But surely you understand why folks might draw that outrageous conclusion, if you're acting all casual and ‘cool with whatever'... while, at the same time, they can sniff that fervent hunger on you the moment you enter the room. When such potent desire hovers out there, clearly evidenced yet unspoken about, people are bound to be suspicious. They don't know what you might do next. (‘Anything is possible with that guy/girl!') Don't give ‘em the opportunity to pin you into that intimidating role. Be blatant about where you're directing your energy. Tell ‘em upfront, and they won't have to wonder -- or hold you responsible for their fears.

Right before I began to write to you on the all-too-familiar topic of expecting unexpected behavior from your sweetie, best pal or close associate, I imagined how these words (brought forth from the horoscopic gods so many times before) might hit your ears, Virgo. Would you feel totally fed up? Like ‘enough is enough'? (Would you sink to ‘poor me' levels of resigned victimhood?) In pondering all that, I opted to change my tune and refashion the outlook this way: If those ‘surprises' that You-Know-Who keeps springing on you are starting to get old, you should lay out your over-it-ness for ‘em -- even if it stings their pride or hurts their feelings. (You don't even have to wait for the next ‘surprise' to take the initiative.) After all, your only other choice is to continue swallowing your frustration, just because you're convinced ‘it really doesn't matter that much' or ‘nothing's ever going to change anyway'. And in contemplating the consequences of that previous sentence, even I experience a weird bodily dread overtaking me in sympathy. My hope is that you too reach an emotional awakening, when it comes to any such interpersonal dissatisfaction, rather than staying too calm (on the surface, that is) and letting the unpleasantness supposedly ‘roll off your shoulders' (though, in fact, it's actually bearing down on them). If only you permit yourself to get charged up enough, you won't be able to ‘maintain' -- then, the surprises will be coming from your end, with the intent to liberate yourself from someone else's unreliability.

Last week's advice deserves a re-read, Libra, principally due to the fact you continue to face a million little chances to choose higher ground (and thus a more upbeat outlook) over shit-slinging or grump-making. For every minor setback (even if legitimate) or lurking anxiety (even about something real) that threatens to spoil your week, there's also a friend to ring up or an event to dash out to that'll rescue your mood from falling down the drain. You, however, must allow such a rescue. You won't have to look far for evidence of everything going horribly (but not really that horribly) wrong...in the form of logistical snafus or so-called ‘simple chores' suddenly proving to be much more involved, temporary allergy fits or ankle sprains, or some other such hitch in the system. But this is ultimately small stuff, isn't it? And we don't need to sweat those peanuts, do we? Nobody else is likely to flip your glass over, just to kindly point out how your vision of half-emptiness is merely an optical illusion, concealing the true fact of its half-fullness. It's on you to decide, hell no, you're not going to sink. It's swim time, buddy! Though you'll have to make an actual effort to argue the less obvious case (that actually everything's really great and, while we're at it, gosh, aren't you lucky to have such a grand life?), all that supporting evidence is out there, too. Think about how many people care about you...how they'd love to offer you support (or just a happy distraction), should you merely ask...how many opportunities for adventure, excitement, entertainment, and self-development are at your fingertips, if you merely open your hands to take ‘em...and how, even though a few squirrelly situations have indeed gotten to an extremely irritating point, the overall good far outweighs the passing bad.

Your week could provide a valuable lesson in how your in-the-moment need to defend your pride can actually adversely impact your ability to achieve your own goals, at least on the practical level of career and public regard. That's because you have a great opportunity to prove yourself a formidable strength to those who'd rely on you, by identifying what's the top priority to accomplish and then expressing confidence you can get the job done -- if you don't get too full of yourself. No offense, Scorpio. We all have those moments when, because we believe so firmly in ourselves, we also end up believing everyone else requires our services... that we are somehow essential, the only one with a clue, and thus an indispensable authority on our specialized area. But alas, every last one of us is ultimately expendable. For immediate success, you must straddle that fine line between (1) asserting yourself and (2) seriously grating on your boss's and/or co-workers' nerves. Remember: You don't have to hit folks over the head with your opinion. They'll get it the first time. (Raising your voice, repeating yourself numerous times, or insulting the contrasting opinions won't make you more ‘right'.) Without a doubt, you do have what it takes to get the job done. There are, however, other factors involved -- namely, other people. Push too hard, and you will get pushed back.

Unless you're uncompromisingly indulgent at every possible turn (and, for your own inner peace, I hope that's not the case), you can look at this upcoming week as a bit of a comedown from last week's exaggerated psycho-dynamics. The moon's waning light should help to soothe your overtaxed response system, allowing you to recover your senses -- and, if need be, reorient yourself to your typical day-to-day feelings toward a certain someone. (Let's be honest: You'd previously been accessing an unusual level of intensity, which is hardly the stuff of everyday life.) It would be wonderful for you to work toward getting some emotional distance from such dense relationship situations...though you may still be too ‘in it' to see straight. If you need help, reach up and grab the archer's arrow flying through the air above your head. (Huh?) In standard Sagittarian style, that's your philosophic idealism, aiming straight for the bullseye of what really matters...and leaving all the punk crap and frivolous trivialities at the wayside for everyone else to sort through or putter around in. So if any undercover maneuverings, residual issues or played-out worries continue to linger like cheap cologne, giving you a bad headache, you need to rise above and quickly cut off the drawn-out rehashings. If you have to make a last-straw effort to lay your feelings out firmly and efficiently, don't stress over the chaos that may indeed erupt. Do it, but be brief -- and go for neat resolution, no matter how sharp. The strange conundrum here is that what seems like creating more complications (to hear the other party tell it) may, in fact, be a wise and daring act of simplification.

There's a cloud of brutal truth floating overhead... perhaps the looming of discoveries made during last week's full-moon-etc. activities, or else the new-to-be-acknowledged rising of a far more pungent response to your present situation than you'd ordinarily experience. To put it bluntly, Capricorn, under such astro-weather, the littlest things are liable to trigger strangely intense reactions. Now, this actually isn't so bad a dynamic -- if it inspires you to look more deeply within, to where these psychological red-flags stem from. That's the ultimate purpose of emotions: To motivate us to figure out what's going on. But you really mustn't try to fool yourself on this one. It's not a cut-and-dry issue. No matter the surface reasons for your flare-ups, there is definitely something bigger underneath. (Otherwise, the ‘littlest things' wouldn't bother you so much.) Don't be afraid to scrape your nails along those surfaces. The veneer will easily scratch off, if you bother to try. And where the scene may've previously been painted over in single-color boldness (‘it's red, and I'm mad at you!'), what's lurks beneath the topcoat is a more sophisticated mix of shadings and textures. Your frenzied desire or frantic fury could be fueled by disappointment, envy or the drive to control. Maybe you're more bothered by what you don't have (at least not yet) than you thought. Why run for cover, though, just because this storm cloud's threatening to shed its moisture on your noggin? Stand in it. Get wet. Bathe in the source of what's got you all tied up in knots. Knowing the ‘brutal truth' is better than pretending to know you're blandly ‘okay'.

