Weekly Astroguide

How would you prefer to spend your weekend? Listing the various ways in which the world is so poorly organised and badly run? Or finding fault with your self? Well, of course! Me too! Few people find great pleasure in being seriously self-critical. Yet, every so often, we can all benefit from a moment of humble reflection. Your ruler's opposition with the Sun urges you to ask if there might be something that you've failed to appreciate. Opening your heart and mind wide enough might make you happier and more successful. In your love life: Do you ever see yourself as vulnerable, and find trusting difficult? Soon you will increase your ability to trust.

Is there fluff on the back of your coat? How can you tell? If you happen to be wearing this item of clothing, the fluff would be out of sight. But the people around you will be easily able to tell whether it's there. And if they say nothing? Well, it could be because there's nothing to tell you about, or it could be because they want to be polite. As you now look at someone else's life, you can see something that's obvious to you, yet which they're blissfully unaware of. This week, if you want to comment, do so gently. In your love life: Only bores know everything. Uncertainty is a sign of sensitivity. The angst you feel is proof of your wit, charm and grace.

Life sometimes seems complicated. There's so much to understand and remember. Often, days feel like intelligence tests, designed to challenge our discrimination and perception. And the penalty for failing to solve these puzzles? Strangely, often as not, the only penalty's the sense of self-reproach. We feel glum because we sense that we could have done better. Yet life takes care of us, even if we aren't always sparkling. This week, following Jupiter's recent change of direction, that's one very simple rule on which you can rely. In your love life: There is a lot of distracting excitement. You need to focus on some practical, wise steps and then everything will be fine.

You don't need to be stronger. You're already strong. You don't need to be weaker, either. You're already feeling vulnerable enough. But somewhere, in the great balancing act between confidence and humility, an adjustment needs to be made. Someone in your world feels as if they're not being properly listened to. This may just be because they perceive you as being too busy listening to another person. This week, the secret of success is to be tactful and to hear' criticism without taking it personally. In your love life: There is a need to stand back and look at some of your deepest involvements from a more objective perspective.

We get hungry, several times a day. We get thirsty too. That's why so many people enter the catering industry. It's a market they relate to and know there'll always be a demand for. But there's something we need more urgently and more often than food or drink. Happiness. How often do we yearn to feel good... or at least, better than not so good'? This week, your ruler, Venus, makes connections that can help you do something significant to improve the way someone feels. And that will bring you a great reward. In your love life: There's a chance for you to end confusion and allow the growth of something you have needed to nurture for a long time.

In order to get something you want, you have to do something that you don't really feel like doing. No change there then. This is Planet Earth intergalactic spiritual home of the awkward compromise. You give a little here, you take a little there and, with a bit of luck, you get just about enough to make it all worthwhile. Right now, you want to know whether to put energy into a plan. It looks as if it could prove exhausting and demanding. But if you want to achieve something worthwhile this week, don't let that put you off. In your love life: You are conscious of your weaknesses. You have a very big issue to pay attention to. But a viable solution awaits.

Don't just sit there, do something!' That's what people say when they encounter a situation that requires a reaction. There are, indeed, scenarios in which it behoves us to be proactive. But surprisingly often, the best thing to do in troubling circumstances is nothing (or the nearest thing to next-to-nothing that you can manage to do or, rather, not to do). Less is more,' as they say. And, as the Moon forms the briefest of grand trines this week, no matter what you think or fear, it really can't hurt just to relax. In your love life: If it looks easy, you will miss a hidden problem. Look again till you find the option involving difficulty. You can handle that.

What happened to the fairy tale? How come your life doesn't resemble a romantic tale from a storybook? Remember that fairytales aren't always light and bright. Sometimes, they involve long shadows, dark corridors, marauding dragons or antagonistic spell-casters. Now, is your life a bit like a fairytale? Of course! And though it may seem unlikely, I can promise you this. Keep going. Don't give up. One drama, in your world this week, is soon going to resolve itself to the point where your faith in magic is restored. In your love life: You are now finally clearing a highly charged emotional memory from the past. This will make your future much brighter.

Are things getting better or worse? It depends on how you view things. You're dealing with something new and demanding. What's more, you're coping without some of the social support mechanisms that you were once able to rely on. This is causing you to feel exposed and vulnerable. You're not sure of what to do, and when to do it. Even so, something's starting to work out well for you. Whatever you're doing, it can't all be bad. With your ruler's link to optimistic Jupiter, have faith in your future this week. In your love life: You don't have to know everything but you do need to know a bit more. The right questions will yield helpful answers.

Some soldiers have a special phrase to describe the feeling they get when a period of leave is imminent. They say they're getting demob happy'. Sometimes, the expression's used in a slightly derogatory way to explain lapses of concentration or failures of judgement. Now that Jupiter is no longer retrograde in your sign, you've got every reason to feel happy about a release from a demanding process. And, as Mercury links harmoniously with the planet of luck, there's no reason at all to worry about making mistakes. In your love life: Ignore that sense of anxiety making you feel as if nothing you do can ever be good enough. Go beyond this false fear.

Imagine the ultimate restaurant offer: eat here once and you'll never be hungry again! It sounds great. Think of all the time and money that we all spend eating. But, if you could eradicate all appetite forever without wasting away, what kind of life would you have? There would be a lot less faff but there might also be a lot less pleasure. In a strange way, you now have the option of a one-off solution to an ongoing difficulty. But you don't want something to end this week; you just want it to come under control. In your love life: It's time to decide that you don't want to focus on other people's problems; you'll instantly start to see solutions for you.

Some people act as if they've got no heart, sensitivity or kindness. These are the people who most need love and sympathy. These are the scared and vulnerable souls who cower behind the barriers of their tough personalities. They don't make themselves easy to love. But that doesn't mean they have no love to give. With the Sun soon opposite Saturn in your sign, someone seems to be taking a lot, and challenging your patience. But if your instincts urge you to try harder to communicate with them, you probably should! In your love life: Some plants grow easily, others need nurturing. Don't prune back the certainties until you have proven your experiments.

Regrets are often a product of insufficient amounts of time. Usually, with enough of this resource, we make the right decisions we're able to ruminate, pontificate and deliberate to our heart's content. Any decisions we make are based on the careful consideration of all available evidence, so even if they lead to difficulty, we're assured they represent our best endeavours. When we're rushed we rely on instinct, and then we may come to wish we'd done things differently. This month, don't allow haste to become your master. In your love life: What is it you feel you can't do or change in your personal life? Don't limit your potential. Trust yourself and try.

How clever are you? Events this month will prove that you're clever enough to understand that there's such a thing as being too clever. People who ask endless questions end up complicating simple matters and turning obvious decisions into tiresome debates. If we think too hard about any matter, we can confuse ourselves. As Venus conjuncts your modern ruler and the Full Moon conjuncts your traditional ruler, you'll be smart enough to see that there's already been enough discussion. The answer you're looking at is the right one. Trust it! In your love life: Feeling all over the place at the moment? Fix the one thing that matters and the rest will take care of itself.

June is a very exciting time for Pisceans. Not only does the Mercury-Mars conjunction form a T-square focused on your traditional ruler Jupiter, but first it forms a harmonious trine with your modern ruler Neptune. That's the astrological equivalent of jumping on a bed not only can it energise you and provide more than a little excitement, but should you stumble in your haste, there's a soft landing to catch any fall. This month, follow your ideas along whichever road they choose to take you along. Your heart will tell you when you've found your way. In your love life: Accept and appreciate the temporary solution to an emotional difficulty that you are currently being presented with.

How can any of us tell whether we're really being wise or foolish? We may imagine that we'd be foolish if we didn't strive to be wise. But can any of us ever really say what represents true wisdom? And if we can't be sure of the answer to that, how can it possibly be wise to seek wisdom? What if we allow ourselves to do something silly and it turns out to have been eminently sensible? Yet, as Mercury conjuncts your ruler in T-square with Jupiter, one thing's for sure this month: you'd be most unwise to think of yourself as foolish! In your love life: Think about the extremes you have been to. They are helping you make positive progress, as you will see soon.

Where are you going little brown mouse? Come and have tea in my log pile house!' says snake to the rodent hero in Julia Donaldson's The Gruffalo. In this tale, the mouse invents a clever excuse and continues safely on his way. But, perhaps in your own story, you've found yourself waylaid by a less than ideal situation. Don't fear that your plans are scuppered. Your ruler's returning to your sign this month. The perfect reason to leave your difficulties behind, get on your way and reach your preferred destination, is forming as we squeak, er speak! In your love life: Reach out sincerely to others, they will have to respond in the same way. If you want doors to open... open your heart!

When cartoonists depict someone having a brilliant idea, they draw them with a light-bulb above their head. It's a bit of a clich© but it gets the point across. Sometimes, life's like this. In a sudden moment of understanding, restless confusion gives way to joyous clarity. Now, as your ruler Mercury passes through your sign, what do you think I want to predict is in store for you this month? How big and bright is the realisation that you're about to arrive at? So big that, when it dawns on you, you may feel like you need to wear sunglasses. In your love life: People are offering love and support. But their offerings don't match your expectations. So alter them.

