Weekly Astroguide

Some people go to great lengths to own the latest electronic gadget or designer product. They'll queue all night outside shops to get the most recent designs. In one way, they want to be at the cutting edge of change. Yet this kind of change holds little satisfaction for you. You're looking for a way to express outwardly what you're feeling inside. Things can be done very differently this week if you take the cosmic energy and run with it. Uranus will help you to ensure that you do all the right things, for all the right reasons. In your love life: If you want to cut yourself off from someone else's feelings, you can. But whether or not you should, is your decision.

Mars is slowly reversing back through Aquarius on its way to leaving your sign. Uranus, your ruler, is turning backwards too. Rather than this being a celestial signal that you're going to be sitting around waiting for something to happen, it's an indication that what's slowing you down is easy to fix. If anything's impeding your progress now, it's more than likely to be your impatience! You could be putting too much energy into accomplishing something that is happening of its own accord. Trust a little more and let things unfold. In your love life: Exciting discoveries are rarely made whilst pursuing obvious objectives. It can't do any harm to stretch yourself a little.

This week brings an opportunity to explore something that's of great importance to you. Whether it's a relationship or an opportunity, you can investigate it in detail. As Uranus begins its retrograde movement across the sky, it indicates that the more you know, the deeper your emotional commitment will be. Being aware of this might help you to find the objectivity to stand back rather than to care too much. Context is important. Don't focus too much on the details and lose sight of the bigger picture. It's very promising. In your love life: If we think too hard, there would be no romance, or adventure. Better sometimes to go too far than not far enough.

Life is composed of different rhythms and cycles that ebb and flow, recess and revive, slow down and speed up. Sometimes, despite our best intentions and plans, a process needs to be wound down before it can be cranked back up again. It happens both with world economies and within our own relationships. It's a natural process which is best handled if you accept it and go with the flow. So, as you sense that something in your life is coming to an end, instead of feeling regrets, just have a look at what's beginning. In your love life: We all worry about what others think of us. But don't let it be why you deprive yourself of an entitlement.

With so many different unresolved problems on your hands, wouldn't it be wise to prepare yourself to be disappointed this week? If you add a few of the world's current issues, plus the fact that Uranus is turning retrograde in your sign, surely that's enough to make anyone feel down on their luck? Should you set your expectations too low? No! Absolutely not! Although the silver lining is only just appearing, it is there, and the cosmic climate offers more than just a ray of hope. Be ready to welcome a quiet reason to be optimistic. In your love life: There is a tendency to assume that everything can happen magically. But a little common sense won't go amiss!

From the comfort of our sofas we love watching dramas unfold. But it's not just watching them being acted out on screen that we find so entertaining, we love being part of the action too. We play out roles and take on different characters throughout our lives. We act out parts with such gusto that we forget that we made a choice about the role we're playing. As Uranus turns retrograde this week, it encourages you to reassess an intense situation you're involved with. If you want to move on, the time to do so is here. In your love life: In the battle between head and heart we all need to find balance. That's what the cosmos is trying to help you to do.

It's easier to change the world than we're led to believe. There are so many ways to take action that I'm not sure where to begin. You could join a protest movement, try to open the minds of the close-minded, fight against the traditions that give power over others. Or, you could just choose to change the way you approach life and try to find a gentler, more accepting way of dealing with the events that come your way this week. Though it may not be right to forget an injustice, you can find a way to move ahead. In your love life: A challenge is sometimes needed. Be adventurous . Set yourself a goal you are not sure you can reach.

Is it possible to negotiate with destiny? We tend to think that our future is a done deal. That we're going to end up where we're supposed' to end up, regardless of what we do and how we live our lives. But, your future isn't written down on stone tablets somewhere in the ethers. It's more like a light sketch, made in pencil, which can easily be adjusted and altered. As Uranus prepares to change direction, you have the possibility to change the course of your life. This week brings an exciting opportunity to collaborate with faith. In your love life: Does our own view have more validity than someone else's? Recognise a sensitive situation before judging it.

There's something comforting about imagining an easier life in a different world. Actually, though, there is a different world available to you and it's much closer than the one you imagine. It's part of where you are right now just hidden from view. Think of it as if you own a car that isn't working as it should. It's tempting to trade it in for a new one, but instead, you simply take it to a mechanic for a tune-up. So, in your life now, rather than run from something that feels difficult, there's an easy way to fix it which will save you time and energy. In your love life: You don't need to solve the puzzle that surround you. Just relax, let events unfold. Patience will be rewarded.

Amazing things can happen when we allow ourselves to think creatively. Letting go of the familiar script of your life, and improvising, leads to innovative ways to solve problems, and unfamiliar solutions that can change lives. As Venus changes signs, just as Uranus begins its retrograde motion, don't underestimate the power you have to think on your feet and find answers to some of your most perplexing problems. Use your energy to inspire your actions and focus on what could be possible because you can reach for the stars. In your love life: Don't get bogged down in too much philosophical wondering. Your outlook is surprisingly good right now.

The planet of communication has joined your co-rulers Mars and Pluto in retrograde motion across the sky. Although you might think this suggests that the week ahead will have more than its fair share of communication problems, it's not quite that simple. Mercury isn't in your sign: so, although the art of clear communication will be a focal point, there is no need for any difficulties. The challenge lies more in your ability to listen attentively to what someone wants to share with you. The depth of understanding will be valuable to you both. In your love life: You are hearing a soft, yet strong, whisper of advice from within. Trust it. Your inner-voice is wiser than you know.

The beginning of Uranus' retrograde movement across the skies brings you the chance to do something you've been waiting to do. You have a skill that you've never really been given the opportunity to use to its full potential and this is your moment to begin using it. Rather than pushing away the feeling of edgy apprehension this transit brings, you can use it to fire yourself up and motivate you. If you're determined and confident in yourself, you can grab hold of a real chance to create positive change. It's been long overdue. In your love life: Sinking in an ocean of uncertainty? So why are you ignoring the luxury liner that is steaming to you with a lifebelt?

