Aries (March 21st to April 19th)

On March 2nd, the day after your planetary patron Mars ended its retrograde, Saturn appeared to begin its back-peddling in the sky too. Saturn symbolizes all structures and processes that get us to an end, whatever we need that end to be. For your body, your skeleton would be the structure at work.  Don’t be surprised if you experience aches or discomfort with your bones or your teeth during this retrograde. At this second full week of his retrograde, you may also feel Saturn in your wallet. As the saying goes, “You gotta spend money to make money.” If you want to make the changes you need to make, as distasteful or demanding as they may be, you have to be willing to pay the costs. Don’t sweat it too much: short-term losses for long-term gains always work out in your favor.

 

Taurus (April 20th to May 21st)

With all this talk of planets, like crusty-old, demanding Saturn and “Make it happen” Mars retrograding now, it’s easy to overlook good news like joyful Jupiter moving forward. I’m not about to promise that joy arrives tied in a bow at your door. But with problems seeming only to entrench themselves over the last week, it looks like the Cosmos has found a way to help you through what Jupiter symbolizes. If you attempt to massage a difficult situation with a little more sensitivity or compassion, rather than the conviction that you’re right, you may find that certain frozen waters of communication will thaw. Jupiter reflects the impulse in us that naturally wants to give and be generous. It may require you sacrificing or conceding something, but sometimes peace of mind is worth more than attempting to have it all.

 

Gemini  (May 21st to June 20th)

With all this planetary retrofuggery, let’s focus on a few planets that had the good sense to move forward at the end of last week: Jupiter and Venus. Jupiter stopped his retrograde and Venus finally moved on to Aquarius after three months in Capricorn. Astrologers usually call those two planets the “benefics,” since they relate to the good stuff in life—money, travel, learning, sex, or love, for example. With Jupiter moving on, now you either have the resources to look after yourself better or the confidence to get what you need, despite any setbacks from the lingering effects of Mercury’s recent retrograde or the current ones from Mars and Saturn. Venus moving into Aquarius can crown you with wisdom, that you get from actual experience, education (as in taking a class or study), or travel. If you can get away to some distant shore, you should.

 

Cancer (June 21st to July 21st)

With Jupiter moving forward in your sign now, it’s time for you to look on broadening horizons ahead rather than what messes have been rumbling from your recent past. Because you tend to think about how you connect (or disconnect) with others, you may get caught up too quickly in other people’s games or compete on their terms. Now you may find it easier to change how things go down. Ultimately, you have to think the long game here. This is about strategy, not short-term tactics, which are usually dictated by the needs or feel of the moment. Strategy requires that you have a plan that goes farther than what others might see. So, for example, if someone wants to play games with offering you a favor, don’t think to play games back or even get sad. See what will get you in a position to do that favor or one like it for others.

 

Leo  (July 22nd to August 21st)

Finally, it looks like the Cosmos starts to cut you some slack. I know it’s been a tough winter and last week’s retrogrades of Mars and Saturn may have made it a little tougher. But Venus finally comes off the Capricorn mountaintop to bring the soothing waters of Aquarius, the sign of the Water Bearer and your polar opposite sign. When a planet goes into your polar opposite sign, it foreshadows the opportunity to make changes with your intimate relationships. If you’re in a relationship, then Venus can thaw what’s gotten frosty and bring fresh air to what’s gotten stale. If you’re single, then she starts to soften you up emotionally and to gently prepare you for partnership or intimacy. It’s also a fantastic time for updating your look, wardrobe or immediate environment to experience more of the beauty and good vibes that Venus likes to bring.  

 

Virgo (August 22nd to September 21st)

As Mercury gains the celestial ground that he seemed to lose during his retrograde last month, you’re also moving forward, perhaps as efficiently as you do most of the time. But efficiency ain’t everything, and in some ways could get in your way, like now. After 3 months of creaking along in Capricorn, Venus has her first full week in Aquarius. This could promise to infuse your work and routine with a few lovely changes, either of your own making, if you’re proactive, or, of outward forces, if you’re reactive.  Though you may not have seen the changes coming, you’ll like them, nonetheless. I’m going to go with the idea that you want to be proactive about this and encourage you to think about beauty and pleasure rather than what just works.  You may find what works is also what’s most pleasing too.