June brings the Solstice, the moment the Sun enters your sign. I've spoken before about how the Solstice is like the Sun's birthday and that, like the Queen, it has two. Its return to Cancer means there's a third birthday to celebrate soon yours! Your Solar return also heralds the annual New Moon in its own sign. All this adds up to a month of positive new beginnings and exciting renewal. It's time to put into practice the ideals you're emotionally tied to, yet have been powerless to impose. Live life wholeheartedly, and start as you mean to go on. In your love life: People close by may be making great demands on you. But that's no reason to ignore other key commitments.

Are you brave or foolish? Are you heroic or crazy? Actually, you're all these things rolled into one. All great success stories involve an element of blind luck! Those who steer clear of risk can never know the true taste of triumph. I'm really not trying to suggest that you ought to take wild gambles this month. You've already taken enough of these in recent weeks. But you can (and should) be less worried about how things will turn out. The Solstice is coming. June heralds the time to benefit from the positive steps you've been taking. In your love life: Don't let critics make you think your dream is just a fantasy. You are building something that can work and last.

As I write your forecast, I'm listening to the sultry sounds of Marty O'Reilly. But he's not singing from the stereo, he's standing a few feet away from me, both guitar and audience in the palm of his hand. This may seem like a strange place to be writing your horoscope, but sometimes, I want to feel inspired, it helps to be in an inspiring setting. When we experience the possibilities of limitless imagination, we can abandon the doubts that curtail us. This month, to be your best, surround yourself with the best that others can offer. In your love life: Sometimes we have a painful memory and we fear that it will happen again. Don't let this drive your choices.

What do we need to find our way through a moral maze? A moral compass. When do compasses give false readings? When they're close to a powerful source of magnetism. Then the pointer swings emphatically towards a false signal. But it doesn't tell us what it's doing. We march forward, confident that we're heading north, whilst all the time a precious principle is heading south! This month, there's a Full Moon conjunct Saturn, just as Jupiter turns direct in your sign. You'll be fine, as long as you keep checking your direction. In your love life: With the aid of a special person, there is no limit to what you can do. Sincere assistance is on offer. Accept it.

Have I told you about the two wolves'? They often enter my thoughts when a sign's two ruling planets are in opposition. In Native American cultures, it's said that we all have two wolves battling within us. One represents hope and the other fear. It's said that the wolf who eventually wins is the one you have chosen to feed. But your two heavenly commanders symbolise strength, resilience and the ability to overcome adversity. These are the qualities available to you this month. But only if you choose to nourish them. In your love life: Expect a busy and productive time. These two things don't always go hand in hand. But right now they do.

Various traditions tell us different stories about how the world was made. But, no matter how deep you dig, you'll never find the answer to the most important mystery of creation. On the day of the big bang' or the summoning of the light or the awakening of the spirits, what was the supreme being wearing? We don't know! And if we don't know that, how can we be sure of anything else? It may feel as if the month of June is asking you a similarly unanswerable question. Don't waste any precious time trying to answer it. Let it be. In your love life: Some may wonder about how you conduct yourself. Is there a purpose, a point? Absolutely! As you'll soon see.

What will happen if you start to do just a few things a little differently? That rather depends on what those few things are and how differently you do them! You can bring about a small change for the better this week, or you can start to totally transform a big part of your world. Just a word of advice. Start with little steps. As urgent Mars opposes your stoical, slower ruler Saturn, just alter a habit here, or an all-too-familiar formula there. Even such seemingly insignificant moves may prove potent, with long-lasting ramifications. In your love life: Everyone needs something to worry about! It's your difficulties not your comforts that will help you most now.

A book, published in 1973, claimed that plants grew better when exposed to classical music. While many scientists dismissed the claims, new studies show that plants can in fact hear'. When played recordings of caterpillars munching on leaves, they respond by flooding their own leaves with toxins. So somehow that information is getting through. It's possible that your efforts to get what you want are falling on deaf ears. But don't give up. If you can find the right way of phrasing your message, you can be heard and understood. In your love life: An obstacle you can't avoid? Ignore it and it will intensify. Happily, you have all you need to put things right.

We all want to be the director of our own movie. We all want control over our own destiny. Or, at least, this is what we all think we want. None of us really knows, because none of us has ever experienced this. Even kings, queens and presidents feel helpless when they realise that they'll never be able to influence certain factors. As energetic Mars opposes controlling Saturn, a situation may seem to be running away with itself. Perhaps you feel a little nervous? Don't! You're doing very well with what you've got. In your love life: Nobody's perfect. You are doing your best. So, have no fear. This is more than good enough.

It's said that from the mouths of babes' comes truth and wisdom. Perhaps that's because they're exposed to wonderful literature. When reading Dr Seuss to my son recently, I was moved by the following passage: So be sure when you step. Step with care and great tact, And remember that Life's, A Great Balancing Act'. It reminds me of your situation this week. You may need to be a little careful. You may even have to sacrifice speed for accuracy. But will you succeed?' Yes! You will, indeed!' Oh the places that you'll go! In your love life: An awkward issue is nagging. But it needn't accompany you always. Leave it alone; it may yet return the favour.

When you've got too much on your plate, the solution isn't to get a bigger plate. You just need to take something off it. You're keen to avoid disappointing someone. You've made promises that you'd like to keep. But what if the only way to keep them, is to break a promise to someone else? Better that, than to break a part of yourself by striving to achieve the impossible. As dynamic Mars opposes restricting Saturn, the person who least understands your predicament, is probably the one you most need to put off. In your love life: You know what you want but daren't tell someone else. If you are keeping a secret, you need to be clear about why.

Ted, could you pass me my record collection?' asks Dougal. OK, here it is,' replies Father Ted as he passes a single record. Oh,' he says, and Dougal, you need more than one record for a collection. What you have is a record.' Although this moment from the cult comedy, Father Ted, makes me giggle, I sympathise with the hapless Dougal. I've just bought a turntable, and I too only have one record. But every collection needs a starting point. Don't let anyone put you off. You're in the right groove. In your love life: Do you fear something is bound to go wrong now? Wise folk are always wary but they don't let this daunt them.

Sometimes, when we don't know what to do, the best thing to do is to keep on doing whatever we're already doing. There may come a moment when we realise that it's the wrong thing to do in which case we should stop... or a moment when it's clear that it was right all along, in which case we can well up with self-satisfaction. But while caution is often a fine thing, hesitancy rarely proves to be a wise policy. As driving Mars opposes wary Saturn, if in doubt this week, act as if you're in no doubt at all. In your love life: You will soon feel positive about something you can't change. This will empower you to enjoy the present.

Scientists have discovered that there are some stickleback fish who know where to find or access food, and show the rest of the shoal where to find it. It seems that pooling' (if you'll excuse the pun) is a trait not just found in humans and mammals. Where now can your passion for a cause be the inspiration that allows many to prosper? This week, try to remember that true leadership comes from committing yourself to the advancement of not just you, but your companions too. And where you lead, others will follow. In your love life: If you can dream it, you can do it. Think of yourself as someone with special powers. You've got very real opportunities.

If something isn't broken, it doesn't need fixing. It's the first rule of survival, in a world full of people who pursue the ideal of change as if it were a kind of Holy Grail. We confuse our own temporary frustrations with a suspicion that perhaps, something really is very badly wrong. Then, we set out to solve a problem that didn't need solving and create, in the process, unnecessary drama. As Mars fuels your ambition opposite Saturn securing your roots, your progress can be desirable, functional and truly worthwhile. In your love life: Something is getting to you. Dramatic alternatives appeal. But will they take you from the frying pan to the fire?

It's frustrating when people don't take us seriously. Playing the fool has its advantages, but once a clown takes the mask off, and stops performing, being a constant source of amusement is tiring. This week, remember that some of your ideas and quests aren't quite as easily understood as you might expect. Sometimes, when people are challenged by something new, their first reaction is incredulity. With persistence and patience, there's every chance you'll win someone over to your perspective. In your love life: Everything has potential when you make room for magic. Breathe deep, shake away the shadow and let light shine in.

We all hate to feel that someone has an unfair advantage over us. But how do we feel when the advantage is ours? Do we exploit it, hoping no one will notice? Or do we feel overwhelmed by a sense of conscience and the feeling that, somehow, our gains will be ill-gotten and we'll surely pay a penalty? It's never good to fight fire with fire. Or to stoop to low behaviour, just because somebody else is behaving without integrity. But, as dynamic Mars opposes rigid Saturn, a rule can be bent, just a little, this week. In your love life: A recent revelation frees you to make bold choices. Persevere confidently; opponents will be impressed and relieved.

What's stopping you from fulfilling your desires? We all need seatbelts, but they're only meant to be restricting in cases of emergency. If they inhibit movement at other times, the distraction can almost negate the benefits. I'm not advocating that you start tearing around without the required and appropriate safety precautions. But, there comes a time when all they do is hold you back. Unfasten yourself from a restriction that's no longer necessary, and step forward confidently and boldly into the new. In your love life: Some fantasise about wealth; but what we all want is contentment. Seek honesty, simplicity, faith; the rest will come.