When large vehicles reverse they emit a bleeping noise to warn anyone who might be in their path. Can you hear that noise as Mars reverses into your sign? Perhaps this is where the analogy falls down! Mars is more of a speeding roadster than the heavy goods vehicle of the zodiac. This is nevertheless an uncomfortable manoeuvre for it to make and for you to experience. But it's part of ensuring that the road ahead is clear so that you can profit from your ruler's Grand Trine later in August, which will see you shifting through the gears. In your love life: You have grown unused to change. Gigantic gears are turning again. Just give them a little time to get up to speed.

Much of August's celestial activity occurs opposite your sign, including a partial Solar Eclipse and Mercury turning direct. So, it might be easy to think that breakthroughs happen to other folk rather than you. This is especially the case with Mars reversing through Aquarius. But it's not the whole picture. Mars leaves your sign before turning direct, while your ruling planets form a powerful Astrological kite' at the Full Moon. Not only will you understand the relevance of your current learning, you'll appreciate the strength it's giving you. In your love life: It's easy to feel all alone. But you are being well looked after now. You can expect to feel better protected soon.

When Romeo first saw Juliet, he wondered, Did my heart love till now?' There's always been a debate about love at first sight. Whether it's infatuation or physical attraction, we recognise that moment. Following the final trine between your rulers this month, the annual Full Moon in your sign forms a magnificent astrological kite'. It suggests that you should concentrate on what you can establish for certain. Lucky you! Because, when it comes to opportunities, the sooner you believe what's in front of your eyes, the better! In your love life: Pressured? Remember the part you have played in getting here. What is happening needs to happen. Be patient.

Mars will finally end its retrograde period towards the end of August. Although this may feel like something in the distant future right now, it's a development that will have far-reaching implications in your life, and all for the good! I am telling you this to encourage you because I suspect that retrograde Mars is causing you more than enough stress. So, rather than allowing the current pressures to impact you negatively, you can focus on the future. The road may not be free of bumps and dips, but you'll like where it's leading you. In your love life: Some things really are impossible. Others just seem impossible. There is a smart solution. You will find it.

Teenage years are always a struggle for teenagers and parents alike! That dizzying mix of hormones and battle for independence is a tricky journey to navigate. It's hard not to take it personally when things hot up. As August begins with Mars making a tense alignment to Uranus, try to keep as calm as possible. Context is key. You're being asked to revise your situation, not abandon hope. Both Mercury and Mars will turn direct again later this month and when they do, you'll be glad of the steadiness and strength you showed. In your love life: Partners need space to be by themselves. Getting the balance right is a challenge. You can rise to it.

Have you ever read the risks listed on a medical label or listened to the legalities at the end of an advert? Companies declare all sorts of remote possibilities to free themselves from potentially damaging consequences. What if life came with similar terms and conditions, listing all the potential problems that could arise whenever we make a choice? Nothing's ever guaranteed. Mercury's retrograde period is making you aware of the ways things could go wrong. As it turns direct, prepare for things to start going reassuringly right again. In your love life: Caught in a drama? You can shape it decisively. All you need is support. Despite your concern, this may be easier to get.

No one likes feeling unsupported. Whether it's a someone, a something or a situation that we can't depend on, it's disconcerting to feel that there's nothing to catch us if we fall. We hope we won't need to use it, but we like to have a safety net to feel secure. Perhaps we need the appearance of security more than we need security itself. As Mercury turns direct this month, with Mars also changing direction, you can start to regain a little assuredness in life. And with a Full Moon kite' arriving, you can find enough faith to make bold advances. In your love life: Don't think of luck in terms of a lottery win. Your outlook and luck are great but not necessarily how you may think.

The annual Golden Bull awards are handed out to the writers of the most incomprehensible gibberish written over the past year. The authors of these meaningless masterpieces are often lawyers and academics who think that using convoluted language gives them more authority. This month, with Mercury retrograde in your sign, and Mars retrograde opposite it, there are self-appointed experts telling you that the solution to a problem is fiendishly difficult. But as long as you do what feels right to you, you won't go wrong. In your love life: You would like to see the resolution of a recurring problem. Too much to ask? You may think so, but it is not.

In places where the weather is less than hospitable for many months of the year, a blue sky can seem miraculous. Of course there are also many places on our planet where a raincloud is a reason for great celebration. But whichever meteorological climate we inhabit, we all know what it's like to emerge triumphant on the other side of a dark or difficult period. Overcoming the odds makes victory taste sweet. Mercury's retrograde period will end in August, just before the Sun enters your sign. A fair wind is starting to blow. In your love life: Your ability to fix a recurring problem is greater than you realise. As long as you are watching out for trouble, you will win.

It's been so long since you've had a lucky break that you're half-convinced fortune is avoiding you. But it could be as simple as making a change in your approach to cause it to alter its course and head in your direction. Mars may be retrograde, but its change of direction is imminent. You might have a host of justifications for why something's not worth the effort... but you just need a good reason to hold on. And as your ruler Venus enters your sign later this month, you've definitely got more than one of those. In your love life: You are in a tight corner. It's time to come out fighting! Trust your ability to create change.

With Mars and Mercury retrograde, your mind is restless. You're fretting, yet no closer to finding an answer. The more you pick at the knot, the tighter and more complicated it seems to become. But, as Jupiter in your sign makes its final trine with Neptune this month, the unraveling of a complex scenario can begin. In truth, no matter how much time you spend thinking about this conundrum, you may never entirely solve it. But when Mercury and Mars turn direct, you'll be able to tie up the loose ends in a very satisfying way. In your love life: Be wary of statements, even quiet words, whispered in your ear. Listen to your own misgivings. Tread delicately.

Since you're in the process of nourishing a seed sown in the fertile soil of your mind, don't be tempted to discard your dreams because they have yet to deliver on their promises. Be willing to play the long game. The final trine between Jupiter and Neptune heralds the last stage of Jupiter's journey towards its homecoming in Sagittarius. Keep a picture in your heart of what you're questing for and follow the instinctive knowledge of your soul. Then you won't stray from the path you're following towards your true destiny. In your love life: Unsure what to make of a certain situation? This week brings you insight and the potential to enjoy much comfort.

