ARIES (March 21-April 19): We might initially be inclined to ridicule Stuart Kettell, a British man who spent four days pushing a Brussels sprout up 3,560-foot-high Mount Snowden with his nose. But perhaps our opinion would become more expansive once we knew that he engaged in this stunt to raise money for a charity that supports people with cancer. In any case, the coming weeks would be a favorable time for you, too, to engage in extravagant, extreme or even outlandish behavior in behalf of a good or holy cause.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): The Taurus guitar wizard known as Buckethead is surely among the most imaginative and prolific musicians who has ever lived. Since producing his first album in late 2005, he has released 306 other albums that span a wide variety of musical genres—an average of 23 per year. I propose that we make him your patron saint for the next six weeks. While it’s unlikely you can achieve such a gaudy level of creative self-expression, you could very well exceed your previous personal best in your own sphere.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Novelist Arthur Conan Doyle created Sherlock Holmes, a fictional character who personifies the power of logic and rational thinking. And yet Doyle was also a devout spiritualist who pursued interests in telepathy, the occult and psychic phenomena. It’s no surprise that he was a Gemini, an astrological tribe renowned for its ability to embody apparent opposites. Sometimes that quality is a liability for you folks, and sometimes an asset. In the coming weeks, I believe it’ll be a highly useful skill. Your knack for holding paradoxical views and expressing seemingly contradictory powers will attract and generate good fortune.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): In 2006, a 176-year-old tortoise named Harriet died in an Australian zoo owned by “Crocodile Hunter” and TV personality Steve Irwin. Harriet was far from her original home in the Galapagos Islands. By some accounts, evolutionary superstar Charles Darwin picked her up and carried her away during his visit there in 1835. I propose that you choose the long-lived tortoise as your power creature for the coming weeks. With her as inspiration, meditate on questions like these: 1. “What would I do differently if I knew I’d live to a very old age?” 2. “What influence that was important to me when I was young do I want to be important to me when I’m old?” 3. “In what specific ways can my future benefit from my past?” 4. “Is there a blessing or gift from an ancestor I have not yet claimed?” 5. “Is there anything I can do that I am not yet doing to remain in good health into my old age?”

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): John Lennon claimed that he created the Beatles song “Because” by rendering Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata” backwards. Even if that’s true, I don’t think it detracts from the beauty of “Because.” May I suggest that you adopt a comparable strategy for your own use in the coming weeks, Leo? What could you do in reverse so as to create an interesting novelty? What approach might you invert in order to instigate fresh ways of doing things? Is there an idea you could turn upside-down or inside-out, thereby awakening yourself to a new perspective?

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): The Tsonga language is spoken by more than 15 million people in southern Africa. The literal meaning of the Tsonga phrase I malebvu ya nghala is “It’s a lion’s beard,” which is often interpreted as, “something that’s not as scary as it looks.” According to my astrological analysis, this will be a useful concept for you to be alert for in the coming weeks. Don’t necessarily trust first impressions or initial apprehensions. Be open to probing deeper than your instincts might influence you to do.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): The old Latin verb crescere meant “to come forth, spring up, grow, thrive, swell, increase in numbers or strength.” We see its presence in the modern English, French and Italian word crescendo. In accordance with astrological omens, I have selected crescere and its present participle crescentum to be your words of power for the next four weeks. May they help mobilize you to seize all emerging opportunities to come forth, spring up, grow, thrive, swell, and increase in numbers or strength.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): When animals hibernate, their metabolism slows down. They may grow more under-fur or feathers, and some add extra fat. To conserve heat, they may huddle together with each other. In the coming weeks, I don’t think you’ll have to do what they do. But I do suspect it will be a good time to engage in behaviors that have a resemblance to hibernation: slowing down your mind and body; thinking deep thoughts and feeling deep feelings; seeking extra hugs and cuddles; getting lots of rich, warm, satisfying food and sleep. What else might appeal to your need to drop out of your fast-paced rhythm and supercharge your psychic batteries?