Snarky squabbles or exchanges of conflicting ideas, while seeming to be purely personal in nature, may indeed be larger than the both of you understand. (Shades of last week? Still in effect.) Your clearest pathway out, as a result, will show itself whenever you think and converse from the viewpoint of the type of world you want to help build...as opposed to, say, why your self-focused sensitivities are being rubbed wrong (wounded ego? fearful of losing power? unsure of what the future holds?) or how you intend to end up ‘back on top'. To help you hold that perspective, you might want to talk to the wise sages in your life -- the trusted elders, the inspirational friends, your therapist or bodyworker -- and solicit outside advice. Try rephrasing your concerns in impersonal, universalizing language that emphasizes the ideals you want to foster (rather than wording that blames, needles, or disowns your complicity). You'll actually bond, instead of bicker, if you two can throw your combined efforts behind goals you both believe in...deepening your connection, as you come together on issues or activities that highlight your shared interests, and (re)uniting you as the team you are. Having trouble finding that common bond or mutual lens? That, my dear Aquarius, qualifies as a major red flag.

By now, if you pay any attention to our work here together, you're aware that planetary anarchist, rabble-rouser and bombshell-dropper Uranus has been cruising through your sign since 2003 and remains through 2010...essentially providing an ongoing long-term impetus for you, dear Pisces, to cultivate and sustain your radical individuality at all costs. That process may entail choosing abrupt directional changes, transforming your image, snipping old psychic cords, moving or quitting or breaking up: really, whatever it might take to leave you feeling terrifyingly and exhilaratingly free to pursue who you are in this world (and screw those who can't get on board with it). In reality, of course, we know that you Pisceans love to hold onto to the past, in nostalgic yearning or romantic hope, pure compassion or self-sabotaging delusion. Whatever the specific reason, this ‘breaking free' business generally isn't the natural state of Piscean being. This week, Uranus stations (that is, stands still) before heading retrograde through November, returning all these ‘independence vs. togetherness' issues (yes, again) to the forefront. (The retrograde piece isn't as important as the standing still. Uranus is retrograde several months a year.) At a 1st-house Uranus station like you're facing, there's an undeniable ‘wild card' element in effect, making it hard to pinpoint what exactly is likeliest to go crazy -- only that something (romance, job, friendship) is probably up for grabs. (If you want a clue, look back over your past few years for any developments that occurred in mid-June or mid-November.) Should you confront a sudden change, go with it, instead of running scared. And if/when this one area of life goes temporarily haywire, look to another for some stable ground. No matter the disarray, everyone has something stable to grab onto.

astrobarry

Horoscopes Week of June 16 to June 22, 2008

By: astrobarry

Aries (March 21-April 19)
Taurus (April 20-May 20)
Gemini (May 21-June 20)
Cancer (June 21-July 22)
Leo (July 23-August 22)
Virgo (August 23-September 22)
Libra (September 23-October 22)
Scorpio (October 23-November 21)
Sagittarius (November 22-December 21)
Capricorn (December 22-January 19)
Aquarius (January 20-February 18)
Pisces (February 19-March 20)

As I always say, if you're going to do something, you might as well do it big. Okay, Aries, I actually don't always say that. In fact, I'm not sure I've ever said it until now. And likewise, I'm not exactly sure whether you should (or shouldn't) follow the advice implied in that cliché and turn one (or more) of your burgeoning possibilities into a grand statement of some sort or another. If I was drawing my horoscopic inspiration from the instinctive level alone, I'd be fully in favor of you expressing your interest, making your point, drawing your line in the sand, or otherwise moving dramatically ahead with one huge step that won't be ignored and can't be taken back. So, should you proceed down that path, it's perfectly understandable. My only hesitation in offering a full-blown endorsement of that plan? The real possibility that one (or more) of your close pals or trusted associates will not be genuinely behind you on this one. Though you may be having a good time, your cohorts or chums might not feel the same way... perhaps without you even knowing so. Will you ask? Will you check in? You mustn't ignore their feelings, after all. And what happens if your kind of ‘fun' or ‘excitement' is simply making them uncomfortable? You could always ask them how they'd like to handle it, what they'd prefer to do -- saving face, maybe, but compromising instinct. Or you could just pressure ‘em to join along with you, despite their misgivings -- getting what you want, but possibly at a cost. If you're going to do it, you might as well do it big... as long as you're prepared to do it without the full support of one (or more) key players.

While you might prefer to think of yourself as confidently portraying the role of Mr./Ms. Nice Guy/Girl, you'll only come across as ‘authentic' (or at least ‘convincing') if you're holding no under-the-surface hopes, yearnings, resentments or other strong opinions. But if you think for one minute, Taurus, that, during such an astrologically charged week as this one, you'll be able to pull one over on ‘em (or, just as likely, on yourself), you've got another thing coming. When the air between you and a certain someone feels thick or dense, what you're experiencing is a buildup of possibilities -- the possibility that you two will finally come together or that everything will blow up in your face, that you'll never get what you were hoping for or that it'll far surpass your wildest dreams, that you're ready to bury the hatchet at last or that you won't ever be able to. And as long as relevant emotions (on either side or both) aren't being fully voiced, the semi-manifested psychological reality will just hover there: heavy, under-explored, ripe. Well, we all know what happens to ripe fruit if it doesn't get plucked from the tree and enjoyed at its peak; it falls to the ground and rots in the dirt, no matter how promising it once was. If that last melodramatic sentence wasn't enough to inspire brave admissions, tough questions, humble displays of vulnerability, and/or heartfelt conversations of varying sorts, then I don't know what is. Take advantage of what's right in front of you, and acknowledge the increasing intensity. However it goes, it's worth at least owning your complicated emotions.

