Free will astrology for the week of March 7, 2018.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): The men who work on offshore oil rigs perform demanding, dangerous tasks on a regular basis. If they make mistakes, they may get injured or befoul the sea with petroleum. As you might guess, the culture on these rigs has traditionally been macho, stoic, and hard-driving. But in recent years, that has changed at one company. Shell Oil’s workers in the U.S. were trained by Holocaust survivor Claire Nuer to talk about their feelings, be willing to admit errors, and soften their attitudes. As a result, the company’s safety record has improved dramatically. If macho dudes toiling on oil rigs can become more vulnerable and open and tenderly expressive, so can you, Aries. And now would be a propitious time to do it.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): How will you celebrate your upcoming climax and culmination, Taurus? With a howl of triumph, a fist pump and three cartwheels? With a humble speech thanking everyone who helped you along the way? With a bottle of champagne, a gourmet feast and spectacular sex? However you choose to mark this transition from one chapter of your life story to the next chapter, I suggest that you include an action that will help the next chapter get off to a rousing start. In your ritual of completion, plant seeds for the future.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): On April 23, 1516, the Germanic duchy of Bavaria issued a decree. From that day forward, all beer produced had to use just three ingredients: water, barley, and hops. Ever since then, for the last 500-plus years, this edict has had an enduring influence on how German beer is manufactured. In accordance with astrological factors, I suggest that you proclaim three equally potent and systemic directives of your own. It’s an opportune time to be clear and forceful about how you want your story to unfold in the coming years.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): What’s your most frustrating flaw? During the next seven weeks, you will have enhanced power to diminish its grip on you. It’s even possible you will partially correct it or outgrow it. To take maximum advantage of this opportunity, rise above any covert tendency you might have to cling to your familiar pain. Rebel against the attitude described by novelist Stephen King: “It’s hard to let go. Even when what you’re holding onto is full of thorns, it’s hard to let go. Maybe especially then.”