Rose-tinted glasses can be dangerous. Why? Because although lucky in some cultures, red is often associated with danger. And when our vision is filtered through a pinkish hue, red becomes more difficult to pick out. It's possible that something from the past is so distracting that you're not seeing right in front of you. Are you over-sentimentalising? The current situation is not as hopeless as you fear. In fact, this week brings a great opportunity to regain control. Just look through a clear lens in the right direction! In your love life: What's needed now is growth, the kind that can only come through the willingness to learn lessons. Be softer and wiser.

Where precisely, is this famous box' that we're all supposed to think outside of? What's up in that blue sky that we all ought to be thinking about? Business gurus seem to specialise in finding complicated phrases to describe something simple. But in essence, they're right. We need to be more creative. You don't need to go on a course or read a book. You simply have to allow yourself to envisage a better, brighter future. The New Moon can help you to start taking the kind of action that's most likely to bring this about. In your love life: You are keen for an adventure. So far, things have not made this feasible. But it is safe now to create some magic.

Mark Twain once said, History doesn't repeat itself, but it often rhymes'. This week, whilst there's plenty of new' about, a part of you feels as if it recognises what you're encountering. Like a smell that conjures up long-forgotten feelings, there's a whiff of the familiar about a new endeavour. Now I know what you're thinking. Don't worry. I'm not condemning you to repeat old mistakes. You're starting along a path because you know how to traverse it. What seems unfathomable will be reassuringly familiar. In your love life: You are only doing what comes naturally; there is no reason to assume that this is in any way wrong. And that has to be right.

It's not uncommon to see commuters and pedestrians in Japan wearing medical masks over their faces. But self-preservation isn't necessarily the motive. It may appear as though folk are nervous about breathing in germs. But it's very likely that this isn't what's going on, and that these people have picked up a virus, and are keen not to pass it on to others. As Venus, in your sign, links with Pluto this week, you may just want to be careful that a generous gesture isn't misinterpreted as an act of selfishness. In your love life: Coming events in your emotional world will show you something about what life really means. They will yet prove priceless.

When I was a child my mum read me a book called The Avocado Baby. I loved the story. It was about a toddler who gets so strong from eating avocados that he's able to fight off burglars. But I still hated avocados. Now, as an adult (and a parent) I love them. But if I have to read that story to my son at bedtime one more time! Our tastes change as we age. And there are things that we may still think we dislike purely because we haven't tried them in a while. This week, give something new a second chance. In your love life: Try not to look superficially at current developments. Think deep thoughts and you'll make wise choices.

Back when the Tower of Pisa didn't have such a pronounced tilt, Galileo used to run up and down it all day, dropping things from the top and watching to see how long it took them to fall. From this, he concluded that no matter what you drop, or how much it weighs, it hurtles to Earth at the same speed. As your ruler leaves its shadow, and a New Moon arrives in your sign, you fear that life is now asking you to let go of something big. Actually, this will prove no harder than it is to let go of something small. In your love life: Fearful people tend to think narrow thoughts. You are about to lose a fear... and make a wonderful gain.

We all have people who tug on our heartstrings. And some of them do more than just tug. They play them like notes on a tiny violin. Often, we're aware of exactly what's going but it's nice to feel needed, even when that means negating our own needs now and again. Yet there's a big difference between being needed and feeling used. Where, in your world, is an institution taking you for granted? Don't they realise that by trying to control you, they risk losing your loyalty? This week, it's time to exercise your power. In your love life: There are pressures on you now, but also great rewards on your horizon. You don't have to work as hard as you think.

You've made brave choices lately. And with the coming New Moon, you're in the process of making more. To an extent, you've been led to these decisions by circumstance. How could you have reached any other conclusion given the situation you faced? Ah, but you could have done. You could have chickened out or slipped into an easier, less challenging role. Or accepted a compromise that might have left you very compromised indeed. Instead, you've done what you felt was right. It will yet prove very right. In your love life: You are starting to gather impressive momentum. You have been waiting a long time for this advantage. Enjoy it.

Life wants to teach you something. Sometimes, when you're critical, you create the wrong impression. You're not trying to express negativity; it's your discerning nature, which is not always understood. And sometimes, when we truly want the best for something, or someone, we end up hurting, when all we want is to do is help. This week, it's important to ensure that the purity of your motives is understood. Don't obfuscate the depth of your feelings. Your kindness will allow you to wield influence delicately. In your love life: So much seems out of your control. Yet the state of flux you find yourself in represents an opportunity to find new strength.

We hang on to things we ought to let go. We let go of things we ought to keep. We all do this, we can't help ourselves. It's the human condition! The letting go' bit isn't such a problem. If things are really meant for us, they come back. It's the hanging on' bit that we must be wary of. We must be especially wary of clinging too tightly to anger, suspicion or disappointment. As Venus links to Pluto, don't ask whether someone deserves to be forgiven, ask whether you deserve the pain of keeping a bad feeling alive. In your love life: There is simply no point in indulging a mood. Issues and problems must be sorted out. That's precisely what will happen.

Carrots and sticks; the means by which we govern unruly beasts. It's a combination of both of these motivations that works best. Too many carrots induce feelings of entitlement and boredom. And too much use of the stick causes unnecessary pain. Yet it's worth remembering that people aren't beasts of burden, and that to get the best from them, we need to be invested in common goals. This week, look for an emotional connection and you'll get everyone pulling together, in the right direction. In your love life: Another week of drama? Another chance to show what you are made of. Another chance to step closer to a happier future.

When you feel at your best, when you do wonderful things and have excellent instincts, who are you? And what about when you feel dreadful, when you keep saying the wrong thing, when your plans fall apart, who are you then? You're still the same person, aren't you? Do you somehow deserve to be loved and appreciated more when you're in one state than when you're in the other? The New Moon can help people see the very best in you. Help that to happen by thinking the very best of yourself. In your love life: Your imagination is working a little too well, imagining mountains where there are mole hills; Imagine something wonderful instead.

There's no point in locking the stable door once the horse has bolted.' This phrase is used to describe the actions of people who try to protect themselves from threats that have already passed. But if the horse is still there, if the door has been left unbolted yet no loss has been experienced, it makes sense to implement some defensive measures. You can't just say, Well, we were lucky last time, so perhaps next time we'll be lucky too.' As your ruler repeats its link with Uranus, be careful now, but don't worry too much. In your love life: Sometimes you just have to let go. But you want to stay in control. Why? Relax. You won't fall; you'll fly.

This week, your sign's rulers make a supportive link to each other. It's the penultimate time this angle occurs before vanishing for 30 years. It affects the zodiac, but you especially. You've made a deliberate effort to change something for the better this year. But you're coming to a point where your resolve will be tested. This is a time for standing firm and remaining positive. You can't return to a slumber from which you've awakened. So don't let this fool you into believing that your dreams are out of reach. In your love life: The road is bumpy, but you are learning things of value and you will be able to profit from these discoveries.

Jupiter and Neptune form a rare angle this week. We associate both these celestial bodies with Pisces. Jupiter has been your ruler' for thousands of years. Neptune is a more recent discovery. But then, there are contradictory aspects to your character, too! Right now, the two form a spike in the sky. The symbolism is clear. You can use this energy to break through a barrier. Your heart and mind may not be in complete agreement, but any friction this creates can be a catalyst for a historic success. In your love life: You are questioning some recent choices. That's not a sign that you are losing your grip, it is proof that you are regaining it!

In copyright law, it's understood that an idea can't be copyrighted. Something needs to exist physically before anyone can lay a claim on it. This week brings you the chance to turn plans and blueprints into material gains. Suggestions and introductions can be transformed into deals and guarantees. But, while it's a good time to initiate moves, it will take firm commitment to make these changes permanent. If you just put your heart and soul into it, you won't be short of opportunities to do just that. In your love life: You think you must accept a solution that upsets you. Your appraisal of the problem is bleaker than it needs to be.

Two plus two equals thirty-three point five. Why? Oh, no reason. I just thought I'd say that. From now on that's the rule. Take it or leave it. You can't have an explanation. Now, how do you feel? And, where else are wildly illogical statements being delivered in an apparently incontrovertible tone? Don't let these demoralise you. The obstructions you face may seem insurmountable, and the arguments you're caught up in may seem to be going nowhere but, as Mercury returns to your sign, you'll soon restore a sense of reason. In your love life: Seeds take time to grow. A positive process is in motion. The speed of change will increase soon. Have patience!

Many years ago, on a family holiday, I rode a Jet-Ski. It was tremendous fun, but that's partly because every time I fell off, the magnetic key that kept the engine running would disengage from the motor, thanks to a cord that attached it to my body. There's a chance that your life has lately resembled being dragged along behind waves at breakneck speed. It's not always tremendous fun. But the universe is providing handlebars. You'll soon feel more confident and able to face your challenges. And you have power at your disposal. In your love life: Enough of stress already! Recovery time is needed, and the cosmos will provide it. It's a time to stride happily forward.

Where's your magic wand? Where's your dusty old spell-book, your broomstick, your cat? Your powers are a little more real and down to earth. You're the kind of miracle worker who requires no ritual or rigmarole, Your power comes from somewhere else. It will not always manifest to order. Sometimes, it resolutely refuses to surface. But when you really need it, it's there for you. As Mercury changes signs, you have the ability to think differently about a cause that's dear to your heart. Don't underestimate your powers. In your love life: Are you now accepting a situation that really, you ought to reject? It is time to give this fresh thought.