 

Libra (September 22nd to October 21st)

Let’s get straight to the point, as that could be somewhat difficult for you since the usually forward-moving Mars appears to travel backwards in your sign now.  You’re overthinking it, rather than feeling it in your heart or in your body. I know: I don’t even know what it is, so I’m running the risk of being extra rash rather than rational. I’m good with that, because the worst thing that could happen here is I’m wrong. But maybe you’re dealing with an issue that has more stakes and angles to it. That’s also fine, but, in the end, you’re going to have to find your way toward a decision or an action. And it’s either gonna be right or wrong, but at least you’ll be moving forward, like Jupiter. Jupiter represents the benevolent eye of the Cosmos. Trust yourself a little more. You have more good vibes on your side than you realize.

 

Scorpio (October 22nd to November 21st)

While your patron planet, Mars, appears to be moving backwards in the sky, you may feel you are too. You may feel like you’re just not up to snuff. I’m not saying things couldn't improve, but you are probably being way harder on yourself than you need to be. Yes, it’s always all or nothing with you Scorpios! We can pretty much rule out that you’re doing nothing.  But don’t let someone else’s comments that they’re giving “110%” make you feel like you’re not doing enough.  (What does it means to give more than 100% anyway? Where are they getting the extra percentages from?!) They’re either pilfering their own reserves or sucking the energy off someone else. Give your all, and allow that to be enough this week.

 

Sagittarius (November 22nd to December 21st)

Our two planets receding in the heavens right now, Mars and Saturn, could seem to symbolize an erosion of reason and principle in people now, perhaps even in people closest to you. You’re not generally fearful, but this time you may feel like it’s hard to peg what’s going on or anticipate what people may do next.  So don’t. One of the most unique things about you darling Centaurs is that when you face the absurdity and utter confusion of human life, you laugh and get others to laugh. That’s why so many legendary comedians are born under your star sign, I suppose. Now that normally jolly Jupiter, your patron planet, has straightened up and stopped flying backwards, you may find it easier and less stressful to tease out the funny in the philosophical absurdity of people, making your insights no less poignant or instructive for others.

 

Capricorn (December 22nd to January 20th)

Last week, Venus finally finished her artistic residency in your sign after an unusual 3 month sojourn there. It may be only now, since she’s moved on to Aquarius, that you realize how “magnetic” you were, how you seemed to find it easier to draw things and people to you, whether for romance or work. Now comes the hard part: you have to build on those gains with Venus being there. With this week’s full moon at the end of the week, it’s important to take a full accounting of how you brought things together and to draw out the methods that worked best. Of course, there’s no guarantee that you can replicate recent successes exactly. You shouldn’t even try for that really. You may have picked up a particular swag, spirit or perspective that just made it easier to connect. This is what you want to keep as you move forward.

 

Aquarius (January 21st to February 18th)

This is Venus’ first full week in your sign after three months of being in Capricorn. Venus symbolizes our ability to experience pleasure. This pleasure is often what directs us to what we’re attracted, or what or who feels similar to us. Her residency in your sign could make it easier and more pleasurable for you to draw situations, people and resources to yourself, to make your current dreams a reality.  Allow yourself to relax and feel that pleasure. In fact, do as much as you can to coax more of it into your life, whether that’s through making over yourself or your living space. If you’re uptight or too tight-fisted with your money now, then you may miss out on some of the blessings that could flow your way, Water Bearer. Get a series of massages and relax.

 

Pisces (February 19th to March 20th) 

This Sunday finishes the week with a full moon. You can think of full moons as periods of life that you started “writing” either two weeks ago at the most recent new moon on March 1 or the new moon that happened around March 16th back in 2010. (It depends on how far back you want to look.) At either new moon, you may have initiated something or formulated an intention to see something manifest. Now is a good check-in point to see if you manifested what you desired in the way you wanted.  Even if it’s something that may take longer than the most recent new moon two weeks ago to bring to fruition, celebrate and appreciate your progress…and don’t be discouraged about where you’ve regressed. 

 

Samuel F. Reynolds is a NYC-based astrologer. As an EBONY reader, you’re eligible for discounted fees for in person or by phone/Skype consultations. For more info, visit Return2theSource, write [email protected] or follow on Twitter at @sfreynolds.