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): When people tell me they don’t have time to read the books I’ve written, I advise them to place the books under their pillows and soak up my words in their dreams. I don’t suggest that they actually eat the pages, although there is historical precedent for that. The Bible describes the prophet Ezekiel as literally chewing and swallowing a book. And there are accounts of 16th-century Austrian soldiers devouring books they acquired during their conquests, hoping to absorb the contents of the texts. But in accordance with current astrological omens, I suggest that in the next four weeks you acquire the wisdom stored in books by actually reading them or listening to them on audio recordings. In my astrological opinion, you really do need, for the sake of your psycho-spiritual health, to absorb writing that requires extended concentration.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Among the top “how to” search inquiries on Google are “how to buy Bitcoin,” “how to lose belly fat fast,” “how to cook spaghetti in a microwave,” and “how to make slime.” While I do think that the coming weeks will be prime time for you to formulate and launch many “how to” investigations, I will encourage you to put more important questions at the top of your priority list. “How to get richer quicker” would be a good one, as would “how to follow through on good beginnings,” “how to enhance your value” and “how to identify what resources and allies will be most important in 2019.”

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): A motivational speaker and author named Nick Vujicic was born without arms or legs, although he has two small, unusually shaped feet. These facts didn’t stop him from getting married, raising a family of four children, and writing eight books. One book is entitled Life Without Limits: Inspiration for a Ridiculously Good Life. He’s a positive guy who has faith in the possibility of miracles. In fact, he says he keeps a pair of shoes in his closet just in case God decides to bless him with a marvelous surprise. In accordance with current astrological omens, Aquarius, I suggest you make a similar gesture. Create or acquire a symbol of an amazing transformation you would love to attract to your life.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): About 11 percent of the Philippines’ population is comprised of Muslims who call themselves the Bangsamoro. Many resist being part of the Philippines and want their own sovereign nation. They have a lot of experience struggling for independence, as they’ve spent 400 years rebelling against occupation by foreign powers, including Spain, the United States and Japan. I admire their tenacity in seeking total freedom to be themselves and rule themselves. May they inspire your efforts to do the same on a personal level in the coming year.

Homework: Write yourself a nice long love letter full of praise and appreciation. Send a copy to me if you like at FreeWillAstrology.com.

The sun entered Aquarius last Sunday, prior to the lunar eclipse. Aquarius is the light that shines on Earth and across the sea. We (seekers, aspirants, disciples, Initiates) have returned to Earth from the summit of Capricorn; on the mountain we absorbed the light supernal (heavenly light) for humanity. In Aquarius, we now radiate that light, which becomes the waters of life for thirsty humanity.

The keynotes of Aquarius are cooperation (cooperatives), collaboration and community. Uranus in Aries and later in Taurus provides the “quickening” needed to manifest the era’s new ways of being. Aquarius is the sign of humanity working together, building community and cooperatives.

Cooperatives are democratically governed groups, operating on an at-cost, not-for-profit basis, focusing on the economic and social wellbeing of people and nations worldwide. They foster and encourage cooperative development, which generates local wealth, employment and marketplace interactions. It’s a plan of action that’s time has come. The thought of continuing under big corporation (BC) agendas is no longer feasible, acceptable, attractive, understandable or sustainable. BC is part of the past, lifeless world of greed and mass control.

Cooperatives fulfill the need of the 99 percent (humanity), seek what is local and sustainable, and are consumer-owned and member-controlled—benefits that create communality and community. Cooperatives differ completely from profit-driven enterprises. Cooperatives are “people-centered enterprises,” operating under values and principles guiding cooperatives worldwide: self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity, and solidarity. Cooperative members believe in the ethical values: honesty, openness, social responsibility, and caring for others. Farmers in cooperatives say with pride, “I’m a farmer and I’m an owner.” Where is a cooperative near you?

ARIES: You are working hard, perhaps to exhaustion, with your thinking power and energy focused in the world of work. Are you finding yourself easily upset, edgy, irritated or impatient? Are there criticisms or interruptions around you? You continue to achieve success and enthusiasm. You ask that others exhibit the same. They cannot. They don’t have your astrology chart. Be generous, listen and ponder instead of having expectations. Exhaustion then falls away.