Recently, I read an article that seemed to suggest that a Dutch scientist has found a way to reverse ageing in mice. Now, unless you have sprouted whiskers and a tail, this may not be of any consequence. But could this be the first step towards halting the ageing process? Whether it works or not, it will never be the first step, because that belongs to a more psychological process. This week, think about how you can balance your maturity with child-like enthusiasm. The more open your philosophy, the more engaging life will be. In your love life: No rainbows without rain first. It has been raining for a while. But now look at what's lighting up your world.

When the ruler of your sign moves into a new part of the zodiac, you may find it hard to relax. There's something about the cosmic climate that causes us to find more faults, feel more impassioned and to question what we've been told. Yet it's at such times that we become more able to see solutions to problems that we have been wrestling with for ages, yet have been frequently thwarted and frustrated by. Put your own sense of restlessness to good use this week. No matter how annoying a situation may be, it must be worth another try! In your love life: You can't buy what you need: wisdom. When you find it within yourself, as you will discover today, it is priceless.

If there's a piano in your vicinity perhaps you should finger the keys. Start at C (the one just to the left of the two black notes), and play the next-but-one white note (E), as well as the fifth note along (G) all at the same time. The sound symbolises the theme for your week: harmony. There's potential to strike a balance between your roots and grow closer with someone. That doesn't necessarily mean giving way. But making a subtle change in balance will make it easier for people to sing from your song-sheet. In your love life: Stuck? What's required is determination, faith, and short-term self-sacrifice. That sense of angst will subside.

Beware of unwanted visitors this week. And by this, I don't mean friends and family members looking for a space on your couch! I mean the kind of moods and attitudes that sometimes we allow into our lives by mistake. We think they're only passing through, next thing we know they've taken over. We keep tripping over their stuff, they even invite their own friends round to see them at your place! As your two rulers make a sharp angle, if pessimism or doubt come calling, tell them you're sorry, but you've got no room for them! In your love life: Yesterday's drama is tainting your views. I know what I can see and it's good. Take another look, and learn from it.

We all experience feelings of buyer's remorse'; that instant regret that arrives when we commit to a purchase. It doesn't just appear in financial matters. We're capable of wobbling in any walk of life once we realise that we're closing the door on the way we've come. Lately, you've been making some important changes. Now, it's important that you don't rummage for the psychological receipt the moment you feel a twinge of doubt. Trust that you're on the right path. And that you won't just adapt to, but thrive in your new environment. In your love life: Normally, you hate inactivity. But now it's time to step back a bit and allow a chain of events to run their course.

They say that a fool and his money are easily parted. But you're no fool. So why does it sometimes feel that you have to be more generous than others? Perhaps it's because, with generosity, often comes respect. When we offer help with no strings attached, the very act of intervention has a positive effect in ways that are not always obvious. And be it money, time, effort or wisdom, what you have to offer represents a port in someone's storm. Be the bigger person this week. Your actions will be appreciated. In your love life: Those clouds are just dust settling. Confusion in your life is not the problem you imagine it to be. Clarity is coming.

Even people who thrive under pressure enjoy the challenge only when they feel confident they know what they're doing. When we're wrestling with a delicate situation, we need calm in order to concentrate. Your priority is to create such an atmosphere, or to retreat to a place where it can be found. With newly direct Mercury's links to your rulers, it's your chance to be truly productive. That's why you can't afford to hurry so much that you miss a crucial point. Take your time; get it right this week. In your love life: Finding life awkward? Carrying too much weight? There are some tasks you can pass on. Delegate. Offload a little.

Mars, the planet of energy and passion, is the astrological focus for your week. As it links to your ruler, Neptune, don't be put off by what first looks difficult. Appearances can, of course, be deceiving. And none more so than when we undertake an action that challenges the foundations upon which our life has been built. You're being blessed with the courage to continue with a brave and bold plan. Anything that appears remotely scary can be easily scared away. The way ahead is nowhere near as hard as you fear. In your love life: Your fantasies are becoming real. You fear it could all go horribly adrift at any moment. But that is not going to happen.

What would the world be like if clothes didn't exist? If we all wandered around naked, would we be obliged to be a little more honest with one another? Might it be harder to hide our hidden agendas and our pockets of emotional vulnerability? Actually, it probably wouldn't make much of a difference. These things don't become any more obvious, regardless of what we wear. But as your ruler links to Neptune this week, a mask is being worn and you need to see past it. Don't worry, though, you might like what you see. In your love life: Don't think that you are making a mistake. You are doing no such thing. Keep the upside in mind at all times.

Is there a belief holding you back? If you could just set it aside, would the world be your oyster? What a curious phrase. Originally Shakespearean, the character, Pistol, bragged that he could enjoy anything he liked, as long as he could use the tip of his sword to prise open its resistance. This is appropriate for you this week. There may be a moment of realisation that will make a difference. But it won't come out of its shell voluntarily. You'll need to do a little more digging. Persevere. It'll be worth it. In your love life: You need to get a move on. Don't panic, but do keep plugging away at that most important objective.

Row, row, row your boat, gently down the stream. Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, life is but a dream'. Is the old song true? How can we tell? Until the moment we wake up and find ourselves on a rowing boat somewhere, we have to assume that most of our experience, is real. But just as it's possible, through a process of lucid dreaming' to alter the outcome of a story that we experience in our sleep, it's possible too to alter the outcome of many a mundane process. You can dream up a better vision this week. In your love life: It is time to stop being afraid. Refuse to be intimidated. Stand your ground and you will be able to enjoy shining success.

In the shady world of political manoeuvring, people sometimes donate' to a campaign. Their gifts are often tactical investments designed to bear fruit in times to come. You've been conscientiously working towards a goal for some time. This week, the planets suggest that your hard work is about to pay off. You haven't done this alone, though. But, just because someone has helped doesn't entitle them to dictate the terms now. Show generosity and appreciation by all means. But remember that you're in control. In your love life: New facts oblige you to rethink, making for apparent inconsistencies. But you're right to react in this way.

Are you superhuman? Were you born with amazing powers? How do you know the answer is no'? Have you ever really put yourself to the test? I know that this is an extreme example but then, how often do you use extreme examples to limit yourself? You look at what's absolutely unattainable, feel pessimistic about it, and then go on to assume that a bunch of more reasonable objectives must be equally beyond reach. With the Full Moon this week, if you trust yourself, you will be amazed by what can be achieved. In your love life: As you reorganise emotionally, you can sort out a jumble. A little irritation may remain. Be glad it's not a big one!

It's all coming out into the open. Misunderstandings and deliberate obfuscation, which have been hiding the real picture, are about to clear up. And with this clarity comes a way to do things differently. No more try it and see what happens'. The insight you need, in order to make a tactical decision, is on its way. You just need to have confidence in your ability to get the job done. Rather than being distracted or confused by alternative suggestions, it's time to take positive and direct action. The path ahead is clear. In your love life: You yearn to take an important course of action. Don't bother thinking too long and hard. Just trust that instinct.

Children want things to be fair. If little Sam has had more turns on the swing, there'll be a complaint. As we grow older, we become aware that justice isn't always so easy to apply. Clever people know how to make things look fair, even when they aren't. Suspicious people are quick to call things unfair, even when arrangements are perfectly reasonable. Now that Mercury is direct, before something can be properly made okay this week, you need to establish whether there is actually anything wrong. In your love life: Sometimes you wonder what we are here for. The answer is: to experience happiness. A real taste of that is coming.

The Full Moon in your sign links harmoniously to your ruler, Pluto, and then to the planet of luck, Jupiter. In life's game of snakes and ladders, this represents a roll of the dice that lands you on a path upwards. Yet it's not just luck that has brought you to this square of the board. Your ability to sense pitfalls and avoid risks has played a large part in your advancement. As life offers you a ladder, this is not the time to worry about snakes. Your foundations have been well built. You have the ability to reach great heights. In your love life: Actions sometimes backfire. There's a lot of stress. Just when you think that all is hopeless, something will come along.

If you don't take a risk, how can you reap a reward? But if you push your luck, there's always a chance that you might push it too far. The real question to ask, when deciding where to draw a line, is whether or not your luck seems to be pushing you. As Mars links to Neptune, is something moving this week because you're trying to make it move? Or is it moving because it's the right time? What will happen if you go along with an impulse? Most likely, you'll simply roll with it. And, you might like where it takes you. In your love life: After excitement comes calm. After every calm comes more excitement. Your challenge is to learn to enjoy both.

If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. And if you still don't get anywhere, try something different. That's not copping out, or giving up, or letting anyone down; that's just being intelligent. Once you have an idea you're reluctant to drop it. Every so often, though, your determination becomes your problem. Your ruler makes a supportive angle with Uranus this month. Yet Mars is also opposing Saturn. Stick with what you've started, but don't let yesterday's big idea become the ball and chain that stops you from reaching a brighter tomorrow. In your love life: You want to ask a question. But you hardly dare. It might be rude or inappropriate. Never mind. Ask anyway.

