Aries (March 21st to April 19th)

Your planetary patron, Mars, is in retrograde, where it appears to recede, as the cosmos seem to stretch farther ahead of it.   Like Mars, you may have to cross a loooong room this week to complete an unpleasant task that seems to be moving farther and farther away from you as you approach it.  Ask yourself: Are you prepared to go the long haul to do what’s necessary? Are you ready to organize the resources and information you need to complete a new, long and arduous mission? Because that’s what the planets are asking of you this week. Get ready!

Taurus (April 20th to May 21st)

Some miscommunication or misunderstanding with someone close to you, possibly a partner, could lead you to realize that your efforts to work things out in the last several months were in vain and that you’re losing ground. The same could be true of someone with whom you’ve been locked in a contractual agreement or dispute with, like a lawsuit. The cause of this week’s miscommunication is that Saturn appears to coast backwards in the heavens now while in your opposite sign, Scorpio. But rather than mourn for the erasure of your gains, you can seize this moment as an opportunity to re-evaluate your strategy and throw out “duct tape” fixes for real solutions. So, yes, acknowledge the hurt and loss, but then roll up your sleeves and prepare to work something out for the long haul.

Gemini  (May 21st to June 20th)

Fortunately, your sign’s planetary patron, Mercury, has straightened itself out and stopped its retrograde. However, now two other planets, Mars and Saturn, have decided to act like they’re doing the moonwalk, from the Earth’s perspective. When a planet retrogrades, the activities and issues associated with that planet appear warped or harder to manage for us on Earth. With Mars retrograding in Libra, you could feel uncertain about how to move forward with creative projects. As Saturn starts retrograding in Scorpio, this could spell a time of difficulty or disruption with your routines or how things are organized at your job. The great thing about retrograding planets, though, is that they often reveal what really isn’t working that you thought was flowing smoothly. Thankfully, fortune-blessing Jupiter stops its retrograde on Thursday and seems to provide you with the knowledge and resources to begin figuring things out sooner rather than later.

Cancer  (June 21st to July 21st)

The week may end on an “up” note, with your sign’s patron, the Moon, landing comfortably at home in your sign and you receiving longer days because of Daylight Saving Time; but the balance of the week could be a bit of a struggle to keep things together on the homefront, either with your domestic space itself or with the folks who inhabit them. In fact, it may seem as though you’re losing ground at home after making gains there. Don’t be discouraged; shift happens. Fortunately, you do have the recent past as a guide to re-evaluate what’s gone wrong now, rather than having to start from scratch. You may have confused a Band-Aid you laid over something for surgery, and this is your wake-up call.

Leo  (July 22nd to August 21st)

Two planets, Mars and Saturn, have just begun their retrograde cycle. When a planet retrogrades (or appears to go backwards from the Earth’s perspective), the activities and functions associated with that planet are warped or harder to manage for us on Earth. Mars signifies how we take action and draws lines in the sand for what we’ll protect and defend. Saturn signifies how we choose to organize those lines of defense. Both of these planets land in parts of the heavens that deal with your lion’s den (your home and family) and what’s immediately around it, like your neighborhood and neighbors. You may only have to stick close to home long enough to fix appliances or fixtures that have needed your attention for a while. If you’ve been keeping up with things pretty closely, you may not have to contend with much now. If you’ve been slacking, then you may have more on your plate.

Virgo (August 22nd to September 21st)

Recent shenanigans with Mercury’s retrograde over the last month may prompt you to look into how secure your networks are in your life, that includes your gadget/machine network and the one composed of colleagues and friends. The network with friends and colleagues will show signs of growth and forward motion this week, especially once Jupiter moves out of his retrograde on Thursday. When a planet retrogrades (or appears to go backwards from the Earth’s perspective), the activities and functions associated with that planet are warped, or harder to manage for us on Earth. So, when it appears to go forward, you can see things more on the mend and moving towards normal…or a “new” normal after some changes. Unfortunately, with your celestial security chief Mars and engineer Saturn now in their own retrogrades, you may have to start investigating upgrades and other innovations with the machines and gadgets in your life.

