Venus, the planet of love, forms a rare and singular trine to Saturn this week. This marks the official start date for a veritable matchmaking frenzy that will last until October 5. Anyone who’s single won’t be for long because Saturn wants to see people paired up when it’s traveling through Libra, the zodiac sign of marriage. If you’re already married then this will be a time when you will reconnect to what brought you and your spouse together in the first place. The Venus/Saturn trine is perfect for rekindling that low-burning flame. And if you’ve been contemplating divorce but haven’t gotten around to it yet? Forget about it, because you missed the boat. You might as well make peace with your spouse because you aren’t going anywhere. Venus has zero tolerance for unrequited secret crushes, narcissists, and commitment-phobes when she’s channeling Saturn’s no-nonsense energies. ”If you can’t be with the one you love, then love the one you’re with” is her motto. Either that or get a cat.
ARIES (March 21- April 19)
You’ve reached the point where you’re tired of trying to figure out what a boss or client wants and you’re ready to do things your own way. It’s just as well because the Powers-that-Be don’t know what they want. It’s why they keep changing their minds. But corporate types being what they are, they’ll never come out and say it. Thankfully you have a clear sense of what needs to happen to get the job done and once you put that into motion they will happily follow your lead. Take the initiative on the 30th and everyone will fall right into line. Meanwhile you may be startled to discover that a friend wants to become more than “friends” this week. Double-take reactions are pretty typical of Venus emerging from her shadow period. This is the time when pretenses are dropped and secret crushes are revealed. So are you interested? Well, you should take a few days to answer because the idea will need some getting used to. You aren’t really the friends-to-lovers type. You’re a diehard romantic (you were born under the zodiac sign of the Knight in shining armor) and you prefer to play with fire when it comes to matters of the heart. But after the roasting you received earlier this year you might be looking to make some changes. Who knows? This person might surprise you.
TAURUS (April 20 -May 20)
The idea that you have to give to get isn’t an easy one to wrap your mind around. You don’t believe in giving away anything if you don’t have to – especially if it means giving away something for free. But you were born under Venus – the planet of love and harmony in Astrology. People born under Venus believe in pairing up and joining forces. The idea is that you can accomplish twice as much and for half the effort if you work in tandem with someone else. There’s a price to be paid, of course, and that is you have to split the profits and gains. It’s a fact of life and as a Taurus you can accept that. Yet there are times when you can get a little heavy-handed in the “mine” part of the yours, mine, and ours equation and when you will have to make some adjustments in the give/take ratio. The recent Venus retrograde in May and June shows that you’ve been doing more taking than giving lately and the balance needs to be rectified. That’s what this week’s Venus trine to Saturn in Libra is all about. It’s time to give back to a lover, spouse, or partner and to give generously. Not only will you replenish the reservoirs of goodwill, but you may even get treated to a special fringe benefit on the 4th.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21)
Your love life makes the transition from “iffy” to “sure thing” on Tuesday when Venus forms a trine to Saturn in Libra. Tuesday is significant because this is when Venus emerges from her shadow period and her trine to Saturn is made all the more powerful because Venus rules Libra – the sign that Saturn is in. This sets up a three month period when you will make more headway in your relationship than you ever have before. If you’re single, you will find someone to settle down with. If you’re in a relationship then you two will take things to the next level. And if you’re already married then this would be a good time to renew vows because you’re entering the best time ever as a couple. Venus and Saturn trines rule over relationships that start out slow but go on to last a lifetime. Partners who get together under Venus and Saturn are both lovers and best friends. Meanwhile Monday and Thursday are stellar days for you. You’ve made a point of cultivating friends in high places and one of them will deliver beyond your expectations on Monday and on Thursday you will be treated to the first draft of some kind of blueprint or business plan that paves the way to a profitable future. It’s not every day when you’re blown away by somebody else’s genius but you will be on Thursday.