Combine a full moon in your house of partners (the solar 7th) with your ruler Mercury standing still and returning to direct motion in your sign, throw in a Venus-Pluto opposition (again affecting your 1st and 7th), and you've got a recipe for high drama on the one-on-one relationship front. You'll recognize the signs when You-Know-Who (or more than one of ‘em) manages to press all your buttons... and yet you stick around, easy target that you are, and essentially beg for more. ‘Why am I allowing him/her to get to me?' you might wonder in all sincerity, scratching your head and looking up to the clouds as if God has the divine answer. Don't bother the higher power with this nonsense, Gemini. I've got an answer for you: Because you want to. Is that simple enough? You can't leave well enough alone because you're having a good time needling and being needled. And even when it momentarily feels like a pain-in-the-butt, it's such a big pain-in-the-butt because you care about your bond with this person. Of course, the whole dynamic could be more complicated than a simple affinity. You could absolutely loathe certain qualities about ‘em... and yet, due to the charge between you two, those traits continually stick in your craw like the buzzing of a housefly in your ear when you're trying to sit still and meditate (yeah, right), never escaping notice. You could lust for their attention, but hold no clue why. I don't know the specifics because (duh) they'll vary from person to person. I do know, however, that every last stutter and stumble, bicker and bark, kick and throw, kiss and make up which occurs is merely part and parcel of the long and illustrious story linking the two of you together in history, like it or not. (Hell, you know you like it!)

You're on the verge of reaching a well-earned break from many long and involved months of battling demons, slaying monsters, and generally forcing yourself in the future... and, to mark this pause-point in the journey, you owe yourself the relief of not pushing. In other words, you needn't maintain the fevered pitch or the newly assertive edge to your personality, at least not for the next few weeks. And as far as this current week goes, Cancer, it wouldn't hurt to play things extra-safe. With a potent full moon and a couple noteworthy planetary oppositions (Venus-Pluto and Mars-Neptune) slated for the days ahead, plenty of folks will be a mere step or two away from completely over-the-top reactions, whether justifiable or not. Don't spiral down along with ‘em... not with the arrival of both the Sun and Venus to your sign, casting you in an oh-so-much-more-flattering light that'll rescue you from too many bad vibes directed your way. To further assist your avoidance of others' freak-outs, counteract the temptation to join the emotional crazies by being ultra-super-practical. Think like a calm, cool, collected analyst, architect or engineer, ready to diagnose any gaps in process or lapses in logic with the smooth distance of someone who's diligently doing his/her work -- and not with too much leaky-boundary sympathy. You don't need to feel what they're feeling in order to lend your support. Concentrate on logistical ways to aid them in containing their fires, rather than adding fuel to ‘em with lots of coddling or cooing. Refusing to become moody or hysterical is the best help you can offer.

We've surely talked before about those nasty stereotypes that you Leos are ineludibly saddled with... not the least of which is that, to hear the chorus of envious voices tell it, natives of your sign are totally self-absorbed. Now, you and I know this typecasting isn't exactly fair. Because you are ruled by the Sun, the guiding star of our solar system, you cannot help but shine more brightly -- and, as a result, find yourself as taken with your innate brilliance as your many adoring admirers are. But, at the same time, you are often quite generous with this light... using it (if all goes well) to help others bring their own true selves out of hiding and into the world. This week, alas, a conflation of astro-factors could have you accidentally proving the worst parts of this reputation true... if, that is, you don't stay conscious of other people's reactions. With Mars in your sign opposing Neptune in your 7th, you mustn't assume they're agreeing with you, just because they don't say anything. The Mars-Neptune dynamic can easily send you into domineering mode, with your energy taking over the entire scene (and theirs simply disappearing into thin air). The Pluto-powered full moon in your 5th merely exacerbates this dynamic, drawing out your most (ahem) theatrical bits to the point of overbearing (if, of course, the audience isn't ‘enjoying the show'). If you want to thwart the potential accusations of self-absorption, here's what you do: Focus on tuning into their frequency, rather than saying any-and-every-thing that comes out of your mouth or behaving as if the cameras are following your every move. Ask about their lives. Go to their favorite café. And let them call the shots. That way, their ‘unfair' theory about you can't possibly hold water.

Like someone who's been mending from a nasty chest cold for a few weeks and has almost completely recovered but who, with one surprising coughing fit, hacks up a leftover piece of infected mucus from way down deep in the lungs... you, my dear Virgo, have an outdated chunk of residual emotion to cough up this week. You might not know you're still upset (or ‘charged') about this sore-spot from the past -- heck, for all intents and purposes, you are over it -- but when an odd remark or eerily reminiscent situation abruptly enters the scene from left field, you could be shocked to find yourself all worked up all over again. What's up with that? First of all, don't panic. You have not been magically transported back in history, to relive a few of your more painful moments, out of karmic retribution for some non-existent slight you feel unnecessarily guilty for. This is merely a flashback, due to the full moon in your 4th house conjoining a briefly-back-in-Sagittarius Pluto, raising ghosts from all the internal-transformation work you did over the recent years. Second (and most important), don't turn this inner experience into an outer spectacle... even if the triggering event occurs in a work setting or elsewhere in public. You'd do better to plaster an impenetrable plastic smile on your face, push through your day, rush home to your safe sanctum, and yell and scream and cry and pound on shit by yourself until the feeling subsides. Create a public scene, however, and you'll only drag out the situation with the required apologies, explanations, cleanups and/or self-inflicted ‘why did I do that?'s.

Stick to the high road, no matter if the road everyone else seems to be taking features a sharp downward-sloping grade... and no matter if the loudest characters among those on that other path try their damnedest to pull you down to their level, all while slamming you for ‘acting superior' or resisting their low-blow manner of expressing disagreement. Your smooth talkin' should come in quite handy this week, Libra, when ‘pleasant conversations' will all-too-quickly turn into ‘heated debates' (or, worse, ‘nasty arguments'). Since, whenever folks get this hot under the collar, it's clear they're all totally and completely convinced they are right, the only way to keep yourself moving along is by carefully carving out a clean detour that'll leave all egos unharmed. After all, why bother with a useless battle? Why waste precious energy on attempting to reason with closed minds and hot heads? In this setting, it's far smarter to aim for forging a peace -- though it may be a partly contrived and insincere one. (For instance, refusing to stoop to their level does qualify as ‘acting superior', at least on the books. But so f-in' what?) Whatever morality-protecting mantra or belief-inspiring context you can hold in your head, without wavering in focus when they dangle ‘fighting words' in your face, let it guide you. (Taking five deep breaths before responding to any especially controversial comments also helps.) If they want to squabble about conflicting particulars or side-note irrelevancies, fine. You, however, need not play the other side.