Libra (September 22nd to October 21st)

I’ve been readying you for the Mars retrograde that started last weekend by talking about mercy and empathy for the last two weeks. When a planet retrogrades (or appears to go backwards from the Earth’s perspective), the activities and functions associated with that planet are warped or harder to manage for us on Earth. In the case of Mars, it’s traveling through your sign right now, and I’m sure it’s brought on some changes and challenges for you. One challenge may have been to your patience and ability to keep it. Having less patience could be a good thing when countering injustices or BS from people for way too long. But perhaps you’ve lost track of where best to fight your battles. Here’s Mars to remind you when to use your metaphorical sword and when to use a scalpel to heal instead.

Scorpio (October 22nd to November 21st)

Last weekend, two important planets, your sign’s patron, Mars, and Saturn, who’s currently journeying through your sign, went retrograde. When a planet retrogrades (or appears to go backwards from the Earth’s perspective), the activities and functions associated with that planet are warped or harder to manage for us on Earth. Mars signifies all things that require action and clarity regarding our desires. Saturn addresses all things requiring discipline, planning and structure. So now is the time when you’ll have to check that your desires are clear and that the structures and discipline needed to manifest your desires are on point. Chances are if something’s off—either a lack of clarity with your desire or from structural/discipline end—it’s going to show up this week. Take your time figuring out which end to address first.

Sagittarius (November 22nd to December 21st)

As we get closer to spring, part of the “thawing” of body and soul that’s happening now is to get you more out of your head and more into your feelings. Don’t worry: you’re getting into high gear for your next season of adventures, most likely to start even before flowers start blooming. As I said last week, these adventures could be a new job, new digs or new love. But now is the time to clear up the rubbish and lingering bad blood that litters your emotional landscape. Where to start? I’d suggest your social media pages. Pay attention to those people who stimulate feelings of possibility and openness in you. Some people in your online who aren’t cultivating those things. Time to move them off, so you can keep moving on.

Capricorn (December 22nd to January 20th)

Your willingness to swim in choppy emotional waters will pay off this week, if not tangibly, then emotionally. One key lesson to learn from this, Capricorn, is that the lines between the world of emotion and political correctness or professionalism is way more porous than we’d like to admit regularly. We often like to compartmentalize our feelings, but sometimes you can’t do that.  The same is true when we attempt to keep our raw emotional bonds with partners or lovers away from the formalities of respect and courtesy that we extend so breezily to strangers under the guise of professionalism. You can learn to balance and space between both without compromising the formality and emotional truth of either now.

Aquarius (January 21st to February 18th)

Last week, I said it was time to begin your magic, especially with money-making ventures, but not to expect instantaneous results.  Here’s why. We finished one retrograde with Mercury only to start two more retrogrades, with action-oriented Mars and sure-footed Saturn, your sign’s patron planet.  When a planet retrogrades (or appears to go backwards from the Earth’s perspective), the activities and functions associated with that planet are warped or harder to manage for us on Earth. So what you initiate now (because initiation is a Mars action) may not exactly go as planned. Likewise, you may have to work extra hard to keep plans steady and sure since Saturn is in retrograde. So keep on truckin’ with your money-making plans now, but go easy on the gas and be flexible with detours.

Pisces (February 19th to March 20th) 

Don’t be dismayed if a little more goes wrong than right this week. But now it’s not Mercury to blame, if we’re going to stoop to the artifice of blaming planets.  When we interrogate the heavens for understanding what’s off, I’d say that it’s a retrograding Mars that provides the most clues. When action-oriented Mars appears to move backwards, from the earth’s perspective, our own actions become prudent instead of rash. It’s likewise a time when we must face the consequences of ill-advised actions from our recent past. For instance, if you impulsively picked a battle with someone at your job a short while ago, you may face the fallout from that now.  This doesn’t mean, however, that you just have to suck up what’s happening. Options will begin to emerge soon enough and you can learn a way to make better choices.

Samuel F. Reynolds is a NYC-based astrologer. His personal consultations have been described as “healing” and “brilliantly insightful.” He’s offering special, recorded 1-hour consultations for $95 for Ebony.com readers, in person or by phone/skype. For more info, visit return2thesource.com, write [email protected] or follow on Twitter at @sfreynolds