CANCER (June 22-July 22)
You don’t need a therapist. What you need is a good CPA. It might be worth considering on Wednesday when your bank balance confronts you with the evidence of your recent spending spree. The need for emotional security rules many of your financial decisions which is why you can have a problem separating feelings from figures. If you could see the math that lies behind your motives then you would stop spending so tempestuously and come up with a budget – as well as a design for living – that would better suit you. This is impossible to do by yourself (you’ve tried), but very probable if you were to work with an outside party. Yes, it’s awkward showing someone your finances but is it really all that different from hiring a personal trainer or life coach? Give it a shot. You can’t lose. Meanwhile you will be on the verge of finalizing a deal when there’s a red flag alert on Thursday or Friday. Maybe it’s a turn of phrase or wording in a contract or simply a vibe you’re getting. This will give you moment for pause and you’d be wise to check it out. You will be under a lot of pressure to close before the weekend, but don’t. Mercury doesn’t come out of retrograde until August 8 and you shouldn’t be signing anything before then anyway.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)
This week promises to be a time of incredible experiences and outstanding opportunities for you. On Monday you receive news from afar that will guarantee you a place in the sun and a reserved spot at the top of the professional heap. It’s exciting and life changing and the very break that you’ve been looking for. You will find yourself in a situation in which you will be called upon to lead the way which suits you perfectly as a Leo. Enjoy the thrill of a promising future brimming over with possibilities and revel in the gratification that comes with being in demand. It will be nice to be back in the spotlight after weeks of feeling like part of the scenery. The Full Moon on Wednesday shows that you will have to decide if you’re in or out about a relationship. The reason you’ve been dragging your heels is because part of you feels like you can do better. It’s your guilty secret and one worth keeping to yourself because this is more of a social status thing than it is an emotional thing. Emotionally speaking you couldn’t be more committed. The problem is with his earning power or his approach to work in general. It’s a worthwhile concern but wait to see what develops in August. He may impress you with his newfound gumption and determination.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
This is an extraordinary time for you money-wise. If you aren’t marrying into it then you are putting the finishing touches on a business venture that will move you into a higher financial bracket. Then again you could be receiving a scholarship, grant, or some kind of government funding this week. There’s a lot to look forward to and it will be nice to not have to fret so much about where the next dollar is coming from. This should free you to focus on the kind of work that you truly believe in and that you want to be doing. If you’re one of the fortunate Virgos who finds herself outfitted with a comfortable cushion then this is the time to pursue your most heartfelt desire. And if you’re still a member of the working class, then this will be a time when you can focus on improving the quality of what you do. You won’t have to worry about material costs because it looks like certain resources will be made available for you to use in your new professional capacity. This will encourage you to pursue a higher standard of excellence. The circumstances of your life are coming together in a way that will allow you to live the best possible life ever. It’s your reward for having endured so many trials and tribulations.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
People make mistakes – which is why it’s so important for other people to forgive them. But forgiveness isn’t a moral directive. Forgiveness is a choice and it can only be done when your heart is ready. You will be wondering if your heart is ready on Tuesday when you meet face to face with that guy who did you wrong or re-open the lines of communication with an ex friend or estranged relative. It would be a good time to remember that you were born under the sign of the scales so you know that there are two sides to every story. Hear this person out. What you learn won’t excuse what happened, but it could explain a few things thereby allowing you to make peace with what went down and to move on. Meanwhile the Full Moon on August 1 shines its light on a neglected corner of your life – fun! So what have you done for fun lately? If it takes longer than thirty seconds to answer then you’ve got a problem. You need to do something that’s more recreational than on-line retail therapy. Grab your partner (or a close friend) and go somewhere out of the way for the weekend. It doesn’t have to be wildly exotic – like Timbuktu – but it can’t be Target either. Just a little someplace that’s new and different and undiscovered.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
You’ll find yourself in a bit of dilemma when you realize that the only person who can help you to move forward in your career is the very person you swore never to speak to again. Scorpios are famous for their infernal pride. Everyone knows how they would rather sting themselves than give up or give into an opponent. But take a moment to review what’s going on. Did this person do something heinous like throw your wet puppy in the microwave and hit the “cook” button? Chances are that whatever your differences were in the past they’re probably not that big of a deal now. Take advantage of the harmonizing energies of the Venus/Saturn trine and you will see that this person would be happy to help if asked. But you have to ask. Planetary energies on the 1st and 2nd show the alleviation of an enormous worry. This looks like concern over a family matter and you may have been battening down the hatches in anticipation for a long and drawn out to-do. Thankfully it won’t come to that. Either this person will pull himself out of that downward spiral or information will come to light that will answer, resolve, or enlighten what proved so troublesome. It will be nice to end the week on a lighter note than you began it on.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