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): In his book Whistling in the Dark, author Frederick Buechner writes that the ancient Druids took “a special interest in in-between things like mistletoe, which is neither quite a plant nor quite a tree, and mist, which is neither quite rain nor quite air, and dreams, which are neither quite waking nor quite sleep.” According to my reading of the astrological omens, in-between phenomena will be your specialty in the coming weeks. You will also thrive in relationship to anything that lives in two worlds or that has paradoxical qualities. I hope you’ll exult in the educational delights that come from your willingness to be teased and mystified.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): The English word “velleity” refers to an empty wish that has no power behind it. If you feel a longing to make a pilgrimage to a holy site, but can’t summon the motivation to actually do so, you are under the spell of velleity. Your fantasy of communicating with more flair and candor is a velleity if you never initiate the practical steps to accomplish that goal. Most of us suffer from this weakness at one time or another. But the good news, Virgo, is that you are primed to overcome your version of it during the next six weeks. Life will conspire to assist you if you resolve to turn your wishy-washy wishes into potent action plans—and then actually carry out those plans.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): In the 2002 film Spiderman, there’s a scene where the character Mary Jane slips on a spilled drink as she carries a tray full of food through a cafeteria. Spiderman, disguised as his alter ego Peter Parker, makes a miraculous save. He jumps up from his chair and catches Mary Jane before she falls. Meanwhile, he grabs her tray and uses it to gracefully capture her apple, sandwich, carton of milk, and bowl of jello before they hit the floor. The filmmakers say they didn’t use CGI to render this scene. The lead actor, Tobey Maguire, allegedly accomplished it in real life—although it took 156 takes before he finally mastered it. I hope you have that level of patient determination in the coming weeks, Libra. You, too, can perform a small miracle if you do.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Scorpio mathematician Benoît Mandelbrot was a connoisseur of “the art of roughness” and “the uncontrolled element in life.” He liked to locate and study the hidden order in seemingly chaotic and messy things. “My life seemed to be a series of events and accidents,” he said. “Yet when I look back I see a pattern.” I bring his perspective to your attention, Scorpio, because you are entering a phase when the hidden order and secret meanings of your life will emerge into view. Be alert for surprising hints of coherence.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): I suspect that in July and August you will be invited to commune with rousing opportunities and exciting escapades. But right now I’m advising you to channel your intelligence into well-contained opportunities and sensible adventures. In fact, my projections suggest that your ability to capitalize fully on the future’s rousing opportunities and exciting escapades will depend on how well you master the current crop of well-contained opportunities and sensible adventures. Making the most of today’s small pleasures will qualify you to harvest bigger pleasures later.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): If you saw the animated film The Lion King, you may have been impressed with the authenticity of the lions’ roars and snarls. Did the producers place microphones in the vicinity of actual lions? No. Voice actor Frank Welker produced the sounds by growling and yelling into a metal garbage can. I propose this as a useful metaphor for you in the coming days. First, I hope it inspires you to generate a compelling and creative illusion of your own—an illusion that serves a good purpose. Second, I hope it alerts you to the possibility that other people will be offering you compelling and creative illusions—illusions that you should engage with only if they serve a good purpose.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): I do a lot of self-editing before I publish what I write. My horoscopes go through at least three drafts before I unleash them on the world. While polishing the manuscript of my first novel, I threw away over a thousand pages of stuff that I had worked on very hard. In contrast to my approach, science fiction writer Harlan Ellison dashed off one of his award-winning stories in a single night, and published it without making any changes to the first draft. As you work in your own chosen field, Aquarius, I suspect that for the next three weeks you will produce the best results by being more like me than Ellison. Beginning about three weeks from now, an Ellison-style strategy might be more warranted.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): According to my assessment of the astrological omens, you’re in a favorable phase to gain more power over your fears. You can reduce your susceptibility to chronic anxieties. You can draw on the help and insight necessary to dissipate insidious doubts that are rooted in habit but not based on objective evidence. I don’t want to sound too melodramatic, my dear Pisces, but THIS IS AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY! YOU ARE POTENTIALLY ON THE VERGE OF AN UNPRECEDENTED BREAKTHROUGH! In my opinion, nothing is more important for you to accomplish in the coming weeks than this inner conquest.

Homework: What would the people who love you best say is the most important thing for you to learn? Testify at Freewillastrology.com.

We have many planetary retrogrades this year—Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, Vesta and Chiron. Retrograde planets turn us inward; we become reflective upon our lives, our blessings, our wants and needs.

This week, Jupiter, planet of love and wisdom (Ray 2), of truth-telling (with Sag), of justice and the expansion of everything everywhere, turns retrograde at 23.13 degrees Scorpio. Jupiter in Scorpio is bringing to light all of the dark secrets humanity is presently drowning in.

Jupiter retrogrades for four months (March 8 to July 10). During this time, we are able to “see the big picture”; our perspectives and beliefs change, expand and are uplifted. We are able to rise above separations. We develop new tools, consider new goals and new journeys (Jupiter rules Sag). We want to learn more, understand mysteries (Scorpio), solve problems, seek the psychology of a person, place or event. Inner and outer work is accomplished simultaneously.

Jupiter, a social planet, expands us outward. Scorpio and the retrograde take us inward. With Jupiter retrograde, our secret selves, all that’s been hidden from view, especially emotions, awaken, make themselves known. It’s a time for healing, for transformation (Pluto works with Scorpio) which comes through crisis. It’s quite a fascinating time. We may encounter issues with sex, money, death, rebirth and rock ’n’ roll.

Jupiter was last in Scorpio October 2005 through November 2006, and before that, November 1993 to December 1994, and from November 1981 to December 1982. What was occurring for everyone then? Now with Jupiter again in Scorpio, something from that time appears again—for remembrance, adjustment, assessment, completion, or for just a little tenderness.

ARIES: It’s a time for intimacy, developing trust, understanding your psychological mechanisms, time for counseling, for marriage, and for tending to all debts. These are important months when your private world opens to you and you alone. You will assess intimacy, finances held in common, and vulnerability. Buried, hidden, secret situations come to life in order to be resolved. The outcome of all of this is harmony and wholeness while reading mystery stories.