Compromise? Sacrifice? Conciliatory gestures? Feh. The long and short of it this week, Scorpio, is that you may suddenly realize you're not so willing to ‘see it from their perspective' or ‘suck up your pride' after all. In a continuation of last week's horoscope but with added planetary oomph, you're unlikely to take kindly to others' attempts to shut you up, reason you out of your firm position, or cast you as the drama-loving troublemaker (even if you are). Presuming you've given them a fair shot to argue their case, to show you the errors in your thinking and/or explain why they've got a much solider grip on the situation... you may face no other choice than to walk away, if and only if you're being pressured to go against your cherished belief system in order to prove ‘loyalty' (or whatever). That's right, I'm granting you the astrologer's permission to leave it all behind (and a certain person or two with it) -- once you've put in the time and due diligence to talk it through. Sometimes, we think we've hit a brick wall... but, in fact, it's merely a case of both sides pussyfooting around the one difficult topic that'd open the whole discussion up. In such situations, it really is a matter of sucking up one's pride and broaching unpleasant conversations, just to find the secret doorway in that supposedly impenetrable brick wall. (Is there something still not being said? Answer truthfully.) But sometimes, an impasse is just that: impassable; a way with no through outlet; a deadlock; the end. Is that where you are? It's a judgment call that's ultimately yours to make.

A potent Pluto-charged full moon in your sign, Sagittarius, is enough to bring out a rawer, more unfiltered version of your already-not-exactly-subtle personality... which will appeal even more strongly to those folks already fawning at your bandwagon, while repelling even more strongly the ones who didn't like you that much to begin with. You won't find many lukewarm responses to the emergence of your ‘truer colors' (except from people good at withholding their judgments), but at least you'll know -- perhaps more than you have in a good long while -- exactly where you stand. When communing one-on-one with your main squeeze or any other important figure in your life, you'll be blessed in providing just the right words (no matter how uncharacteristic or momentarily sharp) to let ‘em know you're a solid companion and friend. Of course, when trying a similar sort of exchange with someone who's not truly on your wavelength, those same words could hit ‘em as intensely self-righteous, uninteresting or downright grating. In both cases (and for your best good, no less), you may be prone to sharing more intimate personal details than you ordinarily would. Not surprisingly, such disclosures will draw you that much closer (in a way that won't freak you out) to those that matter... while leaving the others to snottily wonder, ‘Why are you sharing this with me?' Observe these varying reactions. They'll show you something profound about who feels which way about you when you're not trying to tone down the truth of who you are.

Beware of that one more glass of wine (or two) anytime during this wacky week, Capricorn... especially if you've been holding your tongue about something that's upsetting you. Under the full moon's light, all the gnarly details show themselves, whether we want them to or not. And should you also seduce your inhibitions into lowering to unusually open levels, you'll be liable to say just about anything -- though, perhaps, come to regret your uncensored tirade later. (Needless to say, this isn't a good time for drunken dialing, rapid-fire email responses, hot-headed ‘observations', or other such spontaneous expressions.) If you're going to ‘go there', you should probably be in possession of your full faculties... or not give a steaming crap about what collateral damage you may leave by the wayside, as you slash-and-burn your way through ‘the real truth'. On the same token, however, if you've stubbornly stared at that same gnawing problem for way too long without gaining any new perspective on or a hint at how best to bust the inertia, this same astro-atmosphere will actually help you break through. From this perspective, the ‘losing your inhibitions' won't be a dangerous thing (as long as you're not operating heavy machinery under the influence of a pharmaceuticals-and-vodka cocktail). Consider attacking the stubborn stalemate at a weird hour, an off-site location, during your post-workday workout, or any time and place that might catch you ‘off your game'. The chutzpah that bears the potential to cause interpersonal drama for you also holds the promise of creating fresh ripples of inspiration in practical work situations. It all depends on where you direct the energy.

It doesn't take a world-class astrologer to point out that, when Mars transits your solar 7th as it is right now, the potential for conflicts (or at least some stirring-up) in your primary one-on-one relationship(s) goes up. Yet, one planet isn't always so noteworthy on its own. This week, however, Mars must contend with an opposition to Neptune, which continues its many-years-long circuit through your sign... thus activating this potential into likelier action on the battlefront (if not a simple case of sparks flying higher and hotter). The trickiest part about this, due to Neptune's involvement, is that you may not necessarily know what exactly you're angry with each other about. Or you could each find yourself fighting about different things. Perhaps the terms of the argument keep shifting, making it impossible to complete a coherent thought before being interrupted by another piece of tangential information. Or maybe only one of you is worked up, while the other is merely stumped at what's going on. Whatever the specifics, Aquarius, an important suggestion to follow to minimize the much-ado-about-nothing(-or-is-it-something?) is this: Don't let your pride get the best of you, even if the other person is missing your point or having trouble grasping where you're coming from. The extra aggressiveness one or both of you is feeling could be a red herring -- that is, not really as big a deal as it seems at the time. Sure, you may think they ‘should' understand your line of thinking by now... but if they don't, just be a sport and (patiently!) explain it to ‘em for the third or fourth time, rather than jumping down their throat. Believe it or not, your position is not as self-evident as you're making it out to be. (Furthermore, you might not even be so damned sure of it yourself, if you'd just calm down for a moment and examine the fine print.)

You'll get a lot further, in the present astro-climate, by primarily concentrating on your process... and worrying less about the relative quantity and quality of the products of this process, which you are (or aren't) currently seeing. If you are on task, keep on doing what you're doing. Within another two or three weeks, you'll be in a better position to judge. If you've momentarily faltered, just get right back on that horse -- without needlessly stressing over what you imagine you've missed, since you possess no real ability to ‘go back' and fix the past. (Let bygones be gone already.) But, Pisces, if there's something about your current day-in-day-out work so frustrating (on the ‘process' level, of course) that you wonder how you'll be able to continue at it (short of drowning out every bit of sorrow with unhealthy escapist behaviors during your time-off), then you should probably address it with your supervisor or whomever may have a say in remedying it. Despite how it might eat away at your insides, this trouble could be rather invisible to the Powers-That-Be. They may have no idea... especially if you've been repeatedly swallowing your dissatisfaction. Pretending it's all peachy-keen might seem like a smart move -- until, that is, the bad vibes build up and you hit a final straw and go totally ballistic. You don't want to wait that long, then reach a point of no return, do you? If you've got gripes that, if voiced, could possibly improve a near-unbearable situation, then voice ‘em already.

astrobarry

Horoscopes Week of June 9 to June 15, 2008

By: astrobarry

Aries (March 21-April 19)
Taurus (April 20-May 20)
Gemini (May 21-June 20)
Cancer (June 21-July 22)
Leo (July 23-August 22)
Virgo (August 23-September 22)
Libra (September 23-October 22)
Scorpio (October 23-November 21)
Sagittarius (November 22-December 21)
Capricorn (December 22-January 19)
Aquarius (January 20-February 18)
Pisces (February 19-March 20)