You're renowned for your creative insight and ability to find efficient and dynamic solutions when most people find problems. So when the stars align, as they do now, to give your creativity a shot in the arm, that's the kind of performance enhancement that anti-doping officials get worried about! So it's lucky for the rest of us that the greatest benefits you'll feel will come when working for the greater good. This month, convince your peers to support your breakthroughs, and the benefits will be far-reaching and long-lasting. In your love life: Tense? Restless? Agitated? It's normal; proof that you are truly human. Handle it. Good things will come.

I always prefer to believe the best of everybody. It saves so much trouble,' said Rudyard Kipling. Possibly his most famous line, though, is about, keeping your head when all around are losing theirs.' And, the words that begin this forecast tell us how to achieve this. With Venus opposing your traditional ruler this month, you really won't go wrong if you treat other people as if you expect their hearts to be kind and their ideas wise. With Mars's link to Neptune, be a little cautious, just in case they aren't. But not too careful because they probably are! In your love life: You have been wondering why everything is so difficult. Soon, you will attain some inspiring answers.

Remember the childhood game of Telephone? Children sat in a circle, and whispered a phrase to the person next to them the process was repeated until the last kid spoke the words aloud. Invariably their phrase was hilariously different to the initial message. You may have been feeling as if life is one big game of Telephone but with less amusing consequences! Yet, the experience has had its value. Use what you've learned wisely, and this month, you can make the changes required to reorganise and re-energise. In your love life: Sooner than you think, your troubles will just be memories. If you are able to recognise this; it will help bring forward that day.

Sometimes, a situation may seem safe, welcoming and inviting, yet you can see only an unsatisfactory aspect of the arrangement. Then you have to ask yourself, Is this just me? Am I finding fault unnecessarily? What if this is my intuition, telling me to look more carefully at what's going on?' As Saturn trines Uranus and your ruler opposes Jupiter this month, you may have that feeling. But Mercury, turning direct and moving back into your sign, will help bring clarity. Soon, you'll see what's really wrong, and then everything will get better. In your love life: There's something you are trying to resist. But it might actually suit you to accept a lot of what's now unfolding.

Rowing boats are curious things. To paddle as efficiently as possible, you're obliged to have a restricted view of what lies ahead. Stroke consistency must invariably be sacrificed as we turn to look at the approaching twists and turns. This is, of course, why rowing is best enjoyed as part of a team. And this month, your ability as the coxswain of your craft will prove invaluable. Look for the adjustments you need to make to navigate your own stretch of water. It's time to take control and help everyone to pull in the right direction. In your love life: An obligation is calling you. Is it imagined or real? If it's artificial, why do you let it dominate your thoughts?

You're more popular than you think. Whilst you may not be universally appreciated, some people admire you so much that they're prepared to go out of their way to help you. In May, as the Moon turns Full whilst making a supportive link with Pluto, this isn't entirely selfless. They recognise your talent. They figure that by assisting you in reaching a better position, everyone will benefit. They're right to think that! And you're right to think that it's not just the planets that are cheering you on. Some earthly angels are on your side too. In your love life: Don't attempt to fix just what seems to be wrong on the surface. You need to get closer to the root of a problem.

Where has confusion reigned and indecision become commonplace? Are you forever obliged to return to the same issues with the same methods? No! Life now brings you the opportunity to adjust your course, break away from tired ways of thinking and find the clarity you need. This month you can rely on your natural creativity. If you let your talents shine through, you'll find yourself creating key alliances and solving conundrums. This rejuvenated version of you is not difficult to embody, and every bit as wonderful as you could hope for. In your love life: An old problem is stirring. The crunch may be weeks away, but acting now will help you avert a crisis.

Sometimes, instead of working studiously through a To-Do' list, we end up paralysed by what we shouldn't be doing. And with your ruler having been retrograde for much of the last month, you could now have a long and well thought-through To-Don't' list! Yet some of the items on this are preventing you from formulating a suitably effective To-Do' list. As Mercury turns direct again in May, and conjuncts Uranus at the Full Moon, look again at what you're currently inclined to rule out. It's time for you to rule just a little bit of it back in. In your love life: Recent changes have unnerved you. Changes worry you. But this is the right kind of change. Embrace it.

When I was a kid, we played a game with tin cans and string. The string was attached to each can's base and, as long as it was pulled taut, you could speak into one end and be heard at the other. Well, in May, life pulls your can-strings tight allowing you to communicate to someone you value, with the clarity you've been hoping for. So once you've sorted the equipment, don't forget to concentrate on the message. Speak from your heart and the changes required for positive, emotional growth won't just be possible they'll be inevitable. In your love life: Some people can be wonderful, kind, giving and loving. You are about to encounter this aspect of human nature.

As Mercury turns direct and prepares to move through your opposite sign again, look at what you think you've already seen. There's more to a situation, more to another person, even more to yourself than you've yet fully understood. Somehow, you've allowed yourself to accept a conventional, limited view of a matter that really has far greater levels of depth and possibility. Though others might not be able to recognise the potential you identify, with a Full Moon in your sign, you can trust that this isn't just your imagination. It's your intuition. In your love life: You need to move on, but you fear missing what you leave behind. Fear not; this change leads to a vast improvement.

Few are as free-spirited as you. The path you dare to tread is not for the faint-hearted. So when you find someone as daring and exciting as you are, it's worth taking notice! The planets suggest you can make a connection that ticks some fabulous boxes: Passionate? Check. Courageous? You betcha. Empathetic? Erm there's the rub. Sometimes, we forget that encouragement can be more effective than competition. This month, be as generous as you are enthusiastic, and the bonds you forge will outdo your expectations. In your love life: Don't put off change. The rewards for making courageous, decisive decisions will be exceedingly generous.

Fantastic Mr Fox. King Odysseus of Ithaca. Kevin in Home Alone. All are classic (ish) examples of how cunning is required to seal great victories. And this week, you're being encouraged to take a fresh, creative approach to an issue that is refusing to go away. There's no point lamenting your inability to stop this situation from recurring. There are some things that are beyond your control. Instead, you can celebrate a newly rejuvenated talent for improvisation. Adapt to this challenge, and you may even begin to relish it! In your love life: Fight or flight? No room for compromise? Pick one of your options. If it feels right, think no further. If not, think again.

How do model-makers get ships inside bottles? How do magicians seemingly saw people in half? These feats appear impossible until the trick is revealed. Agatha Christie used a similar technique in her murder mystery novels. She finished her victim off early, then bemused her readers with chapters full of diversions and irrelevant clues'. This week, if you carefully revisit the evidence, you'll begin to understand a matter that's been baffling you. Mercury's links, with both your rulers, help you see the secret. Everything will become obvious. In your love life: Your big issue is not about success or failure but about finding wisdom. You're about to start doing brilliantly.

Has the cat got your tongue?'. What a curious expression. There are far more likely scenarios that make it hard to communicate. Laryngitis for one. Or simple shyness. And if anyone did run away with your tongue, I'm not sure why it would end up with a cat. This week, if you're hunting for the speech-thief, it could be retrograde Mercury that is your would-be cat-burglar. But even if your wires are crossing, you can find a new way to communicate an important message. Just let your heart, and not your head, do the talking. In your love life: Is there a persistent effort to get you to reconsider something? Give this enough respect to at least consider the offer.

The history of science is filled with tales of code-breakers who could detect hidden messages by studying complex patterns. There are secrets waiting to be revealed in your world too. With Mercury retrograde in your sign, someone is saying one thing but doing another. Your mission is to find a way to accurately read and understand the information you're receiving. But, you can't just be logical. There are emotional issues involved. The return of Venus to your sector of the zodiac will empower your instincts. Trust them! In your love life: Why do some people feel they must control you. Once you know what's really wrong you can start making it right.

My three-year-old has recently discovered cookies. Each day, after nursery, he excitedly asks if we can pop into the shop to buy some biscuits. For someone who's only just discovering the delights of confectionery, there are so many things to try. From the humble hobnob to the jammiest of dodgers, each represents a foray into a delicious new world. No matter what's been spoiling your appetite lately, this week, life begins to taste sweet. And, if you're willing to try a new sensation, things really can turn out to be sensational! In your love life: You are due to discover great fulfillment in the very area of life where you have lately had to endure great discomfort.

Do you feel uncomfortable when life isn't nice and neat and tidy? Even if your environment has clear surfaces, there will always be cupboards containing all kinds of secrets. And inwardly? Much the same applies. You may be able to act as if all is straightforward, but your thoughts are in a jumble worse than the kind that you find behind a TV, or a computer, when too many extra gadgets have been plugged into it. But you can untangle a messy mindset. With Mercury retrograde, go slowly, strand by strand, and you'll feel far better. In your love life: It really isn't the winning that counts. What matters is not how good at something you can be, it's how good you are.

Despite appearances, nothing stays still. Even when we enter an empty room, devoid of activity, we're surrounded by vibrating atoms whose movements provide the force that keeps the walls solid, and the roof supported. And all this is happening on a planet hurtling through space at thirty kilometres per second. Yet sometimes we can make it appear still. And sometimes a little pause for breath is all we need in order to realise how different our life can be. This week, take the time to reflect. A new day dawns, but at its own pace. In your love life: What matters more, elation or explanation? Don't just sit and think. Throw yourself into something you truly love.