If you fancy being uncompromisingly idealistic, you should probably start by thinking about how dizzy you can get away with being! A crazily wild action plan needs to be accompanied by at least a shot of practical realism (well, it does if you want it to stand a chance of enjoying it for a while). Yet a common sense attitude doesn't mean coming back down to earth with a bang. If you can see it more as necessary refueling, you'll find yourself the passenger in a rocket that can take off on a promising adventure. In your love life: You are hoping for too much in one way, too little in another. Whatever you fear, you need not be afraid. Whatever you think, think again.

When the Lunar Eclipse occurs in your sign, the rest of the world had better watch out! There's no messing with you right now. You know what you want to do and how you want to do it. What's more, you're feeling ambitious and you have targets lined up in your sights. Which is great news, because although this week won't go exactly as you'd like, progress is in the air. Just keep an eye out for any intense emotions. Since you're extra sensitive, the art of gentle persuasion will lead to success. In your love life: You have a tremendous asset. A big advantage for which you should feel grateful. Be glad of what is good in your emotional life now.

This week, you'll find yourself among admirers and friends who believe in you. So rather than doubting their discriminatory powers, try just enjoying the possibility that they're right to put their faith in you. Yes! You deserve the attention. The Eclipse, plus Venus opposite your ruler, suggests that the appreciation you're receiving has been a long time coming. Don't be tempted to divert the attention towards a source of aggravation or even a conflict. By focusing on a source of strength you'll find empowering support. In your love life: Forgive and forget' is an unfortunate pairing of words. You have lately learned a lesson. You would do well to remember it, but without rancour.

Although you're trying to ignore it, a delicate situation is preoccupying you. You've tried to push it under the carpet, but it just keeps popping back out and demanding your attention. Could there be a chance that there might be some sort of lesson for you to learn here? Just because you're under pressure to suppress the desire to follow a tempting proposal, doesn't mean that you should give up on it. Trust your instincts and take a good look at this issue. Then give it your best shot and really sort it out. Do what you want to do! In your love life: Sometimes, progress means doing an about-turn to get to the right road. Don't be too proud to embrace a wiser approach.

If we always knew what we were doing, life would be dull and predictable. Without impossible situations we'd never change. Doubts and confusion force us to use our creativity, insight and inventiveness. Well, they do until they reach a certain limit! After that, though, they start to sap our energy. But you're nowhere near feeling worn down by this situation. As long as you eventually make a decision about the direction you're heading, it's extremely healthy to wonder why you're going where you're going. In your love life: You don't feel like putting on a show. But if you fake what you can't feel for real, it will actually help you to believe it...

People say that what you don't know can't harm you. But how exactly do they know? Has anyone ever conducted a proper experiment, using a cross-section of society, keeping one group of people informed and another not? As Mercury turns retrograde this week, just ahead of an Eclipse in the part of the sky that represents higher understanding, you're on a quest to overturn an assumption that will lead to a long overdue breakthrough. The lack of information wasn't harmful, but being enlightened will help you immensely. In your love life: The cosmos showers you with bright blessings. You don't have to take your chances; but if you can find the courage...

Even the most impressive trees on our planet begin life as tiny seeds. It's astonishing to think about how one tiny individual seedling can ever mature into something so awesome and necessary for the survival of the world as a magnificent tree. The idea in your mind might only be little; but you have no idea of how big it can grow. Yet, you do have an instinct. The Lunar Eclipse is revealing a helpful secret, and the wisdom to help you nurture something that seems inconsequential and turn it into a tangible benefit. In your love life: Rules somehow eat up your energy now. There are some that you cannot live by any more. So break them. But the right way.

This week begins with the Sun entering your sign, and then brings a rare Lunar Eclipse conjunct Mars in your opposite sign. If you've ever been tempted to write a book about your life, these events could inspire a chapter or two. This is a fairytale situation, bringing a period of sleepiness followed by a revelation. It involves an important discovery which helps you understand a relationship from an altered perspective. It means revisiting something in your past and finding a crucial key. Be ready for some fascinating fun! In your love life: You've got a feeling about something. It is easy to argue yourself out of this. But hunches deserve respect.

Since Mercury rules Virgo, its presence in your sign is a cause for celebration. The fact that it's turning retrograde helps to explain why you're being bombarded by blasts from the past. You're reflecting and reviewing and making significant discoveries which will enable you to reappraise a recent decision. That's why certain projects have been delayed. Rather than allowing a sense of frustration to affect your critical faculties, you can use this phase to find a constructive new approach to a tired situation. In your love life: Don't let anyone put you off and dissipate your energy. Just one small speck of rain could distinguish what might become a glorious fire.

We might know that some of our problems are blessings in disguise, but it's not easy when you're living in the middle of one. Right now, everything you do to sort out a particular problem seems to make matters worse. So suppose, this week, you were to stop focusing all your energy on it? What would happen if you were to relax and trust someone else to look after things for a while? That would give you a chance to stand back and see a better way to proceed. If you slow down and breathe, a breakthrough becomes possible. In your love life: There isn't always a calm before a storm. A part of you can hardly wait for trouble to intensify. But you should not feel obliged to invite such a development.

How do you stop yourself from scratching an itch? You can ignore it. You can try focusing on something else. Or you can imagine that you've got another itch somewhere that needs attention. We all have to find ways to distract ourselves. Even though an intense cosmic climate seems to be recreating a repetition of a recent difficult situation, you don't have to go through the same old discussions. Make this an opportunity either to confirm a past decision, or confidently change your mind. Just make your choice with conviction. In your love life: The more you rise to the bait of a conflict the more impaled you will become on the hook of contention. So do not engage. Support is coming.

Have you noticed how some folk never stop talking yet don't say very much, while other folk are constantly busy, but don't get much done? It's easy to expend lots of energy without really making progress. As Mercury turns retrograde, even though you might have problems communicating with someone, rather than needing strength, you need clarity. Then, when you know what you need to say, you can change a complex undertaking into an effective way to make progress. You don't need to hurry or worry this week. In your love life: Sometimes, it really can be a mistake to play it all too safe. We need a little adventure in our lives. Dare to do things differently.

It would be easy, yet unwise to underestimate the effect that your influence and experience can have on your week. As your ruler links to Neptune, it brings you a choice. You can either picture your future glowing in the golden light of success, or you can dream up a nightmarish landscape of grey disappointment. The responsibility is yours. So, if you find yourself reacting negatively to a challenge, try looking calmly and coolly at whatever is pushing your buttons. Then you can channel any negative feelings into positive action. In your love life: Whilst carrying on as normal, you must make a little room in your life for the possibility of something significantly different.