TAURUS: You love pleasure, and pursue it quietly. You seek satisfaction through each day’s tasks and endeavors. At times, you’re unexpectedly playful. Deep down, you’re competitive. Your animals and/or children may exhibit this. You’re affectionate. You forgive. You’re admired yet secretive. You’re a taskmaster toward yourself. Enter the field of art. Draw, paint, sing, be creative each day. It’s your saving grace.

GEMINI: You’re protective of friends, home and family. You hide away with them. You have anger, but no one can find it. You don’t even know why. It’s hidden in a Scorpio sort of family situation. Be careful—resentments, like fiery sparks, sometimes fly out of you. Someday, you’ll seek a more direct approach to your hidden inner world. Prayer helps soothe away what hurts. Studying astrology does, too.

CANCER: More and more, you speak your mind, expressing ideas and opinions. Knowing a lot of this and that, you become upset when your morals and values differ from others. Sometimes you’re afraid, sometimes you’re informative. Sometimes you’re disruptive. Consider the differences and outcomes. Everyone has important information. Even silence contributes. Everyone is polishing the facet of themselves, creating the great diamond of humanity. What facet belongs to you?

LEO: You’re working hard these days. In the months to come, slow down a bit, become more precise and deliberate. Produce only what you value. At times, you’re ambitious. Then your impatience emerges with fiery impulsiveness. You can also be possessive. Independence is vital; a value you defend with secrecy. Daily life becomes filled with tasks. Take it easy. Slow down. Look around.

VIRGO: For a time, you’ll be more forcefully creative than usual. A dynamic energy will pour through you. It allows you to consider new realities, new plans and creative endeavors, giving you a new identity that’s independent and direct. You will be called to spontaneity, action and follow-through. Only for only a while, though. Then with the retrogrades, everything turns inward. You return home.

LIBRA: For a long or short amount of time, you felt stifled by your choices. Understanding and asserting yourself was obstructed. A sense of defeat, perhaps despair, was felt. No one was encouraging or loving you enough. You needed to build up self-confidence and a sense of balance. Then you made a decision to return somewhere to something. Your balance was re-established. Now, you’re strong—though very sensitive. This latter is hidden. And now, there’s one more something to do.

SCORPIO: Make a spiritual decision, based on comradeship, to work directly with people in a state of loving cooperation. You will achieve your goals more readily. Enlarge the circle of people you trust. Do this first by supporting them in their undertakings, praising their accomplishments. Cooperation is your new work, endeavor and keyword. It will establish for you more permanent relations with others. Calling forth all your hidden abilities and gifts.

SAGITTARIUS: You feel you were born to be respected and successful. Other people’s opinions of you are of no concern. You are to keep your eyes on the horizon while realizing no one is an island. Compassion is your watchword. You learn to be more loving in the coming year, realizing everyone is useful and of great value. This makes for real leadership. Be practical with money. What is true happiness and choice without limits?

CAPRICORN: You curb yourself when any sort of criticism floods your lower mind. You never want to disregard others’ opinions. However, you know there is a great truth beyond opinions and you seek that truth everywhere—in everything and everyone. It’s quite hidden these days. You have trained yourself to be honest, smoothing blunt edges of communication. Your humor finds the absurd in all events. Laughter is a companion. New leadership responsibilities come forth and knock on your door.

AQUARIUS: So clearly do you see through pretenses that sometimes you can be blunt in the attempt to banish untruths, illusions and glamours. This is both a gift and a difficulty. Many admire you. Some don’t understand you. You want to share. However, something hurt you long ago that makes you wary. Your desire nature is strong. It makes things happen like magic. Whatever you focus on materializes. You provide nourishment to the world so hungry. You are a white magician.

PISCES: Be conscious and aware of communication and interactions, especially with intimates and close family and friends. You could feel and be perceived as impatient, angry and unaware of others’ needs. Should this occur, you would feel devastated, as your behavior is never like this. Use the soul energies to quicken your sensitivity towards everyone. Ask what are everyone’s needs, hopes, wishes and cares. What can you offer them? Cultivate these ways, developing the subtle art of harmonious right human relationships.