There appears to be a subtle tension between your recent experiences as ‘the fun guy/girl' or ‘the one who's at the center of the action'... and the possibility that wonderful opportunities in your career (or other outer-community-oriented projects) are yours for the picking, if you don't neglect to notice them because you're too busy out having fun or whirligigging at the center of the action. Don't get me wrong, Aries: At any and every leisure event or activity, the gathering crowd (and doesn't there always seem to be one?) will surely be charmed by your every word. Indeed, once you get going, it's hard to stop. But as you're rightfully basking in the attention you deserve, you must also stay conscious of what's not happening when your energy's focused purely on frivolity. When the flow of energy is largely gushing outwardly forth from you, you can't exactly be too receptive to subtle chances, suggestions or openings that might now be arising, with the promise of helping you grow your public personhood to the next level. Furthermore, if a certain someone who may hold a key to one of these openings is present for your entertaining monologues, they might think twice about offering you an in... if, for instance, they catch you revealing secrets, compromising trusts, or otherwise talking shit. To summarize, you shouldn't feel compelled to cut the entire fun short, especially when the planets clearly want it for you -- but if all you do is cackle and cavort, you're apt to miss out on something else you probably want a crack at.

Your innate ingenuity will serve you well, so long as you continually return your attention to ‘the bottom line'... which, in this case, can relate either to (1) your personal financial situation and/or (2) your practical sense of how you should go about carrying out that which is important to you. The problems only come in when you allow the so-called ‘larger concerns' determined by others to leak into your vision, clouding the sightline with an opaque goo that'll mask your ability to see what you're trying to look at. You don't have to indignantly ignore anybody, with fingers plugging your ears and loud nonsense repeated to yourself to drown out the sounds of their voices. (In fact, it's better practice for you to actually listen to what they're saying... before deciding whether it can be entertained alongside your pre-established priorities or should be left by the wayside.) But, Taurus, be very suspicious when anybody starts talking about ‘the big picture' or ‘what's good for everyone' -- right before they ask you to make an unmanageable personal sacrifice on their behalf. If you're not just being stubborn and actually resist this request on legitimate pragmatic grounds, then hold firm on what you need and protect your own interest... even if they respond by implying (or just saying to your face) you're being selfish.

This buildup of active planetary hoopla continues to poke-and-prod you, tickle the bottoms of your feet, and otherwise goose you with plenty of exuberance, adrenaline, and social hyperactivity. (In essence, you've just become an exaggerated version of your usual self, right?) And your overflowing energy levels are exactly what certain of your pals are desperately craving as a positive influence to get ‘em out of their boring ruts. So whatever scraps of spare time or flashes of riveting conversation you can throw their way, Gemini, all the power to you. It will be mutual enjoyment of each other's company all the way around. However (and this is a notable one), this same mix of mad extroversion may simply be too much for certain others, whether friends who ordinarily appreciate you or strangers who don't know you from Adam, to handle. Such whirling-dervish-ness could tweak with their need for environmental calm. Or they're just suffering a passing case of much-reduced patience. Whatever the case, you mustn't take it personally. None of us are everybody's cup-o'-tea all of the time. Personal preference, momentary or lasting, is part of human nature. Your challenge is take note of who's groovin' off you -- and who's not -- and to follow the social cues accordingly. Do that, and you can maximize your social efforts on those who'd gladly (thankfully, even) receive them... and expend very little of yourself on those who you'd just bug the crap out of.

Without a doubt, the biggest challenges of your week revolve around what happens when your intuition doesn't line up with what's expected of you. Will you be brave enough to ‘cause a stink' (as a self-judging voice might characterize a basic act of assertion), in a gesture that honors your sense of inner knowing even when it's inconvenient? What your gut's telling you to do may not be your easiest option... particularly if it goes against what You-Know-Who wants you to do. And to add insult to injury, you may find yourself hard-pressed to clearly explain your feelings. (In other words, you may know -- but not know why.) Well, anyone who hopes to have a meaningful relationship of any kind with a Cancerian should probably learn to value this inexplicable (though no less real) mode of emotional awareness that is part-and-parcel of what makes you Cancers so special. So, at some point, if they want to connect with the ‘real' you, they're going to have to accept that you sometimes (or often) receive your truths in this ‘other' manner. On the same token, if you want to value that ‘real' you, you're going to have to follow the direction your gut tells you is the right one. Otherwise, if you don't, you're basically informing your intuition that it's good for nothing, some vestigial sense no longer relevant to your oh-so-modern life. (And if that's the case, don't be surprised if the intuitions either taper away or transform into physical irritants.)

The last thing I'd waste effort trying to do, Leo, is convince you to calm down, chill out and attend to all that totally unexciting and way-too-detail-oriented work you've temporarily set aside. Nothing productive is likely to come from urging you to ‘be productive'. Mischief is undeniably on your mind, so I'm not betting on you to win any ‘Most Diligent Employee' or ‘Healthiest Habit Keeper' awards this week. Besides, you'll be too busy gabbing about whatever latest bit of upbeat news or adventure on the horizon has got you all amped up. And you know what? That's just fine. You will not find cautions or criticisms riddling this horoscope with buzzkill weightiness. Do what you're going to do. Cause some trouble, if you must. You can even attempt to convince your more ‘responsible' friends to join you in playing hooky or squeezing off-topic fun into an otherwise boring workday. Some of ‘em may actually take the bait. But don't be surprised if others are instead annoyed with what they see as your disruptive behavior, which is only made worse by their perception that you're dangling it in their face (because, let's be honest, who wouldn't rather be goofing off than shuffling paperwork?). I can't say they don't have a point -- but I also can't say you should ‘do' this or that in response. That's your call. (Would you consider my pointing out that it is possible to go overboard with a good thing and create unpleasant side-effects from your excesses a ‘caution' that I've squeezed into this horoscope after I said I wouldn't? Thought not.)