The gift of happiness overrides financial concerns and social ambitions. When we're feeling joyful we count our blessings rather than focus on our lacks. It's during times of anxiety and insecurity that we tend to place blame on the scarcity of our resources. This week, as we move between eclipses, you can make a positive difference to your amount of wealth. Yet, as Saturn and Neptune link, any other sources of annoyance will need to be handled with a change of psychological attitude rather than with a physical approach. In your love life: Is your life something of a high wire act just now? However precarious it seems, just take one step at a time.

Since you're likely to receive some outrageous propositions this week, you might find yourself tempted to invest in the psychological equivalent of an amplifier and a set of good headphones. Who needs a head filled with other people's preposterous notions? Except, somewhere, disguised in a whimsical fancy, one of them could hold the solution to one of your life's most baffling problems. So, however tempted you may be to dismiss a seemingly ludicrous idea, don't dismiss any spontaneous opinions this week. In your love life: Somewhere in your storehouse of experience is the key to resolving the scenario you face. Think harder; worry less.

It's a simple fact that nature abhors a vacuum. When a gap appears, it will be filled. That doesn't always mean that the perfect solution finds its way to the pertinent problem. The real difficulty is that some people pretend everything's perfect when it's not. They'd rather make do with what they've got than risk shaking things up to make space for something different. If you've filled a temporary gap in your life, this is the week to let it go. The cosmic indication is that it can be filled with something much more promising. In your love life: Rules are less clear-cut than you might imagine. They'll bend a surprisingly long way. That may yet prove very helpful.

Just because you're feeling under pressure to solve a problem doesn't mean you can let your standards slip. The media might be constantly showing examples of instantaneous solutions, but such fixes are often superficial in their effect. It's worth taking the time to look at what you're trying to fix. Rather than having a problem, you're going through a process that's actually necessary and good for you. So don't make a compromise. Wait instead, this week, for good news that will reveal a better way to find peace and calm. In your love life: How precious is dialogue? If the communication is honest, the stimulation and satisfaction it brings is priceless.

There's a chance that in one aspect of your life, you'll experience such a degree of success that you won't know how to deal with it. That may not sound like a bad problem to have! Yet the feeling of being trapped is the same whether you created the prison yourself or not. As we move between eclipses, you're going through a period of creativity. You can make things happen. The key to success lies in knowing what you want to occur. Then, you'll be able to find an easy way to progress around any obstacles that appear this week. In your love life: You can project a seemingly impenetrable facade. But, inside, you are sensitive. Don't let your detractors know.

Saturn's link with Neptune provides the perfect climate for an imaginative exercise. So, would you mind pretending to be someone very different to you? It's as if a crazy scientist has transferred your mind and personality into the physical container that is your body. You're suddenly more conscious of your intuitive abilities and the life skills that you've gleaned from your past. You're seeing the world in a fresh, new way. If you keep looking at life with this perspective, you can change how someone important perceives you. In your love life: Are all moments created equal? Not for you; and not this week. It's going to be a good week' in the classic sense.

Your flight or fight reflex has been activated; you're ready for action. But the trouble, if it's coming at all, is a long way off. The good news is that there's a good chance that you'll have stepped out of its path before it gets to you. Trouble doesn't resemble a smart bomb'. It's not predestined to follow you and explode into your life. Following the Eclipse, you can make a decision that will keep a problem at bay. If you alter your approach to a frustrating relationship, you can let go of a tiring habit and take up something healthy and new. In your love life: You're being invited to go out of your way to help someone else. It is my duty to inform you that you are really under no obligation.

Ideas are a bit like seeds: if they're planted in fertile soil and watered and fed, they tend to take root and start to shoot. And, just as seedlings bear little resemblance to the plants they become once they're established, so our dreams and hopes often stop looking like the reality of our initial idea. As Neptune and Saturn link, you need to be alert both for overly romanticised dreaming, and unnecessary fears based on imaginings. Something lovely is waiting to be discovered. You just need to dig for it in an unexpected place. In your love life: In an effort to protect someone, you are holding back sensitive information? It's time to put your cards on the table.

Where's the mastermind plan that will explain the reason for so much unpredictability in your life? If only you could see the reasons behind all that's chaotic, you'd be more able to cope. Yet if there is such a thing as a grand cosmic strategy, it's doubtful that any of us would be able to understand its complexities. In this sensitive time between eclipses, you're feeling compelled to grasp the motivations behind a difficult scenario or relationship. Yet, intuitively you already know just how to deal with it. Trust your instincts this week. In your love life: A life without drama isn't much of a life at all. You have a chance to do something that could bring deep, lasting satisfaction.

The concept of infinity lies beyond our comprehension. Eternity also is too mind-blowing for us to understand. Yet both of these are realities and more real than the characteristics we take on, in order to fulfill our own expectations of who we are and what we should be doing. So what's the point of feeling sad about what you can never have, or regretful about what you've let slip through your fingers? This week brings an opportunity to investigate something you're skeptical about. Yet it has lots more to offer than you suspect. In your love life: A life without drama isn't much of a life at all. You have a chance to do something that could bring deep, lasting satisfaction.

You're feeling some financial pressures. It's as if you're being stretched too far and don't feel confident that you'll be able to return to the same shape and level of comfort that you previously held. You're not sure that you can access your normal resources or make the moves you want to make. Saturn's creative link to Neptune this week brings an invitation to find an intuitive approach to a problem. You can more than meet your current sense of need and make a change that will create a sustainable sense of certainty. In your love life: There is something you want, and no reason why you shouldn't get it, either. Give a plan a chance to unfold.

It's easy to snap a little twig. It's easy enough to snap two. But if you pick up a handful you'll have trouble. There's strength, as well as safety in numbers. The disadvantage of this ancient wisdom is that in order to be supported, you sometimes need to be closer than you'd like to a bunch of other twigs! Jupiter's change of direction, plus the Eclipse opposite your sign, suggest that your strong need to be independent may have to give way this week. You're surrounded by people who can help you. Rather than resent this, enjoy it! In your love life: The contribution that you are about to make is absolutely crucial. There is a problem that you alone can solve.