TAURUS: Partnerships grow and expand, become deeper, more successful, and happy, too. A beneficence that comes into all interactions. Everything feels like a blessing, and it is, though often it’s hidden. You sense and feel a benediction, no matter what occurs. There are shared finances and assets conversations. A resource drops from the sky. This comes as a surprise. There’s a sharing of beliefs and interests. Freedom will be part of the dynamics of all intimate relationships.

GEMINI: Be sure to maintain constancy with daily routines so that your health and well-being are enhanced. Daily tasks, duties and responsibilities call for order and organization. Careful that you don’t overwork. Life prospers if your work entails serving others. A new job or position may be offered. You feel useful during these months. Do not allow any task to become monotonous. Imaginatively mix up your day. Take up an ancient yet well-known study.

CANCER: Having fun is most important, allowing ease to express yourself. Each day, pursue your own creative interests. Realize you’re unique with much to share. A dream you’ve carried for a long time comes true. The arts are important, children, too. As you go through each day you feel confident, supported by everyone. And then your imagination comes into play. A new partnership may be formed.

LEO: Home is most important. It’s your foundation, your nest, your family, how you live each day, anchor emotions, seek comfort, have protection (for self and other kingdoms) and take refuge. Something will grow and expand in your home. A new garden is a good idea. Perhaps you will expand real estate holding, or expand rooms, the garden or even your family. Careful not to overextend. And balance home and professional life. Resources appear.

VIRGO: Deep and wide philosophical issues will begin to cross your mind, then take up lots of your mind, thoughts, ideas, conversations. New and interesting conversations increase your curiosity. You may take long solitary walks through neighborhoods, down streets, in new towns. Not too far away, but enough that new things are seen. You may choose to raise bees, gather honey and seed wildflowers in meadows here and there and everywhere.

LIBRA: All of your values may change, as you assess personal resources finances and possessions. You see the benefits of your tireless work each day and earning power. You find you want more of everything, creating a greater opportunity to give and share more. Something may be bought and/or sold. You assess self-worth, you attract abundance, you choose not to overspend. You help someone who loves you. Someone misses you.

SCORPIO: Cheerfulness and optimism appear and they noticeably improve how you feel and act out in the world. You are expansive, exuberant and more self-confidence than is usual. You feel relaxed and fortunate and, truly, you are! You greet each day with the knowledge that no matter the circumstances, all is good, every moment, every day. When problems occur you ease into them, tend to them with equanimity, and poof, they disappear!

SAGITTARIUS: You asked what planet has been affecting you lately. Among many others, it’s Jupiter, in your 12th house of Pisces—sign of compassion, empathy and deep sensitivity. Know that this is good. There’s an angelic level of protection when Jupiter is in one’s 12th house with a feeling of being guided (pushed at times), directed and rewarded. Intuition comes more easily, charity, too. This is very beneficial. Faith happens.

CAPRICORN: Over the next months, you may find yourself networking a bit, creating friendship and new acquaintances, researching clubs, groups and organizations. Perhaps you will consider creating a group of friends that meets together, shares knowledge, food, cooking, and creating together. You feel hopeful these days; resources increase, and you look into things alternative. There’s a feeling of joy permeating your days and nights.

AQUARIUS: There will be more recognition concerning your service to the world, the work you do that enhances people’s lives. You may consider how you want your career to advance. You may consider new opportunities, new jobs, education, something influential, professional and pleasurable. You feel freedom, have integrity and are honest and these take you to places of reward. You are worthy of recognition. Take a bow!

PISCES: Goals, travel, journeys, new horizons, new people, places, and events. These call to your curiosity, your sense of adventure. There may be a greater opportunity to teach. Education comes through possible travel. Stress, felt before, lessens, priorities take on new meaning. You become more and more creative. You think about writing a book, publishing. New doors open. The Temple doors.