The Sun’s journey through that part of your solar horoscope pertaining to faraway places and exotic ideas will continue to broaden your horizons this week. This may inspire you to cash in those frequent flyer miles and set off for someplace you’ve always dreamed of visiting or you might sign up for a weekend spiritual retreat that helps you to reconnect to your higher purpose. You are ruled by your enthusiasms so experiencing things that are new and different will always be more important than passionate affairs or ego gratification. You seek out those people, places, and things that will help you to grow as a person. However love won’t be too far from your mind on August 2. You are undergoing a reshuffling of priorities that will create the possibility for love to come into your life or it will rekindle the flame that is already there. This reshuffling could be something as simple as a change in your work schedule. You’d be surprised how a night off or a free weekend can transform your world. But what’s really going on – and on a deeper level– is that you are coming around full circle to a place where you can love and trust again. Past wounds have healed and you’re ready to welcome somebody new into your life – or at least to see an old someone in a fresh light.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)
You and a certain someone did not hit it off last May. It was such an obvious mismatch on first sight that you probably stumbled through dinner and said good night to each other as soon as the check arrived. And if this was a work situation, then you’ve made a point of avoiding each other for weeks. Unbelievably you two share a powerful bond. You’re both hard on the outside, oversensitive on the inside, and possess a devilish sense of humor mixed with a saintly compassion. In other words you have all the ingredients for a seriously romantic relationship or the kind of steadfast friendship that grows stronger over the years. This will become abundantly clear on July 31 when Venus emerges from her shadow period and forms a trine to Saturn. This rare planetary occurrence will bring you back into each other’s orbit, but don’t expect dramatic confessions or sensational revelations. Chances are the reunion will be based on something more mundane like discovering that you both attend the same yoga class or that you’ve been assigned to the same project at work. Let things unfold on their own and enjoy the surprise and delight that comes with being in each other’s company. Just because you got off the wrong foot doesn’t mean that you can’t go back and start over again from scratch.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)
It’s important to remember that you are on the right side of change. It won’t feel that way on Monday and Thursday when you see recent gains dissolve. You were led to believe that certain commitments were locked into place and that things were full steam ahead. Unfortunately that won’t be the case, but as the composer Irving Berlin once said “Life is 10 percent what you make it, and 90 percent how you take it.” It won’t be easy accepting the fact that the things you pushed hard for won’t be working out now and the Full Moon in Aquarius on Wednesday won’t help much either. This will make you uncharacteristically emotional and defeatist in your thinking. However your grace under pressure – along with your good sportsmanship – will stick in the minds of those who believe that you are in the right. This will be very important later on this year in December when you will come to a similar impasse again. At that time you will have more support than you do right now and that is when you will see things work out in your favor. This is why you need to keep a stiff upper lip. Meanwhile the Sun/Jupiter sextile on Thursday will bring a pleasantly engaging diversion. Yes, it’s completely vain, vacuous, and superficial but you could benefit from a bit of that now.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)
Six retrograde planets during the first half of 2012 really threw you for a loop. Not only were you off your game, but your sense of people and places was likewise askew. All of this would have contributed to a lot of second-guessing and self-doubt that left you feeling frayed and fragile. The good news is that the tide will change this week. This is when you will see the disparate pieces of your life come together to form a cohesive whole. But you can’t just expect things to snap into place like a hair-dryer with an attachable diffuser. Developments will be much subtler than that and more paradoxical. For instance the Moon occult Pluto on Monday will bring the collapse of a cherished hope or dream. Will you be derailed by this? Or will you spo the opportunity in the fiasco and make your escape from that rut you’ve been in? The Sun/Jupiter sextile on Thursday shows you finding your dream apartment, home, or living set-up, but it will hinge on you making the kind of emotional and/or financial commitment that says that “I’m here to stay”. Can you do it? Get into headspace of looking at old predicaments with fresh eyes and you will see how choices that initially appeared contradictory are actually complimentary and may even dovetail to form an intelligent design to your life.