People always want to know if some zodiac signs are luckier than others. I honestly don't think so. There are, though, times when one sign's having a better run of it than the others. This week brings a Solar Eclipse and a Grand Trine, which features both your ruling planets. That makes a rather heady and delightful cosmic cocktail. You may not be able to have everything that you'd like, in just the way that you'd like it, but there are many areas of your life which can be improved by a series of very helpful changes. In your love life: Wherever some small success is attainable, that's where a much larger quantity will soon become available.

Some people seem to think that you're too compassionate for your own good. Your natural ability to empathise means that you hear about peoples' struggles as well as their triumphs. Despite the advice of those around you, if you were to harden your heart, your life would not improve. As Venus moves into your sign to form a Grand Trine, just before the Solar Eclipse, all you need to do is keep trusting in your sensitivity. You know the right thing to do and the right way to get there. What feels wrong will turn out to be just right. In your love life: The eclipse is the cosmos presenting you with exceptional circumstances. Something pleasing is coming.

How is life on the roller-coaster? How does the view of the Grand Canyon look when you're preparing to bungee jump into it? There's not much you can do to dissipate the sense of nervous energy you're experiencing. You're facing one of those moments that will take you into a new and exciting time of your life. There's not much you can do except stay optimistic and prepared for action. But that shouldn't be a problem. The Solar Eclipse suggests that whatever surprises the week brings, you're more than able to handle them. In your love life: Are your head and heart engaged in a tense opposition? Focus on what you know you need to change.

You're under the influence of a Grand Trine. And this week your ruler enters into yet another rare alignment, adding a new twist. Jupiter's change of direction, plus the Solar Eclipse will bring even greater intensity to the potential impact of the opportunity you're facing. There's a chance to see someone (or something) from a completely different perspective. Your insight is being heightened so that either a material situation, or a relationship can be greatly improved. You're being empowered to change what you want to change. In your love life: It is beginning to look as if you may just possibly have been wrong. Be patient. Don't rush into (or out of) anything.

No one knows the exact origin of the phrase, Cometh the hour, cometh the man (or woman)'. It could be from the Bible, or an ancient cricketer or even Winston Churchill. Whoever it was, a partial Solar Eclipse indicates that a special hour cometh into your life this week. All you need to know is that you are a match for any challenge. Nothing is so tricky or sticky that you can't find your own way to handle it. When the hour presents itself, just draw on your deep resources. The cosmic climate is in your favour. You can rely on the resolve it brings. In your love life: You will soon see who really is or isn't on your side. That will help in so many ways.

A Solar Eclipse takes place in your sign at the end of this week. Isn't that enough information for you? Oh, all right. You want the winning lottery numbers too do you? Actually though, the news you already have is more valuable than those! You're about to feel more powerful, energetic and determined than you've felt in a while. As long as you remain focused and calm even when life gets unusually exciting, you can take great steps along the path to success. You have all the tools you need to make this a pivotal time. In your love life: Refuse to be taken for granted, that way you will help yourself. The Eclipse brings emotional empowerment.

This week's partial Solar Eclipse will affect your position within a structure or an organisation. You're right to be feeling that you've been taken for granted, but the recognition you're starting to receive brings compensation. Actually, you like the fact that other people are relying on you. Although it's not easy to live up to unspoken expectations, you're doing a good job. So if you're unhappy about an arrangement, this is a good time to reveal your feelings. Venus' change of signs makes it easier to get what you want. In your love life: Are you fooling yourself? The coming Eclipse brings a valuable revelation to your heart.

One of the teachings of the great philosopher Lao Tzu tells us that, in our heart of hearts, we know who we are and what we want. Hundreds of years have passed since he shared his wisdom, yet his words remain as true as they ever were. As Venus moves into your sign this week they are particularly pertinent for you. The planet of love forms an empowering alignment with Saturn and Uranus just as the Sun is obscured by an Eclipse. Trust what's in your heart. You contain much more potential for magic than you think. In your love life: Are you driven to action? Sometimes, inaction is advisable; nothing may be the best thing to do.

You're going over something in your mind, thinking of all the could-have-beens' and the should-have-beens'. Yet focusing on life's near misses makes it harder to make decisions in the here and now. Although resting in resentment might bring a degree of comfort, it holds you back and stops you from accessing the skills you've learned as a result of all your experiences the good and the bad. Your ruler's Grand Trine, coinciding with the Solar Eclipse offer you a window of fresh perspective. You can move on from the past. In your love life: Accept a slight setback. Don't worry about winning' or losing'; just focus on doing and giving your best.

Nothing stays the same. Even the hardest stones on the planet erode over time. I'm reminded of this because you're coming to terms with a new set of circumstances that make you feel unsettled. With Jupiter retrograde in your sign, you've been feeling doubtful about a situation that used to make you feel secure. A Solar Eclipse, opposite your ruler seems to underline reasons to worry. Yet as Jupiter turns direct, you'll sense a shift in power. It means that you can turn whatever feels unsatisfactory into something satisfying. In your love life: Don't hide behind a mask of apparent helplessness. You feel unready for a new responsibility. But it is ready for you.

No, you haven't been idling your time away on frivolities. Neither have you been banging your head against a wall or teaching pigs to fly. You've just had all your time taken up by a difficult situation. You've done all that you can to hasten a process that is still going frustratingly slowly. No wonder you're feeling exhausted. Yet there's no reason to give up. This week, as your ruler finally turns direct and the cosmos brings a powerful Solar Eclipse, prepare yourself to see some positive progress. At last! In your love life: Tense and worried? Is it a roller-coaster ride? Dramatic downs will yet give way to exhilarating ups. Hold tight.

When you're doing a rigidly systematic job or tackling a question that emerges from a specific set of procedures, it's imperative to understand what you're doing or you won't succeed. Conversely, when it comes to imagination and emotions, a rigid set of beliefs is often all that's needed to close down inspiration. You won't always make the discoveries you expect to make but that doesn't mean they're not the ones you've been searching for! Keep an open mind and your quest will see success before the month is out. In your love life: If you can remain kindly disposed towards a source of antagonism, the more likely you are to bring forth an angel.