In this strange horoscope I'm about to write for you, Virgo, I'll be essentially advocating two opposite approaches... and the right one for you is based purely on how deeply your ego is involved in the issue at hand. For starters, let me be clear that in no way is a strong ego-investment in something a bad thing. We of the supposedly ‘evolved' set may drone on about how getting our egos out of the way is an important part of becoming ever more spiritually enlightened -- which isn't exactly untrue, yet doesn't take into account the actual reality of the vast majority of us who aren't living in monasteries and swearing off materialism entirely. (In fact, our egos help us learn more about ourselves.) But there's a palpable difference between a big discussion of some pressing substance in which (1) you have opinions to offer because you care about what's being discussed, but ultimately have no personal stake in how it ends up getting decided, and (2) you are so integrally wrapped up that, whether you like it or not, your expertise or level of achievement or pride seem to hang in the balance. If you're pretty certain that (1) is the description that best matches you, then please speak out. Your ‘complicating' remarks will create a useful tension that pushes all parties to ‘up their game' -- and eventually work their now-incomplete ideas into a tighter plan. But if there's a chance that (2) fits the bill, you might want to save those thoughts for later (or never). While such passion proves your deep engagement, it can also be a little scary to those ‘levelheaded' (or downright clinical) folks at the top. Based on where you are in all this, whatever you say will likely impress -- or just as likely threaten -- one or more major players in the game. How well do you know your present emotional position on it?

You mustn't keep saying no to their invites or intimations, no matter how politely you do it. I'll even be so daring as to suggest that, if you imagine you'd be happier staying at home, you're actually fooling yourself. (Yeah, yeah... how the hell would I know? I don't. It was a ‘suggestion'. Remember?) Well, Libra, in my best-case scenario, you'd be irked enough to prove me wrong... and fight every safe-and-cozy urge to spend another night curled up on the couch with a TV show you don't even like very much, telling yourself this is exactly what you want to do when, actually, it's merely the easiest default. I'm so confident that you're supposed to be out and about (not in and in-hiding), I'm willing to risk your good feelings toward me, just to needle you ‘til you can't take it anymore. Trust me on this one, Libra: Any outside activity that'd expose you to new people, places, or potential pastimes has the capacity to change your life. The unpredictability of others' energies is enough of a wild-card to make anything possible. In the other corner, of course, we have more of the same... which is, by sheer mathematical odds, far less likely to produce anything close to a ‘life-changer'. There are obviously exceptions to all sides of what I've outlined. Still, isn't it worth upping your chances? Getting off your butt is only tough the first few minutes. Once you're on a roll, you'll be glad you left the house. After all, you'll always be able to come home when you're done...

If you take a certain matter seriously enough, then you probably shouldn't permit others to casually brush it under the rug. (And if I know you, Scorpio, you probably won't.) But the flipside of that, of course, is that you must extend the same courtesy to those ‘others' when they see substantive value in a particular idea or approach that you'd rather dismiss outright. You don't get to have it one way without also having it the other, too. After all, you are not the divinely selected arbiter of which issues are important and which buffoonish. If you expect them to pay respectful attention to your airing of your concerns, then plan on paying them the same respectful attention when it's their turn to explain where they're coming from. Naturally, if you don't think you have the time or wherewithal to withstand such a protracted conversation in which all sides have equal say on the terms of what's being discussed, you can opt out altogether. (To clarify, that would mean holding your tongue.) You need not go one inch outside your comfort zone, if you don't want to. That's perfectly all right with me. Yet, you will get just what you give. You don't lend them a generous ear and an open heart -- they aren't likely to lend either of ‘em to you either. One person's root concern may be another's trivial trifling. Who's to say who's got it right and who's misguided? (Hint: The answer isn't you.)

Your ‘relationship life' (or whatever you want to call it) keeps on dealing you lots of potential complications to make sure you're not sleeping on the job... though none of these need actually be considered proper problems, if you're willing to legitimately extend plenty of understanding to the other party in all one-on-one matters. Despite all the good things going for this or that pairing you're involved in, you may face one or more of the following issues: (1) a restless emotional need for lots of freedom, to the point that you might prefer to disconnect over sitting through their gripe-filled confessions; (2) the ‘phantom' romanticizing of all those other options you have, which certainly look like greener grass from where you're currently standing but which could prove to be nothing more than glittery oases that disintegrate into the sand once you actually show up to claim them; (3) such an ingrained ability to meet your own needs so well that you've almost forgotten how a good give-and-take should function; and (4) with Pluto making a brief retrograde trip back through your sign, starting this week and lasting until late November, you have a last bit of self-evaluation still to do with regards to power issues (and whether you'd prefer to hold an intimidating aura, just so you may stay ‘in control'). The funny thing about all of these possibilities, Sagittarius, is you might quickly alleviate their corresponding anxieties, simply by handing the microphone over to the other person and staying mostly quiet. In fact, a major assumption you've made about them is quite untrue. And you'll discover the real truth (which could make some of your worries immediately moot), if you stop jumping to conclusions... and hear your other half out.

As tempting as it may be to give ‘em your walking papers and simply depart the scene, it's certainly not the best approach to getting the actual job done. (Rather, it definitely qualifies under the unlikable heading of ‘Taking the Easy Way Out'.) If you can look beyond the interpersonal headaches, you'll see that, from the ‘impersonal' perspective (whatever that is), your participation in this very important task or project is essential. Or if ‘essential' sounds too constricting, let's just say the final product will most definitely be of lower quality, if you were to bow out. Besides all that, from the ‘personal' perspective (it's a lot clearer what that is), you'll feel much freer and less fettered if you can see your responsibility through to its total completion. While it might momentarily feel gleeful to just bail, we both know you better than that, Capricorn -- you're liable to experience guilt, doubt, or other unresolved residue once the dust settles. However, if you can muster the patience to continue pushing through this frustrating ‘problem-solving' stage, you will be so proud of yourself later. Plus, when you're done, you will be totally and unquestionably done. When you finally do walk away, you'll do so cleanly. But leave the karmic tendrils dangling, alas, and you'll probably be able to get out of this particular situation promptly... while the dynamics of what you didn't deal with now will merely follow you to the next setting, putting you through all the same paces until you eventually do get it right.

You're in a very good spot interpersonally, Aquarius, so long as you can leave it up in the air (whatever that ‘it' is supposed to be) and trust your on-the-spot actions. If you're catching reminiscent whiffs of last week's horoscope, you're on the right scent. It's still most important to appreciate a moment with someone you care for, rather than pinning into place (perhaps the wrong place?) with too much analysis, interpretation or forward projection. And once you can put all that need-to-know garbage aside, you'll be in an even better position to make a move (whatever ‘move' you're considering) and let that special person know you're into him or her. That's because the (sorry for the indelicacy of this word) desperation which comes with the ‘clinging' model of relationships (that is, ‘when I find the one I like, I should grab onto him/her and never let go!') will disappear... leaving a wider berth for the free extemporaneity of interrelating to carry the two of you wherever it will, expectations be damned. Don't worry if you aren't sure exactly what you're looking for or how to go about it -- all the better, in my humble opinion. In the vast matrix of possibilities that arise when you take that need to know off the table, you just might stumble into a very pleasant surprise you never could've or would've come up with on your own.

