Free will astrology for the week of April 3, 2019

ARIES (March 21-April 19): A mushroom shaped like a horse’s hoof grows on birch trees in parts of Europe and the U.S. If you strip off its outer layer, you get amadou, spongy stuff that’s great for igniting fires. It’s not used much anymore, but it was a crucial resource for some of our ancestors. As for the word “amadou,” it’s derived from an old French term that means “tinder, kindling, spunk.” The same word was formerly used to refer to a person who is quick to light up, or do something that stimulates liveliness. In accordance with astrological omens, I’m making “Amadou” your nickname for the next four weeks.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): “Human beings are not born once and for all on the day their mothers give birth to them,” wrote novelist Gabriel Garcia Marquez. “Life obliges them over and over to give birth to themselves.” Here’s what I’ll add to that: As you mature, you do your best to give birth to ever-new selves that are in alignment with the idealistic visions you have of the person you want to become. Unfortunately, most of us aren’t skilled at that task in adolescence and early adulthood, so the selves we create may be inadequate or delusory or distorted. Fortunately, as we learn from our mistakes, we eventually learn to give birth to selves that are strong and righteous. The only problem is that the old false selves we generated along the way may persist as ghostly echoes in our psyche. And we have a sacred duty to banish those ghostly echoes. I tell you this, Taurus, because the coming months will be en excellent time to do that banishing. Ramp up your efforts now!

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): “When spring came, there were no problems except where to be happiest,” wrote Ernest Hemingway in his memoir. He quickly amended that statement, though, mourning, “The only thing that could spoil a day was people.” Then he ventured even further, testifying, “People were always the limiters of happiness except for the very few that were as good as spring itself.” I bring these thoughts to your attention to prepare you for some good news. In the next three weeks, I suspect you will far exceed your quota for encounters with people who are not “limiters of happiness”—who are as good as spring itself.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): It’s time to prove that Cancerians have more to offer than nurturing, empathizing, softening the edges, feeling deeply, getting comfortable, and being creative. Not that there’s anything wrong with those talents. On the contrary! They’re beautiful and necessary. It’s just that for now you need to avoid being pigeonholed as a gentle, sensitive soul. To gather the goodies that are potentially available to you, you’ll have to be more forthright and aggressive than usual. Is it possible for you to wield a commanding presence? Can you add a big dose of willfulness and a pinch of ferocity to your self-presentation? Yes and yes!

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): General Motors manufactured a car called the Pontiac Aztek from 2001-2005. It wasn’t commercially successful. One critic said it looked like, “an angry kitchen appliance,” and many others agreed that it was exceptionally unstylish. But later the Aztek had an odd revival because of the popularity of the TV show Breaking Bad. The show’s protagonist Walter White owned one, and that motivated some of his fans to emulate his taste in cars. In accordance with astrological omens, Leo, I suspect that something of yours may also enjoy a second life sometime soon. An offering that didn’t get much appreciation the first time around may undergo a resurgence. Help it do so.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): “Of all the female sins, hunger is the least forgivable,” laments feminist author Laurie Penny. She’s referring to the hunger “for anything, for food, sex, power, education, even love.” She continues: “If we have desires, we are expected to conceal them, to control them, to keep ourselves in check. We are supposed to be objects of desire, not desiring beings.” I’ve quoted her because I suspect it’s crucial for you to not suppress or hide your longings in the coming weeks. That’s triply true if you’re a woman, but also important if you’re a man or some other gender. You have a potential to heal deeply if you get very clear about what you hunger for and then express it frankly.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Only one of Nana Mouskouris’s vocal cords works, but over the course of an almost 60-year career, the Libran singer has sold over 30 million records in 12 different languages. Many critics speculate that her apparent disadvantage is key to her unique style. She’s a coloratura mezzo, a rare category of chanteuse who sings ornate passages with exceptional agility and purity. In the coming weeks, I suspect that you will be like Mouskouris in your ability to capitalize on a seeming lack or deprivation.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Your tribe is symbolized by three animals: the scorpion, the eagle and the mythological phoenix. Some astrologers say that the scorpion is the ruling creature of “unevolved” or immature Scorpios, whereas the eagle and phoenix are associated with those of your tribe who express the riper, more enlightened qualities of your sign. But I want to put in a plug for the scorpion as being worthy of all Scorpios. It is a hardy critter that rivals the cockroach in its ability to survive—and even thrive—in less than ideal conditions. For the next two weeks, I propose we make it your spirit creature.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Sagittarian novelist Gustave Flaubert declared that, “Our duty is to feel what is sublime and cherish what is beautiful.” But that’s a demanding task to pull off on an ongoing basis. Maybe the best we can hope for is to feel what’s sublime and cherish what’s beautiful for 30-35 days every year. Having said that, though, I’m happy to tell you that in 2019 you could get all the way up to 95-100 days of feeling what’s sublime and cherishing what’s beautiful. And as many as 15-17 of those days could come during the next 21.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Sommeliers are people trained to perceive the nuances of wine. By sampling a few sips, the best sommeliers can discern facts about the type of grapes that were used to make the wine and where on earth they were grown. I think that in the coming weeks, you Capricorns should launch an effort to reach a comparable level of sensitivity and perceptivity about any subject you care about. It’s a favorable time to become even more masterful about your specialties—to dive deeper into the areas of knowledge that captivate your imagination.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Every language is a work in progress. New words constantly insinuate themselves into common usage, while others fade away. If you traveled back in time to 1719 while remaining in your current location, you’d have trouble communicating with people of that era. And today linguistic evolution is even more rapid than in previous ages. The Oxford English Dictionary adds more than 1,000 new words annually. In recognition of the extra verbal skill and inventiveness you now possess, Aquarius, I invite you to coin a slew of your own fresh terms. To get you warmed up, try this utterance I coined: vorizzimo! It’s an exclamation that means “thrillingly beautiful and true.”