Will you be up or down? Successful or not? These aren't easy questions to answer this month. With retrograde Mars in your sign, and Venus in a Grand Trine with both your rulers, your situation is both delicate and commanding. Your emotions are being tossed about like a fishing boat on high seas. The ups and downs might even make you feel a little seasick. But it's better to be sensitive to turbulence than oblivious to all around you. This is a time of unusual magic and possibility. Eventually, unease will turn to joy and fascination. In your love life: You are not always good at recognising items that need not be on your agenda. You have your own fish to fry.

Have you ever been lost and started down one path, only to backtrack and take another then wonder if the first path was the right one all along? When you can't find your way, you can ask for directions, look for road signs or open up Google Maps. In other areas of life, though, the answer isn't always as easy to find. As your ruler Jupiter turns direct this month remember that second-guessing will get you nowhere fast. As Venus moves opposite your sign, just take one step forward. Then another. You'll be amazed where you end up. In your love life: Nothing broadens the mind and opens the heart like a willingness to learn. Prepare to make a wonderful discovery.

Recently I've had a writing room installed in my back garden. It's only a glorified wooden shed, but to make it homely the builder has put brick slips' panels of exposed brickwork on to the wooden walls. This reminded me to ask you how your crash helmet is holding up? There's an element, with Mars moving backwards across the sky, of you feeling as if you're bashing your head against a brick wall. With two Grand Trines to soften the impact, though, certain barriers won't be as impenetrable as they first appear to be this month. In your love life: Good fortune is blessing you now. Changes in your emotional life will soon make you even more sure of that.

When everything's up in the air, what's the use in searching for a method to the madness? Since we can't understand the chaotic nature of the universe, we settle for finding safe havens in the structures that govern our lives. As long as we control our own private corners of the world, we don't have to worry about the whirling craziness that lies just outside the door. But it's from out there that the magic happens. If you're not seeing any results from following the rules, this month, it's time to colour outside the lines. In your love life: You have been shown a lot about your true feelings and those of others. It's time to digest this. Don't worry.

Few religions or sects invoke their particular spirituality in silence. Even Quakers, famed for the quiet at their meetings, make allowances for invocations when moved by the spirit. There's something you want to believe in which won't become believable until you say it out loud. When you give it voice, you give it life. Then, when you communicate your idea you'll find that it begins to grow. The celestial movements this month insist that it's time to change the narrative of a certain problem in your life but you need to speak up and out. In your love life: You have exactly what you need now in order to help you get what you're going to need for a very long time to come.

Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate, said President Kennedy in his 1961 inaugural address. His words were certainly put to the test during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Although the stakes aren't as high, the partial Solar Eclipse in Cancer this month brings a chance to renegotiate the balance of power in your relationships. But it's also a moment to experiment with how you want your relationships to be. Find the freedom to let go of any fixed ideas and you'll receive far more than you bargained for. In your love life: One simple mistake can sometimes last a lifetime. Make sure you will never have cause to regret your legacy.

Venus leaves your sign in July, but it's the Sun's annual visit to your sign that will steal the limelight. The Sun will be at the centre of your attention but there are also magical eclipses to enjoy. The Solar Eclipse will help you take a fresh approach towards bringing an important dream into your reality. You'll make a discovery that will help you explore an emotional investment. But it's the Lunar Eclipse that brings about the change you seek. Be passionate, be confident and you'll be delightfully surprised by the end of the month. In your love life: We say we want harmony, but sometimes what is wrong is part of what will eventually make things right.

July is full of good news for Virgos. Venus enters your sign and forms a wonderful Grand Trine, while the Eclipses represent golden moments of opportunity. Although I can't promise an end to all your troubles, the planets suggest that there will be more intuitive understanding, heightened perception, greater self-worth and more love in your life. You have the necessary tools at your disposal. The cosmic alignments bring a gift which needs to be unwrapped and appreciated. Just remember that the Universe helps those who help themselves. In your love life: The fact that a key factor in your personal life is out of your control, is more of a blessing than you know.

Sometimes all we can see are the things we can't have, do or be. It feels as if we're facing unfulfilled hopes at every turn. But just because your situation is less than perfect doesn't mean that there aren't many reasons to believe that it can change for the better. Nurture the sparks of optimism. Feed fuel to the flame and it will grow, warm and sustain you. Before long you'll be amazed by the strength with which it burns. This month, you can make a discovery that brings welcome and visionary change to your world. In your love life: Time is money,' they say. They are wrong. Your time is too important to waste worrying about what is trivial.

Luck is a fickle friend. But far better a fickle friend than a steadfast enemy. At least with a fickle friend you can make up and be as thick as thieves for a while, whereas when someone's out to get you, there's little you can do to avoid conflict. Recently, you may have been cursing your luck more than thanking your lucky stars. But in July, Jupiter forms two Grand Trines before finally starting to move forward again in your sign. The wind has shifted, and so should the extent of your expectations. Try to take full advantage! In your love life: You are not sure whether you recognise a tune that is being played. Trust it and dance to it.

Have you ever wondered why alien spaceships that enter Earth's air space disappear so promptly? Could the extra-terrestrial community be trying to avoid us? Apparently so! According to intergalactic gossip, we're selfish and grouchy except for you, obviously! This month, your mood lightens, your optimism returns and there's reason to be cheerful as Jupiter turns direct amid a Grand Trine. You might not connect with extra-terrestrials, but your earthly connections will take your far enough to make an enormous difference. In your love life: Read between the lines. Don't overcomplicate a simple matter now... and don't underestimate your power.

The Full Moon in your sign this week is conjunct with your ruler. That's worth celebrating so, as a special treat, I'll let you drive my psychological time machine. We're going to break every rule in the Time Travellers' Handbook and go back to meet the old you. This will give you a chance to let yourself know all the things you have to look forward to. It might be risky, but seeing your face light up with hope, joy and thankfulness will make it worthwhile. This week, don't forget how far you've come and how much you've achieved. In your love life: Look beyond the obvious and pay more attention to actions than to explanations over the next few days.

