Venus, currently retrograde, in Aries, has empowered me to speak
boldly: I’m tired of all the bad news. I’m fed up with the media’s
blaring 24/7 pronouncements about the recession. I’m particularly done
with political bickering. And I’ve had it with pundits, preachers, and
prognosticators — even astrological ones — who swear that
economic Armageddon is at hand. I refuse to be bombarded any longer by
a negative story line. Yes, the situation is bad. But what I want to
know is what are we doing about it? When Aries (and we all have Aries
somewhere in our personal chart) gets irritated and impatient it barks
with frustration, which turns its natural candor brazenly blunt. I
don’t know about you, but I’m done with the drama. I want a story that
tells the truth without the toxicity of fear.
Venus is Retrograde in Aries until April 17, and except for a brief
touchdown in Pisces mid-April, Venus spends most of her time in
tempestuous, adventurous, and outspoken Sign of warrior — not
the worrier. So don’t be surprised if you find yourself taking a
strong stand, made stronger by a direct declaration of your opinion,
which, of course, you will not only feel entitled to but will also feel
is completely correct. Don’t expect agreement, and don’t expect
disagreement to alter your point of view, which means there’s no need
to send me an e-mail offering a counter point of view. Aries clings
quite adamantly to its perspective.
And here’s mine: The media keeps referring to this recession as if
we’ve been in a halcyon period of milk and honey abundance for the last
several decades. Hel–lo? Did I miss something? Most of us
didn’t strike it rich in the high, fast, free, and easy financial
world. Most of us have been in a constant struggle to survive,
especially as the spending habits of a small minority jacked up prices
on necessities, especially rent and food, not to mention oil and health
care. Since Reaganomics, normal life (whatever that is) has become
increasingly expensive, as our system, bloated on its own greed,
continued to devolve. Those of us who weren’t in the small echelon of
the rich attempted to maintain a personal status quo through plastic,
which on one side of the coin was a godsend, but on the other was a
ring of hell Dante could never have imagined. But if you listen to the
media, none of that struggle existed. From the infomercial point of
view, we’ve gone from an Ozzie and Harriet to Road Warrior overnight,
and at any moment there will be rioting in the streets.
Yes, we are at a crucial period in our collective history,
symbolized by the Saturn/Uranus opposition and the coming Uranus/Pluto
square. But I refuse to make the worst possible scenario my picture of
reality. From an astrological or a purely terrestrial point of
view, our current crisis is cyclical. We’ve been through this
before. From a spiritual perspective, these are the times that grow
the soul. And that’s a story worth telling.
If you know your Ascendant and/or your Moon Sign, read that,
too.
ARIES March 21-April 19
You, too, are likely to be feeling a fair share of frustration,
which means you, too, need healthy ways of spending your excess energy.
Go on a rant, if necessary, but avoid being a thoughtless or reckless
target.
TAURUS April 20-May 20
Refuse to dwell on past mistakes and chew on the details of what
went wrong. Extrapolate the vital information of those lessons, and
then focus on integrating that wisdom into your current situation.
GEMINI May 21-June 21
Be prepared for a sudden surge of ambition to motivate a strong
professional stand. This isn’t necessarily about frustration; it’s
about greater clarity regarding your career goals.
CANCER June 22-July 22
Conflicts with or between co-workers or significant others over
differing agendas will require your best diplomatic efforts. So stay
focused on the facts and refuse to engage in any tangential
arguments.
LEO July 23-August 22
Your financial situation continues to be the main event, but that
doesn’t mean progress can’t be made. Make every effort to reinvigorate
your attitude, and then continue to work diligently toward your
goals.
VIRGO August 23-September 22
Be specific rather than global in your assessment of what needs to
change. If you can avoid broad generalizations born of frustration,
you’ll be able to maintain a positive attitude that will yield
beneficial results.
LIBRA September 23-October 22
It would be wise to keep your expectations of others realistic. I
know you long for the perfect reciprocal relationship, but the “ideal”
interaction may not leave room for human participation.
SCORPIO October 23-November 21
The workload continues to strain your reserves. So whether it’s
personal obligations or professional responsibilities, create and
maintain a healthy, balanced approach that allows for a good mix of
work and fun.
SAGITTARIUS November 22-December
21
Pay attention to those rumblings: It’s not just your stomach. It’s
your soul. But to hear it clearly, you need to listen. Pay keen
attention to what really matters most to you, and then honor that
clarity through action.
CAPRICORN December 22-January 19
While words of love are the most powerful words of all, they are
seldom spoken as often as they are needed. This week, say the word
“love” as often as possible and you’ll be a catalyst for change.
AQUARIUS January 20-February 18
Believe in yourself and let nothing negative infect your confidence.
If others offer criticism, listen politely, say “thank you,” and then
just carry on. Trust yourself, Grasshopper.
PISCES February 19-March 20
Be prepared to take a strong stand for what matters most to you, and
expect to hold fast to your position. There’s nothing wrong with
passionate beliefs — they’re evidence of a strong character.