Don't worry about a thing, cos every little thing's gonna be all right, sang Bob Marley. Many of us love songs that contain messages of this nature. Why can't we resist them? Can't we see how this world is full of things to worry about? And if we take our eye off the ball, and stop worrying, even for a moment, don't we make things ten times worse? Well, actually, no we don't! And really, you don't need to worry this week. The New Moon really does suggest things can start turning out better than all right'. This is my message to you! In your love life: Trust your heart. As holidays approach, allow yourself to be courageous enough to honour your deepest feelings.

Just when I thought I was out they pull me back in!' There's a danger, this week, that you could find yourself sounding like Al Pacino in the Godfather Part III. Actually, you're in the second part of your own trilogy. Mercury, now retrograde, is conjunct Uranus again for the penultimate time this year. It signals a time to revisit a change in your life that isn't as permanent as you had once thought. Though this may be frustrating, it brings an opportunity. Learn all you can, and you'll gain the insight to finally progress to the next level. In your love life: Do what is necessary to keep stress at bay. And that deadline that worries you? Breathe, relax, refuse to be rushed.

Are you adopting positions you're not completely sure you want to be in? There are aspects of your situation that you like, and many things to be grateful for; yet there are factors that you've been feeling uncomfortable about. It seems as if life has been less than fair, and you must deal with circumstances that you resent. You can let this bug you, or you can rise above it. Actually, you don't have a choice! With Venus now direct and about to join Mercury in Aries, accept, trust and prepare for a week that brings surprisingly deep joy. In your love life: Aiming for the right thing but taking a complex route? Mars warns you not to push anything or anyone too hard.

There's nothing wrong with being a private person. After all, wearing your heart on your sleeve creates messy situations, and showing vulnerability makes you well vulnerable! But being guarded creates problems of its own. Especially when you want to make a fresh start in an important relationship. Don't be afraid of your passion this week. The depth of your feelings doesn't mean that you're losing control. It's a powerful asset. If you want to deepen your connection to someone, you just have to try once more, with feeling. In your love life: Whose rules are you playing by? Is there nothing you can do about a difficult situation? You can rewrite the rulebook.

Libraries contain many books. Those books contain many stories but they're nothing compared to the tales that could be told by all the billions of people who live (or have ever lived) in this world. Each of us has been on a series of great adventures. Though we look admiringly on those whose sagas seem to have been more dramatic, we really can't say that any one person's life has meant more (or less) than any other's. As Mercury links to Saturn, in your sign, you're dealing with something unique this week. You'll handle it well. In your love life: You're cross about someone's role in a sensitive situation. The challenge is tough but the reward will be great.

When we sense someone isn't being entirely honest, it puts us on our guard. We become less inclined to speak openly. Inwardly, we figure, If something's being hidden from me, perhaps I should hide something too.' This becomes self-perpetuating. If I think that you're holding something back, I hold something back. You then sense that I'm holding something back, so you hold back even more. Yet, as Venus turns direct, with Pluto soon retrograde, positive progress must wait until cards are placed on tables and hearts are worn on sleeves. In your love life: You wonder how wise it was to make a gesture of faith. Don't feed a fire of doubt. Ignore it and doubt will fade.

Money flows like water. That's good news for the water-bearer sign, right? Who knows better than you how to capture and contain this precious liquid? So why does it feel as if your pail has a hole in it? And that every time you think you've filled it to the brim, you see a vessel that even an optimist might describe as half empty? I can't promise riches, but the signs are pointing to a reverse in your fortunes. The leak can be fixed, and the decline can be arrested. And once it is, you'll have the energy to turn a trickle into a torrent. In your love life: Don't be driven by fear of failure and just settle for second best. Don't talk yourself into accepting a raw deal.

Are you in the right place at the right time? How do you know? One side-effect of being in the wrong place at the wrong time is an overwhelming sense of certainty that you're in the right place at the right time! Usually, when we're full of doubt, there's something apt about the position we find ourselves in. Just because something feels right, doesn't mean that it is right. And vice versa. But there are times when a positive mood is a reflection of a positive move. With Venus turning direct in your sign, what makes you feel good, will be good. In your love life: Much that seems uncertain should become clear again. A little more time needs to pass. Go carefully and try not to worry.

Isaac Newton coined one of my favourite words, spectrum, to describe the colours contained in white light. Now, it's used to describe all sorts of energies. On the communication spectrum, the right amount of energy is called passion', too much is anger', and too little is meekness'. Yet, even just the right amount, directed at the wrong target, can easily turn to frustration. This week, watch where you are on the emotional spectrum. As long as you know the right way to ask, you can get the support you need. In your love life: The cosmos can help you achieve a stronger base. Nothing needs to leave your world, other than a sense of fear.

The Sun returns to Taurus this week, your ruler turns direct and Mars leaves your sign. The cosmos is extending an invitation to have some fun. There may even be a chance to spoil yourself. After all, it's nearly your birthday. And if you can't celebrate your life here, doing your best, on this beautiful planet, then what can you celebrate? The universe is about to recognise that you've been through enough drama for a while, and that you deserve a few lucky breaks. You can begin to move forward with confidence now. In your love life: You have a chance to make tomorrow sweeter than today. But hold on for a while and review some options first.

I ride a Vespa. It's the best way to get around a city, like London, which was never designed for cars. Of course, the best feeling is when you filter through traffic, past someone in a flashy sports car. All that power and yet, without the ability to turn tightly and find a gap, it's a slow mode of transport. This week, it may begin to feel as if you're driving a Ferrari. That's perfect, if you've got an open road and a destination in mind. If, though, you're navigating narrow streets and congested allies, consider eschewing speed for manoeuvrability. In your love life: You are entitled to a happier emotional life. You matter. It is time to claim the power to which you are entitled.

Children, when they learn to say their prayers, are often encouraged to think of a kindly Creator looking down on them. Some adults find that idea challenging. What gives a supreme being the right to watch what we're doing? Isn't that an invasion of privacy? And, if there are seven billion humans, how can the great deity possibly keep track of them all? There are many arguments against the existence of such an entity. But, with Mars changing signs, and Venus now direct, coming events may well give you plenty of faith. In your love life: The stars speak of your quest for comfort. It is attainable but only once you recognise that it is a frame of mind.

Why do people seek celebrity? I'm not sure I see the appeal. I understand why it's important for people who have a gift they want to share. But for those who don't, it's often the trappings of success that calls them. Perhaps they see it as the quickest and easiest route to a life of luxury? And I suppose we all understand that motivation. But the grandeur that you're now courting won't be offered to you on your reputation alone. This week, if you want the royal treatment, you must set out to prove that you deserve the crown. In your love life: You can't sit on the fence. Give more commitment; it won't be easy, but it will become very rewarding.

In the UK, hosts often offer visitors a hot drink. The normal polite response is to say, Only if it's not too much trouble?' Then, when offered a choice between tea or coffee, it's traditional to say, Whichever's easiest.' What an odd ritual. Why, unless you're planning to grind the beans and express steam through them, is tea any easier to make than coffee? But it's a form of etiquette. Honour what codes you can today but, as Venus turns direct opposite Virgo, not past the point where you end up missing out on something that you want. In your love life: The jump' you face is a big one. Make it with all your heart; don't dwell on fear or misgivings. Summon confidence.

When growing up with my brother, we often enjoyed video racing games. Occasionally we'd play our own version of what developers now call augmented reality'. While one of us drove the car on the TV screen, the other would sit behind the player, pushing and pulling them about, mimicking the G-force suggested by the on-screen changes in direction. I almost wish I could do the same to you now. Because, the mere act of telling you how much of a reversal in fortunes you're due doesn't seem sufficient. Soon though, you'll begin to feel it! In your love life: Here comes some cosmic help. Prepare to be inspired and see the positive potential of a personal relationship.

When we're children, our parents teach us that it's rude to point. Even if we see someone looking absolutely ridiculous, we're supposed to just act as if this were the most normal thing in the world. If we comment, it must be quietly, to a companion, once we're sure we're out of earshot. It's just not the done thing' to highlight someone else's predicament. With Mercury retrograde, you need to be delicate about how you point something out. But, as your ruler Pluto also turns retrograde and Mars changes signs, you need to say something. In your love life: You have a cosmic connection to a source of wisdom. Tame your emotions. Stay calm and you will stay clear.

Somebody has the ability to both frustrate and delight you now. That's quite a hold to have over someone like you and you may not be feeling comfortable about giving that much power away. But sometimes, it's only by surrendering a little bit of control that we discover how magical life can be. Don't worry, just allow yourself to heed someone's call this week. And if it seems as if a door is closing on you, instead of feeling trapped, you can choose to enjoy the security that just a little bit of limitation provides. In your love life: Set your heart only on goals that truly inspire you. The best is yet to come. An emotional investment will pay off.

When John Proctor, in the play, The Crucible, succumbs to pressure and confesses to witchcraft, the prospect of a public admission is too much for him to bear. He cries, I have given you my soul; leave me my name!' It illustrates the stock we put in our stature. How we are seen sometimes feels more important than who we are. Yet, it's only when our public face represents our core values that our standing undergoes sustained growth. This week, play the part of who you'd like to be. It may initiate a powerful transformation. In your love life: You can expect a great situation that suits your mood. So don't dwell on false fears or you may turn them into realities.