It's as if there's a big red button in front of you with the words Last Resort' printed on it. The thing is, once you've pressed it, there's no going back. You'll no longer have the comfort of having it as an option. You can't unpress' it or undo it. That's why it also says: Break glass in event of an emergency'. Before making a dramatic decision, ask yourself what alternatives are available. As Mars turns retrograde in your sign, you don't need to rush any decisions. You'll make more progress with sensitivity and intelligence this week. In your love life: Welcome the challenges that will bring a tomorrow you have long waited for, and the chance to solve a knotty problem.

Where in your world is the pressure piling up so high that you're unable to apply your usual sensitivity? As Mars turns retrograde, it's not that you no longer have passion and energy for the vision you've been working towards. It's just that you seem to be spending more time fighting fires than fuelling the furnace of progress. But the Full Moon promises generous protection in the form of the people who support you, and who have your long-term interests at heart. Stay true to your word and you'll have all the help you need. In your love life: Feeling sad about something lost? Be glad you ever had it at all. Don't be so sure that you know what the future holds.

As an Aries, even though you're often scolded for impatience, you're canny enough to know that it has its benefits. You don't like dithering, and your willingness to throw yourself into situations often puts you leagues ahead of the pack. You get things done and you get them done fast. But you can struggle when a scenario needs time to breathe and develop. This week, as Mars turns retrograde, something can't be rushed. If you're able to reach out for help in restraining yourself, you'll create a partnership of lasting value. In your love life: A part of you is in a hurry, but something is holding you back. Might it be better if you do not attain your goal?

The other night, I wanted to make fettucine alfredo' for dinner. When I looked up a recipe, there were a bewildering number of variations that I needed to choose between before making an impromptu trip to the supermarket. All in all, the task of cooking dinner took longer, and was much more involved than I'd imagined. Sometimes, things take longer to achieve than we'd like. Your progress isn't slow you're just catching up with your slightly unrealistic expectations. Right now, you're exactly where you need to be. In your love life: A change is coming your way. A key friendship or involvement is not ending... just evolving.

Who's the cleverest person in history? Albert Einstein? Or the late, great Stephen Hawking, whose ideas continue to shape our view of the universe? Whoever's worthy of the title, it's worth remembering that no one knows everything. There are great gaps in our knowledge and mysteries that might never be solved. Since you see the bigger picture, you may have already worked out that you need to think again about a recent decision. You're about to discover a missing fact. The brainpower involved will be well worth the effort. In your love life: It's wrong to think you are to remain in a precarious situation. Don't plan for trouble. Prepare for a sense of comfort.

The Moon will be Full opposite your sign and conjunct with Saturn this week, which is, no doubt, why you're feeling overwhelmed. You're tired from carrying a heavy psychological load. You're not sure that you can handle what's being asked of you or even what you're asking of yourself. But you can! Just keep on keeping on, and your perseverance will ensure you make progress. What you've achieved so far is no small feat. The challenges you've already overcome will prepare you to take what lies ahead in your stride. In your love life: Despite recent worrying signs and signals, you're not heading for problems. If anything can work out well, it will!

Most of us don't really know how to work our computers, smartphones or tablets. We just do the simple things. We've worked out what we need to do to achieve what we want. But if someone asked us why we do what we do, we'd be more than a little stumped. Now that you've found a pattern that works for you in your life, there's no need to start prodding and questioning it. Ignore those people trying to undermine your confidence this week. With luck on your side, you're about to achieve the result you've been looking for. In your love life: You seem reluctant to revisit a situation that once seemed set in stone. It can change if you want it to change.

Sometimes it's right to forge ahead with a plan; it's the brave and right thing to do. Yet, right now, your motivation to push forward is an attempt to extricate yourself from a pickle. How sure are you that your idea will work? As Mars turns retrograde this week, it's worth re-examining your plan. The pressure is cooling off, giving you time to consider your options and question your assumptions. Take the time you need to get this right. The Full Moon linking with Saturn suggests a clever, longer-term solution can be found. In your love life: Are you really trying to understand a situation? Events are obliging you to face a vital reality. Be glad of that.

When you realise how unevenly resources are distributed, the world looks like a very unfair place. Although we like to think that we're all born equal, it's patently untrue. Life is like a lottery, except that everybody's playing and the rules remain a mystery. Is it possible to level the field? Well, that's a question that's hard for anyone to resolve. But, you can find an answer to a different question. Whatever you think your life is lacking, you can find a simple way towards satisfying that need. You are, in many ways, very lucky. In your love life: Up against more than you can take? Or so you feel. Discover that things are nowhere near as bad as you imagine.

Rather than worrying about past mistakes, this week brings an opportunity to leave them where they belong. We've all done things we regret, but those actions are just a part of who we are. You've moved on. It's thanks to all that you've experienced that you are exactly who you need to be. This insight will bring crucial insight into your perception of who you are and who you can be. Then, as Mars turns retrograde this week, your dreams can be refashioned into a stronger, more ambitious yet achievable form. In your love life: Feeling held back, as if attached to elastic? Stretch it or snap it. Which is it to be? You will soon find out. Don't worry.

It's impossible to be happy when you constantly apologise for yourself. If we spend time making amends for mistakes, we rarely get the opportunity to learn from them and move on. There's a part of you that's tempted, if not to wallow in regret, then to focus too much on what you owe, and to whom you're beholden. But acknowledging mistakes from the past doesn't necessitate being trapped or controlled by them. This week, as Mars turns retrograde, remember that your greatest responsibility is to your future happiness. In your love life: Keep things simple. Just address an immediate apparently minor issue that will help clear up a more crucial point.

The Solstice is just days away, a moment when your ability to express yourself is reborn and your natural persona operates unchecked by personal baggage. Whoops. I've got the wrong Solstice! It's not the one where the Sun enters your sign; it's pretty much as far from Capricorn as it can be. Should I change your prediction? Is the opposite true? Not at all! In order to fulfil the original idea, all you have to do is reach for it. You may simply need to engage a willing companion to help reflect your potential for positive change. In your love life: Trouble reading a subtle heavenly sign? Don't fear; it will be delivered in the most unsubtle and unambiguous way.