In an astro-environment where social and/or societal pressures could lure you down a slippery slope of ‘just going along with' whatever (in obvious conflict with what'd be the healthier option for you), you might struggle to find the courage to do the responsible thing. Mind you, what's ‘responsible' should not be measured on a pseudo-objective scale. (That sort of thinking, which encourages comparisons with what other people are doing or not doing, already reeks of the very pressure you'd hope to avoid.) Only you will know for sure what that means in the context of your life. But don't be surprised when, if you're being totally honest about what's right for you, you discover you're actually not so different from your family as you might like to believe. In other words, your most ‘responsible' action could be one that's eerily similar to what a family member might do... which could hit you weird, if you've worked hard to define yourself in opposition to where you came from. Yet, you can still be that unique individual, Pisces, while simultaneously acknowledging all the good traits you picked up from your upbringing. To resist that awareness is to be totally rebellious, just to prove you can. Your surest strategy for resisting the influence of peers who think they know what's best for you (when, in fact, they don't) is to draw strength, respect and wisdom from your roots. To that extent, you could even consider talking to your dead relatives, if you feel you need the extra guidance. They are watching, you know...

astrobarry

Horoscopes Week of June 2 to June 8, 2008

By: astrobarry

Aries (March 21-April 19)
Taurus (April 20-May 20)
Gemini (May 21-June 20)
Cancer (June 21-July 22)
Leo (July 23-August 22)
Virgo (August 23-September 22)
Libra (September 23-October 22)
Scorpio (October 23-November 21)
Sagittarius (November 22-December 21)
Capricorn (December 22-January 19)
Aquarius (January 20-February 18)
Pisces (February 19-March 20)

Mix and mingle, leaving options open. Your assignment this week is simply to enjoy the pleasures that present themselves, without having to cling. If these words sound familiar, yes, I am merely reiterating suggestions which have been raised over the past couple weeks... and if you haven't already experienced others' attempts to block your easy-flowin' good times, then count yourself lucky. Probably, though, you've run into a busybody, an obsessive-compulsive or a situation-complicater or two who, perhaps despite their own best judgment, dared to drop their issues at your doorstep like a baby Moses, hoping beyond all hope that you will be the one to raise ‘em into ‘productive participants' in society. Unless that's your idea of fun, however, you need not accept their hassles. I keep hunting for different wordings for the same damn concept I'm echoing over and over again, but the bottom-line remains identical: Can you skim along the surfaces, satisfying your own need for entertainment and variety and motion, all while certain other people try to pin their shit on you and make it stick? They'd probably love to point out your Aries-ness as ammunition for their accusations you're just being self-centered. But is that any worse than taking on others' crapola -- though you don't really want to and will ultimately resent ‘em for it -- and putting your own needs on the back-burner?

A hyperactive (read: multi-Gemini) atmosphere, such as the one we're currently cruising through, isn't exactly the sort where you straightforward Taurean lads and lasses generally thrive. That's not to say you won't be just fine, but I simply wanted to set a proper scene in case you've been feeling somewhat out of sorts. It's likely that everyone around you is operating on overdrive (or at least a higher gear than usual), which has the possibility of bumming you out, if, at the same time, you're not in the mood to hit the gas and speed yourself into the faster lane of traffic. Feel free to try and keep up -- if, and only if, you want to. But there will be no negative consequences if you don't... other than the judgy perceptions certain others may adopt, when they see you refusing to drink the frenzy-fostering Kool-Aid they're gulping down by the gallonful. Are you secure enough to proceed at the pace most appropriate to you, regardless of the peer pressure you may fall temporary victim to? I hope so, Taurus. See, we know something that they have perhaps forgotten in the rush-rush-rush mentality of the present moment: Further down the road, they'll have lost their steam... but you'll still be plugging along at a fair pace. You've got persistence on your side, which should be more than enough to put all dizzying self-doubt to rest.

You're still the proverbial ‘belle of the ball', Gemini... with so much planetary excitement lighting up your sign, you should have no problem finding dozens of peoples, places and things to fill every passing moment. (Can you even keep track?) And luckily, as long as you don't corner yourself into playing frivolous mind-games with your inner twin (like trying to ‘reason through' which of the three events scheduled for the same time and same place is the ‘most important', instead of just attending the one you want to go to), you'll be able to ride the serendipitous social flow with agile aplomb. However, to do so, you'll have to let up on any pretense of control over who arrives where when, where you're all headed next, and how it's all supposed to work. You could just as easily disrupt the perfect-just-as-it-is rhythm of the moment, simply by trying to ‘perfect' it. As you're participating, don't struggle when the logistics start to become harrying. Let it happen as it's going to happen. Just make sure that, when plans change, you place the requisite phone calls and text messages to inform everyone who'll be affected. (Don't leave ‘em hanging, or they'll be pissed off.) While you're at it, don't forget to take care of your own basics... like eating, sleeping and bringing the appropriate clothing. Everything else will take care of itself.

Sometimes, the ‘voices in our head' have lots of valuable information to help guide us to that which will best suit our purposes and desires (see: last week's scope). Other times, however, they don't do us any good. In fact, there could be so many conflicting stories (all repeating themselves annoyingly inside our brains, trying to compete for dominance), it would be impossible to get anything done if we tried listening to every last one of ‘em. And thus, in just such a situation, we become paralyzed by the unchecked proliferation of ‘what if?' scenarios... ending up exactly where we started, due to our being too freaked out (for no good real-world reason) to risk taking a step. This is the type of scene you may find yourself facing this week, Cancer, as all that 12th-house excitation works a number on your imagination -- but not necessarily in a way that supports forward movement. Beware of latching onto this or that thought floating through your unconscious, convincing yourself it's some ‘sign' of impending doom (instead of, say, a passing nibble of meaningless information) and running over all the ways it might possibly manifest and spoil everything. The minute your mind starts chewing on its absurd extrapolations, you're trapped in the anxiety. In this astro-environment, you cannot expect to analyze a path to the clearest answer. Your best tool is lots of deep breathing, conscious walking, and other meditative practices to silence your mind. In the end, no matter how much responsible forethought you put in, you'll still be just trying something... and hoping it'll all work out.