Strength and Weakness have an interesting relationship. Like identical twins teasing their playmates, they sometimes dress up in each other's clothes. Hello,' says Weakness, I'm Strength! Look how brave I am, and how many clear decisions I've made.' Hello,' says Strength, I'm Weakness. Look at how I'm hedging my bets and keeping options open.' With your traditional ruler retrograde, don't perceive pausing for thought as lacking authority. Insecurity leads to greater haste than confidence. Take your time and get it right. In your love life: You have the right to reconsider commitments. You needn't tell everyone everything, nor need you apologise for anything.

Whose affairs are you trying to court? What deal are you trying to strike? This week, the wisest, most convincing form of persuasion might not necessarily drop easily from the tip of your tongue. But, we're emotional creatures and using reason and statistics might never be the best way to communicate. When our brains are presented with lots of options, and factors, we tend to go with what feels' right. Don't worry if you can't find the right words. If you concentrate on winning hearts more than minds, you can still get what you desire. In your love life: There is more to a sensitive situation that worries you. Talk to someone who sees things differently. Pool your knowledge.

The heart is always much quicker than the head. Our minds trail behind our gut reactions like tortoises following hares. And, because they go so much more slowly, they have more time to mull things over; to question instinctive responses and come up with complicated caveats to explain away what ought to be obvious. As Mercury turns retrograde you can get into long discussions about the relative merits of an idea or a suggestion. But the Full Moon implies that if you really want to make progress, you'll just go with what you feel. In your love life: Putting up with an unsatisfactory situation? Dismantle and rebuild what's wrong. That is your ultimately joyous task now.

When I was a kid, one of the games I loved was when someone declared it to be Opposite Day. From that moment, a whole heap of fun could be had misleading grown-ups and getting other people to guess what we were talking about. I'm not going to declare this opposite week' for Taureans. But, there's a sense that issues centering around communication could get a little muddled. Luckily enough, you're sharp enough to cut through much of the confusion. It's just that it might be your heart, and not your head, that does the cutting. In your love life: Are you in a cycle of silliness? Abandon it. Just be a little more tolerant and prepare for a big improvement.

Your life is not your own. It belongs to ......... (insert name here). In fact, don't fill in the name. Ask your owner' whether you have their permission. And make sure that you don't upset anyone else who now feels they have a claim on you! Er or fill in your own name. Take your life (and your future) back into your own hands. While it's important to be aware of and respectful towards other people's feelings, with Saturn retrograde, and your ruler turning retrograde too, it's even more important to honour your relationship with yourself. In your love life: Wherever you feel that someone or something needs to change, give yourself permission to change yourself instead.

You're no criminal mastermind, but from time to time, you've engaged in a little extortion. It's just that instead of raiding savings, the manipulation has been of the emotional kind. Nearly everyone on the planet has resorted to, and suffered from this. It's not such a heinous crime. This week brings someone into your life who can enable and liberate you from a situation you feel stuck in. You may be tempted to make them do so by hook or by crook'. If you can avoid being the crook, your freedom will be all the more sweet. In your love life: Coming events are about to provide you with the power to shine a different kind of light on the past. Don't fear change.

When circumstances don't seem to let us do what we thought we wanted to, we can either sink into a trough of disappointment, or seize the opportunity to become creative and adapt our plans. Well, I suppose there's a third way too. We have the option to fight fate: to come out guns blazing and refuse to accept defeat, striving to get everything back on the original track. But with all the retrograde activity now, is that really what you should be doing? The Full Moon suggests that you might, instead, be glad of the chance for change. In your love life: A big idea needs to be applied slowly. If you feel it is safe to confide in those you can trust, be bold and don't hold back.

A few years ago I worked with the most wonderful folk-fiddle player. When asked how long he'd been playing, he told me that he'd had lessons when he was a kid and gone on to study classical violin at a top European conservatoire. It was only later that he discovered folk music and its unique style of playing. Then, in order to master this new technique, he had to un-learn' much of what he'd been trained to accomplish. This week, what can you un-learn' that will open your mind to a world of untapped understanding? In your love life: Consider yourself entitled to fully embrace the upside that is on offer to you now. Forget your fear; embrace your dream.

What if a relationship counsellor is married to another relationship counsellor? Who will they go to if they have problems with their marriage? What if a judge is accused of breaking the law and has to be tried by another judge? I'm not asking these awkward questions just for the sake of it, there are difficult discussions to be held now. Mercury and your ruler are retrograde, suggesting that a perplexing conundrum is arising. There's no best' way to resolve this. Yet the Full Moon suggests you can trust your own intuition to do so. In your love life: Prioritise your most important issues. A positive cosmic climate will help you protect what you care most about.

Whose opinion do you trust? Whose judgement do you turn to when deliberating important decisions? Many of us have a go-to' person when figuring out the intricacies of life's great turning points. And being an individual with depth to your character, it's more than likely you've been called on to help navigate people through crises. But what if the individual whose counsel you usually seek can't help? How will you cope without relying on someone else's compass? You needn't fear negotiating your environment solo this week. In your love life: Something doesn't quite make sense. Request insights that may be relevant. When you get them, trust them.

With Saturn retrograde in your sign, not everything will be easy. You should, though, also experience real success. You're being helped by the Full Moon's conjunction with Jupiter. It's tempting to imagine that the cosmos wants you to do well now, and pave the way for further important changes. Just remember, it's one thing to take encouragement from a hopeful situation, another to assume that something is not meant to be' if it starts to look difficult. Don't give up too soon, or too easily this week. Not when so much is possible. In your love life: Problems are part of everyone's landscape. Your biggest problem' is a side-effect of your greatest asset. Don't fear it.

History's full of rulers whose reputations have been reduced to clich©. Canute? The tides. Henry VIII? The wives. Midas? The gold. Imagine such a long great life being eclipsed by one issue. Am I comparing you to monarchy? In a way, yes! Your dominion may not extend too far but you do reign over some territory at least. Yet with both your ruler and Pluto turning retrograde this month, you could be tempted by indecision. But the Full Moon brings wise and regal choices your way. Just try to do what history would applaud you for. In your love life: Are you being told the truth? Something deep down in your heart can tell the difference. Trust that.

In the Emperor's New Clothes, Hans Christian Andersen never mentions the birthdate of the dissenting child in the crowd. But all the hallmarks of an Aquarian are present: the ability to see what everyone else seems to be missing, and the compulsion to comment on that large grey mammal taking up too much space in the room! Your month ahead may not involve royal nudity, but it could contain a breakthrough that challenges a balance of power. If you're keen to inspire a popular revolution, try to find a way to make your revolution feel popular! In your love life: They say you should never look back. But you can now use what you have learnt and get a kind of second chance.

As April begins, Venus, slipping backwards, returns to your sign. This could cause you to feel like a process is taking an inordinately long time. You might begin to feel like the biblical Methuselah! But why do we depict this legendary figure with a long beard? If you were to live for centuries, you'd have plenty of time to shave! This month, as the moon becomes full conjunct Jupiter, try to pace yourself. Venus links to Saturn, who keeps tight hold of the reins. But slow doesn't always mean boring. Take it steady, and great things can start to happen. In your love life: You are being asked to tie yourself to someone else's opinion. If the reasons are right, you can do it.

No matter how independent we are, no matter how self-motivated, assertive and confident we can be, none of us exists in a vacuum. For a spark to catch, we require oxygen. And for your ideas to catch on this month, you need someone to fuel your fire. Luckily, the skies suggest that not only will you find the fuel to feed your flame, you'll have enough air to breathe and expand. Someone will help turn an inspired notion into the positive move you desire. If you communicate your passion, you'll reap great rewards. In your love life: Sources of tension are becoming obvious. Soon, you will also begin to see what you can do about them.

If you do this, instead of that, then that'll happen instead. Unless, of course, you do that first. In which case, you'll get more of this and less of that, assuming someone else does this and not that. Confused? That's my point. With so many intricate issues to consider, they'll just tie you up in knots. What's important this month, is to become untied. With Mercury turning retrograde in your sign, the Sun entering it and Mars leaving it, nobody can free you from a process that's taking up too much time and energy. You have to liberate yourself. In your love life: A different era begins. Prepare for a change that seems small at first but has the potential to take you a long way.

Homer Simpson once changed his name to Max Power, proclaiming there's the right way to do things, the wrong way, and the Max Power way. Isn't that just the wrong way? asks his daughter Lisa. Yes , Homer replies, but faster! This month it's almost like the economical engine powering your runaround is replaced with a V8 turbo-charged monster from a supercar. That's great, if you've somewhere to go and fast. But not so great if you find yourself stuck in reverse gear! With the right co-pilot, you'll go twice as far and in the right direction too! In your love life: A while ago you asked the cosmos for help. None was forthcoming. But here comes a late granting of your request!

Your relationship with one particular person is growing tense. Or so it seems. We may not be talking here, about a romantic relationship. The connection in question could be linked to your career or family life. But whatever once brought you both so close and no matter how strong that camaraderie may have been you're no longer so sure you still share the same understanding. The powerful Full Moon conjunct Jupiter brings a realisation. Even if a sense of estrangement intensifies briefly this month, there'll be resolution and reunion. In your love life: Tempted to get passionate about something that will create drama? Better, rather, to apply your passion to patience!