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): One of history’s most audacious con men was George C. Parker, a Pisces. He made his living selling property that did not legally belong to him, like the Brooklyn Bridge, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Statue of Liberty. I suspect you could summon his level of salesmanship and persuasive skills in the coming weeks. But I hope you will use your nearly magical powers to make deals and perform feats that have maximum integrity. It’s OK to be a teensy bit greedy, though.

Homework: Name a beautiful thing you were never capable of doing until now. freewill astrology.com

The new moon occurs in the early morning on Friday, April 5, at 15 degrees Aries. New moon times are festival times of the new initiating light. As the pale crescent moon appears in the sky, the New Group of World Servers (NGWS), men and women of goodwill, gather together to distribute the cosmic light to humanity. The NGWS ponder upon how the plan of betterment and goodwill can manifest in the world.

Aries, with its task of initiating all things new, is like a searchlight seeking to anchor new rhythms and new archetypes into the world. During the month of Aries, the will-to-good and the forces of restoration stream into the Earth. When the will-to-good enters the Earth, it becomes goodwill, Right Relations and the truth, happiness and peace humanity seeks.

The NGWS, often unrecognized, are the ones who meet world need, and are devoted to enriching the quality of life and the welfare of all living beings. They understand planetary and cosmic relationships and the power of Goodwill to bring about real change. Every seven years, the festival of the NGWS is celebrated. It happens at winter solstice of this year. During this Aries new moon festival, we begin our preparations.

ARIES: It’s most important to think about tact and positive Right Relations instead of the usual competitiveness, lack of tact, frustrations, headstrongness, and any sort of aggressiveness. Have the intentions to bring forth diplomacy. Allow your endeavors and activities to create spiritual resources that serve others. As you make all things new, make them harmonious, too.

TAURUS: Your subconscious comes to life, and all your assertive abilities go into hiding. In the deepest parts of yourself, you gather courage and become brave. You may remember things from the past which create worry or anxiety. Tend to your heart, body and nervous system with care, choosing extra rest and foods that lessen inflammation. A spiritual presence enters your life. Revelations continue to occur. You may attend or join a church or spiritual group.

GEMINI: Friends might visit to chat and discuss new ideas. You might meet new ones or join a group or organization that attracts you socially. Some relationships that are not close may fall away, to later reform themselves into better and closer friendships. Whatever your goals, it will be friends who help you move from here to a greater “there.” Friends offer to help with all your hopes, wishes and dreams. And they help you to truly value yourself as well.  

CANCER: You wonder about worldly attainment, how you present yourself in public. You want to be remembered. If you’re usually shy, this will disappear. The world is your stage for a while, and there’s an opportunity to establish yourself. You work hard at becoming the best you can be. And you are the very best due to your determination and drive. Be impulsive, trust yourself and shed your shell just for a moment or two.

LEO: You find yourself setting goals, planning and considering far-distant travels. Interest in philosophy, religion, education and expanding your horizons appear in dreams. This is a good time for you. Gathering your talents and gifts, you’re optimistic and vitalized. In the days ahead, you’ll be blazing a trail into the wide and adventurous unknown. Aspiration, a sense of adventure and visualizations are your guides.

VIRGO: It would be good to read Jung’s Red Book, along with Memories, Dreams and Reflections. And it’s good to look at, study and draw symbols so that you can begin to anchor greater ideas and archetypes which would energize your life. They will release the most positive dimensions of your personality and soul. There will be a seeking for redemption and the way toward this will be revealed in dreams.

LIBRA: Although you’re not quite aware of this, you’re quite brave. Others see this and are attracted to your courage. You recognize bravery in others because it already rests within you, at first, like a shadow. You have a great sense of justice, and seek, most of the time, peace and harmony. However, there are times when anger takes hold and you lose your way. Think of this as a rainstorm cleansing and clearing the air around you. Love more, no matter what.

SCORPIO: Here are questions you might ask yourself: where is my service, what is my service, and whom do I serve? How is my health, and am I tending to my duties with responsibility and care? Do I practice Right Relations with all my relationships, and with all kingdoms? Am I determined, do I have hope? Do I hold my intensity in high regard, and am I non-judgmental?

SAGITTARIUS: Most important at this time is your self-expression, your level of creativity, the supreme effort of distinguishing yourself from all others. Are you seeking something romantic or attempting to have children or simply pursuing entertainment, fun, pleasure, wellbeing, and happiness? You can be fun to be around these days, as long as you don’t get impatient. You are quick to frustration. Don’t wear red or drive fast. And don’t gamble.

CAPRICORN: There is a shift or perhaps an acceleration of your foundation and base of operation. Psychological roots, family lineage, your childhood, how you were nurtured, and how you learned to nurture come into focus. You are fiercely protective of your family, and you actively pursue changes in your home. Be very careful of anyone’s anger, impatience, demands made upon family and loved ones. Make serious plans to play more and be in the garden. What are you growing there?

AQUARIUS: Notice if thinking accelerates and ideas race through your mind. Writing, news, communication, speech, connections, and making contacts all become supremely important. They have to be quick, though, or you lose patience and interest. You become more alert, capable of making snap decision; independence of thought is a primary need. Remember, every other sign thinks and acts much slower than you. Follow up on ideas, aspiration and impressions. Your creativity is there.

PISCES: You will be wondering what is of value to you as there is a simultaneous giveaway, sale and general release of much of what you considered materially valuable in the past. You will find yourself with perhaps a suitcase or two, and a laptop—nothing more. And you’ll be on your way. This is a significant time for you. Guard your money. Think before spending. Go where you are needed. Have patience with someone. Love more. Time, like love, heals everything.