At every turn, work your magic to bring the people you know together. If you're off to the latest performance piece or organizational meeting, drag along a pal or two who you think will get a kick out of joining you. If you're heading out to dinner with a colleague or close friend, have your latest mentor or apprentice show up as your date. There's virtually no setting you'll find yourself in this week, Leo, where the principle of ‘the more, the merrier' won't apply. You're especially well suited to take it upon yourself to plan big spontaneous happenings... so that your quiet-night-at-home-watching-TV suddenly transforms into Chinese takeout for a dozen of your closest friends barking at some dumb reality show... so that the weekend outing become a mini-reunion of all those old high-school or college friends who've been meaning to get together... and so every crack and giggle is amplified by the sheer magnitude of multiple people's energies joining forces for that much more of a good time. In case there were a doubt, this sort of celebration requires you to lead the brigade. Otherwise, it may not happen. But as long as you get excited about whatever's about to go down, you'll have no problem luring all your favorite peeps along for the ride. When in doubt, think ‘kooky' over ‘predictable'.

Assuming you spent the past week acclimating yourself to Mercury's retrograde, you're about ready to expand your tactics beyond the ‘path of least risk' I previously recommended... and to one that flirts more dramatically with the ‘nothing ventured, nothing gained' approach. Yes, Virgo, I feel it's definitely worth your while to assume the very ‘risks' I just recently cautioned you against -- mainly because you've got a less tenuous hold on the public's attention now and can effect a much more memorable impression of yourself than before. That is: It's time to get yourself noticed. And more than that: Should one way of getting noticed not seem to do the job, please don't hesitate to try another... or lots of different ones, however the mood strikes. At this point, the worst image you could portray to them is as a one-trick pony. They want to see your ability to mind-meld and shape-shift (without losing integrity, of course) based upon the ever-changing dynamics of a given situation, the key players that emerge or slip away, and the direction the wind's blowing that particular moment. Blink, and it's a different environment... and you should be able to thrive just as well, whether it's suddenly super-casual or ultra-formal, staying-put or on-the-go. Show them more than one side of your personality, instead of choosing one and relentlessly drilling the message home in a single unwavering tone. You'll make a much bigger splash by flashing your versatility than by holding the same expression no matter who's watching or what they expect of you.

You'll know you're on the right track, Libra, if you can identify at least a couple observational descriptions about where you are now (and where you'll soon be) that'd best be capped off with an exclamation point. Better yet, if you can annotate the cartoon bubbles above your head that are narrating the story with Batman-esque ‘pow!'s and ‘blam!'s and ‘whammy!'s. Nothing in this chapter need be downplayed for subtle effect. These developments don't require a gradual introduction. Hopefully, the main thematic thread or two of your life is so obviously a page-turner right now, you'll have no trouble understanding where to put your focus. If nothing I've written thus far speaks to your current experience... well, you need some outside help. Before you dismiss those weird-sounding newfangled notions a certain close pal has recently been pushing, maybe you should pause and consider: What am I missing? Because if, with all the 9th-house stimulation you're currently receiving, you are not feeling moved in a particular direction and/or by a particular passion, you have nothing to lose by listening to someone who is. You're evidently due for some fresh lens through which you can gaze at life's juiciest questions... and your oddball pal may have a kernel or two to teach you. You don't have to swallow the whole dogmatic pill to gain a few wise bits. Open your mind, and see what shows up to fill the spot.

Feel free to continue the trend of ‘button-pushing' I implicitly advocated (or at least granted as a ‘not terrible' idea) last week because... well, because it's probably healthier for you than, say, plastering your finger so close to the trigger that it twitches in anticipation yet never actually doing the deed. But your key to not shooting just to hear the loud discharge sound (or because you love the smell of fresh blood in the morning) can be found by balancing your trademark intensity with humility. In other words, while you may stumble upon a rich-and-dense explanation for, or solution to, a highly contested situation, it certainly isn't the only one. You can be passionate about exploring different possibilities without committing yourself to a single favorite. Your investigative hunger must not be fed beyond a reasonable point by your ego's need to be right... or else you'll contaminate the very sanctity of your work on this case, due to that naughty compulsion to gather only the evidence that supports your verdict while conveniently ignoring that which points to other potential scenarios. Don't count out helpful suggestions, just because you don't like the person they're coming from (or, for that matter, out of competitive spite). Keep drilling below the surface, since that's what you do so very well. However, remain open to the interpretations continuing to evolve, with new information offered by outside parties that should probably be considered.

If one of your favorite people asked you to hold their hand as the two of you jumped off a cliff, would you do it? Or have I gotten the question wrong... and is it you who's likelier to egg on your partner-in-crime to do the off-the-wall, the unthinkable and/or the just-plain-nuts? Whoever the main instigator is, the other one of you will have to stay on your toes to keep up this week, as all the planets in your relationship house play well off an especially venturesome Mars in the solar 9th. In fact, in the best-case scenario, you're both in the mood for some playful living-on-the-edge, and nobody has to ‘convince' anybody else to take the leap. At the very least, one of you can channel his/her high-energy vibe into a form that cheerfully motivates your other half to get off his/her lazy bum... though, until one gets accustomed to the rapid-fire rate at which one activity bleeds into the next, it could get exhausting running all over town trying to keep up. Of course, there's another possible reason why all this ‘running' is necessary -- if, that is, one of you is attempting to juggle multiple love-interests without the other finding out. (It'd also explain the heightened potential for exhaustion, right?) It's not my business to school you on whether this ‘playing' of the ‘field' is a fantastic or fearsome approach... only to warn you that, this week, you'll be hard-pressed to avoid those unfortunate collisions where one ‘life' is forcefully brought face-to-face with the other ‘life'. So if you want to keep on fighting the inevitable moment (of coming clean? of getting caught?), I hope you've got a good pair of athletic shoes and a couple extra shots in your latte.

Yes, the devil really is in the details, just like they say. And I'm so quick to agree with that old adage, Capricorn, insofar as your week requires you to get the small stuff right... no matter how ridiculously petty or micromanager-ish you might walk away feeling, when the difference between ‘getting it right' and not doing so may be virtually invisible to certain other folks. You know the type of people I'm talking about, eh? The ones who act totally cool, as if nothing fazes them, regardless of what happens? They're the very individuals likeliest to give you a hard time, just because you pointed out some small area that requires fine-tuning (or outright improvement). You must ignore their condescending scorn, righteous indignation, haughty ambivalence, or non-verbalized nasty attitude. If you've got your head screwed on straight, you're well aware this is simply about the task at hand -- it's not a personal issue, nor should you allow it to be made into one. Nobody has the right to behave badly, just because of your high-but-reasonable expectations. You're not crazy for wanting the job done correctly, and your diligent attention to the littlest details is not a wasteful expenditure of energy. It only takes one wrong puzzle piece to subvert the entire pretty picture...