What's the point of being reborn if everyone believes you're still the same old person? Why bother with a transformation if no one notices and nothing seems to change? Well there'd still be valid reasons to undergo the transitions you're experiencing. They're affirmative steps. Not always easy, but positive nonetheless. The changes you're making, and the breakthroughs they herald, will help regain control in an area of life you've felt powerless in. This month, it's time to flap the wings you've grown, and let everyone see your bold new form. In your love life: Reason and logic can be dull. Ask yourself: Do you want excitement and enjoyment? Or to wallow in tedious safety?

Imagine there's no Heaven, it's easy if you try...' So sang the late, great John Lennon, many moons ago. But was he right? For many people, it is not so easy to imagine a world with no Heaven. The notion of eventual redemption, liberation, and vindication, is all that keeps many of us going! Especially when life seems tough we think, Perhaps my reward will be in Heaven. But actually, you don't have to wait that long. This month, with the Full Moon conjunct Jupiter, life can bring you a real reward right here on Earth. In your love life: It's a sensitive time - for you and others, all looking for equilibrium. Just hang loose, and watch what develops.

There are moments when we feel uniquely powerful. When it seems as if everything we're involved in reaches maximum potential. Like air expanding to fill a void, it becomes impossible to do things by halves. This is all well and good if the things we do represent positive steps and decisions. But if, at this moment, we deviate from the right path, we can find ourselves spread too thinly or taking up uncomfortable positions. It's important you now reflect upon your options. Make the right choices this month, and you'll realise your potential. In your love life: Try rewriting your own rules to get past the obstacles you face. If you can be courageous you'll gain rewards.

Who's in charge? Who calls the shots and chooses the direction your life must take? As both your ruler Pluto, and Saturn, turn retrograde this month, the more you contemplate such questions, the more you may feel sure it isn't you. You're conscious of situations in which you seem to lack power and influence. Yet you're nowhere near as helpless as you fear. With the Full Moon linked to Pluto, someone's listening to you, even if you suspect that they're hardly hearing a word you say. This month you can find your true, hidden strengths. In your love life: Staring at a blank canvas? Try some random brushstrokes, an outline will emerge and lead to a masterpiece.

No one wants to be a party pooper. But there are times when we all need to feel we're being taken seriously. When we want to be seen as more than a fair-weather friend and recognised as the person for all seasons we have the potential to be. You may not be a 24-hour party person, but you know how to live with an adventurous spirit. It's part of your charm. So don't become frustrated if someone can't see your serious centre. You just have to show them. This month, match passion with resolve and your natural abilities will be recognised. In your love life: A lot of what's bothering you is less threatening than it seems. Light can shine even in the darkest corridors

My son is a big fan of The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. In this tale, a caterpillar eats through all manner of foodstuffs before constructing its chrysalis, and eventually turning into a butterfly. Be it this story, or The Ugly Duckling, the world of children's literature is full of themes of transformation. Your life story can reflect this now with one important difference. You're no ugly duckling or insatiable grub. You don't need to disappear into a cocoon to undergo a metamorphosis. You just need to stretch the wings that have been there all along. In your love life: Who is now making a fuss and who is now keeping quiet? Be less drawn by the noisy and show more respect to the quiet.

When you were a kid, did you have a favourite pair of shoes? Did you wear them all the time? Were you sad when you realised you'd outgrown them? This was necessary and right. Yet, you probably couldn't see it at the time. Now think about the way in which some of your ideas about life are beginning to change. With Mercury conjunct your modern ruler in 2017's great T-square, you may no longer feel and think quite what you once felt and thought. That's appropriate. Don't fear, regret or worry about a change. Grow with it. In your love life: With effort and wisdom now, you can make decisions that enable you to permanently improve your position in the future.

You might have heard of the phrase The greater good.' Never has a phrase been capable of so much trouble. Compromises we'd never normally make suddenly seem reasonable, and actions that we'd never usually take become defensible. This week, think about the devil in the detail of a deal. Where are you sacrificing your beliefs for the benefit of change? Is this one capitulation too many? Is the price too high? Whatever decisions you take, do so with kindness and an open heart. This can be a time of powerful growth, bringing you to a wonderful destination. In your love life: You may feel unable to see a route from here to where you want to be, but if you can picture the destination, you can surely reach it.

Do you know exactly what you've got in every single one of your pockets? How about the contents of your bag or the drawers in your kitchen? Broom cupboard? Bedside cabinet? Sometimes, we're surprised when we discover items that we'd forgotten all about and didn't even know we had. It's the same with our inner resources. We think, I just don't have it in me to do this.' Then when we reach within and start looking, we bring forth impressive attributes. With a New Moon conjunct Venus, you'll soon see what I mean. In your love life: Though you may feel out of your depth in a situation, you are not in over your head. You can and will soon learn to swim.

Do you find yourself feeling unable to move on? With your ruler being retrograde for some time now, a situation could be feeling so difficult to move past that, in the words of TV's Blackadder, there hasn't been a stickier situation since Sticky the stick insect got stuck on a sticky bun'. But the Cosmos has a cunning plan. The New Moon conjunct Venus provides the impetus for a way out. And, as Mercury enters your sign at the end of this week, making you sharper than a page of Oscar Wilde's witticisms, sprinkled with lemon juice', you'll have the wit to find it! In your love life: You feel, as if you ought to be resisting something or someone. Don't. Accept and see the good.

Forget what you once knew. It may have been relevant once; it's no longer quite so apposite. As Mercury conjuncts Uranus, in 2017's great T-square, before linking harmoniously with Saturn, you'll soon see a better way to look at your situation. A wiser understanding can be reached. It's not that you were wrong before; it's just that you were looking at everything from a particular angle. Now you can see further and you must trust this additional information. It may prove unnerving to absorb, but it has the potential to help you greatly. In your love life: Some people now feel entitled to find fault with you. Try not to take it personally. Meet hostility with kindness.

If only life was like it is in commercials. Thanks to miracle-working skin creams, we'd all look younger. Just by using the right deodorant, no teenage boy would be lonely. And every time we washed our hair with certain shampoos, we'd feel refreshed, revitalised and renewed. But why am I, a man best described as follicly challenged', talking about hair products? It's because there's something in your life that can have the effect promised by its slogan the New Moon conjunct Venus. Let it wash its magic over you. It lives up to the hype! In your love life: Don't dwell on an upsetting issue. Put it to the back of your mind, then wait to see what hope naturally bubbles to the front.

You've had about as much as you can take. You're on the edge. But that's like saying that you're standing on some glorious balcony, overlooking a steep ravine. It looks as if you could fall over the side. You're certainly very close to the great abyss, yet there's a safety railing. You're not going to jump, nor will you be pushed. The New Moon, conjunct retrograde Venus, encourages you to learn what you need to learn from this view. Don't be afraid of what you're being shown. Soon, you'll see something else. A clear route to a safe destination. In your love life: Only nurture constructive expectations and you'll be surprised how many positive developments you attract.

In Japan, researchers believe that the practice of Forest Bathing' has health benefits. Of course, finding out that spending time in nature helps to lower blood pressure and reduce stress seems like a no-brainer. But recent studies suggest that our immune systems are actually boosted by essential oils, which are emitted by trees into the atmosphere. Where, in your life, can you find the truth that confirms something you've long suspected? Even if it affirms your suspicions, it may have something surprising to teach you. In your love life: The fact you least want to face is the reality you will ultimately be most grateful to embrace. Have faith and be optimistic.

The world is a weird and wonderful place. And the people who live in it? Well, one very weird and wonderful thing about them, is the way most of them insist that they're not weird, and quite a few seem determined to deny that there's anything wonderful about them. With your ruler in reverse, opposite your sign, you're facing a situation which seems ridiculous. Someone's behaviour seems unreasonable. It may leave a lot to be desired but, so many circumstances in our lives do that. Don't mistake a small nuisance for a big crisis this week. In your love life: You have been stuck too long. Sooner, you will have the freedom to move once more. Prepare for a lot of progress.

There's a website called Scale of Universe' with a graphic that allows you to move from human sized objects, out to the farthest reaches of the universe. It also moves in the other direction, down to the smallest theorised measurements of everything. What's interesting is where humans are found on the scale. We're slightly to the right of the centre, suggesting that the world of the small expands slightly more than the realm of the large. You're currently on a voyage of discovery. But maybe there's more to find by turning in, than looking out? In your love life: The more you doubt yourself, the more you are going to complicate something that is actually simple... and sweet.

From tiny acorns, mighty oaks grow. But even if covered in fertiliser and bathed under sun-lamps, they don't shoot up overnight. In movies, we often see a speeded-up version of a much slower process. Even films where the drama appears to be unfolding in real time are the results of careful editing. Many takes, recorded over many days, are discarded by the director. As Mercury conjuncts Uranus this week, try not to make artificial comparisons. Let things proceed at their natural pace and they'll likely turn out just fine. In your love life: Stop dwelling in the past. Stride forward on the journey through your emotional life with confidence. It won't be misplaced.