As the Solstice arrives it's encouraging you to focus your mighty intellect and skills into a project that means a great deal. Even if you feel as if you've hit a wall, and that your recent efforts have been in vain, what you want to achieve is possible. Mars remains direct in your sign a little longer, providing the energy to sustain your enthusiasm. And Venus' opposition with this fiery engine helps to soften any frustration you feel at having to tackle this again. Nothing worth doing is ever easy. But you can make valuable progress. In your love life: Do you wonder if, by avoiding an issue, you may be prolonging it? Fear not. Everything is starting to take care of itself.

This week, the Solstice brings enchantment into your life. Even though Neptune changes direction in your sign, there's an undercurrent of potential positive change. The Grand Trine involves both your ruling planets, indicating an important juncture in your life. Through a process of re-examination, you can expect to reach a very pleasing resolution on something you've been putting off too long. As you find the courage to talk about a difficult experience or relationship, you'll gain precious insight. Make the most of it! In your love life: Being constantly overwhelmed is something we must learn to enjoy. Remember, the journey is the destination.

I've been terribly busy recently: in fact I've still got a few errands to run. So, would it all right if we just skipped your forecast? I could really use the extra time. Since you're naturally kind and generous, you'll no doubt understand and graciously allow me to get away with this! But that's my point. This is a gentle reminder that, as we approach the Solstice, with Venus opposite your ruler, you risk giving something away that you need to hold on to. Bearing that in mind, it's also true that one good turn leads to another. In your love life: Those who belong to the sign of the ram are born with huge potential. Are you using yours. Could you right now?

Even the world's greatest athletes have 'off 'days. The most talented singers sometimes lose their voice and the best chefs have been known to whip up inedible dishes. External conditions, difficult moods and even changes in the weather can throw us off course. No-one can be at the top of their game all the time. This week, the energy of the Solstice and a Grand Trine remind you that just because something doesn't work out as you'd wished, doesn't mean that it won't work out for the best. Have faith in your dream. In your love life: Are better times always 'just around the corner'? Decide that you are going to feel okay, regardless of what happens.

Although the Sun is soon leaving your sign, your ruler is more than making up for any loss of celestial light. The Grand Trine is a sign of strength, understanding, achievement and prosperity. But a signpost is only useful if you heed it. Whatever you do, don't develop tunnel vision and focus entirely on the road you can see before you. To profit from the efforts your ruler makes as it links to Jupiter and Neptune, be open to changes of direction. Be skilful, be patient, but be brave too. There are adventures ahead. In your love life: You are starting to see the world differently. Your changed priorities will yet bring something little that means a lot.

They say the darkest hour comes just before dawn. It's a theory I'll be putting to the test this week when I set my alarm to silly o'clock and get up to greet the Solstice sunrise. But I hardly need tell you this you're already well on your way to a theoretical understanding of the maxim. You feel as if you're entering your own darkest hour; as if the vestiges of light guiding your path are fading. You're starting to doubt a recent choice. Be reassured that, whatever the weather, a flood of hope-filled sunshine is on its way. In your love life: You think that doing nothing' is not an option. But sometimes it is. Like now! Give the dust a chance to settle.

There's a difference between things coming naturally and them being easy. Many of the 'natural' processes we go through in life are difficult. Just ask the long-suffering lady who gave birth to me! She wouldn't, I hope, ever think that the result didn't justify the means, no matter how difficult it was. The Solstice comes with a Grand Trine, and Venus in your sign. That suggests a powerful, positive week ahead and a turning point in a key relationship. You may have to be strong and forgiving, but it will come naturally to you. In your love life: Here comes your chance to fulfil a desire and satisfy a need. Stay calm and prepare to solve a baffling mystery.

Walking a mile in another person's shoes is a familiar idea but it's difficult in practice. What's really the best way to see the world from another person's perspective and be able to understand what that they want, or what they fear? It comes down to being observant and really listening to them. That's how you decipher people's motivations and needs. And that's how you can best support them. Be aware of what's changing in your life this Solstice week. Could others also benefit from these events? You certainly will. In your love life: You might not think you have much, but you have what you need and you are about to use it rather brilliantly.

Don't work harder, work smarter. Too many people go through life throwing everything and anything at the world with little to show for their efforts. Rather than rushing headfirst into this Solstice week, you'll make greater advances if you carefully analyse what you need to achieve. As Venus and Mars align, your enthusiasm will only get you so far. It's time to think rationally as well as emotionally. If you recognise the root of your powerful feelings, and act accordingly, you'll be amazed by all you can accomplish. In your love life: You can't leave behind all you would like to consign to the past. But you can kiss goodbye to a fear you have outgrown.

I've received a letter for you from the cosmos. It reads: Please notify your Scorpio readers that this is an exceptional week. It's time to throw out the rulebook. None of the usual worries or constraints need apply. Here's a certificate exempting them from their normal anxieties and frustrations. Warm wishes, The Cosmos.' I've verified the certificate and I can confirm that it's authentic. So, to paraphrase, you can walk tall and be confident in the benevolence of the Universe! This Solstice week, nothing stands in your way. In your love life: Temptation is coming. The question is not, should you fall for it or resist it? It is: do you see what it could lead to?

Uncertainty is the enemy of progress. So, don't be tempted this week to waste valuable time and energy worrying if you've made the right decision. Not when you've made such a strong start. The path is opening up ahead and there are no major roadblocks in sight. As we enter the Solstice week, people all over the world are reaching major turning points in their lives. The most important thing you can do is to lay your hesitation to the side and embrace the myriad of possibilities you're now being presented with. In your love life: You tend to cling on to grievances. Now, though, there is good reason to let them go. Forget what you used to feel.

You're almost tempted to throw some coins down a wishing well. Or purchase fairy dust. But are these skilful ways to secure your happiness? Of course not! There are more practical things you can do; like taking your well-being into your own hands. You could try getting out and about and considering ways to make more of your current circle of friends and contacts. Mercury is retrograde, and many of the usual rules don't apply. So challenge yourself by trying some unusual activities. This beats wishful thinking! In your love life: Nothing holds back a good time like taking an issue too seriously. A small choice can make a big difference now.

Wisdom comes from surprising sources. While my son was off nursery, poorly and indulging in an episode of Transformers, I heard a line that stuck out like a sore thumb: It's not the winner of the first battle that matters, it's the victor of the last that counts'. As Mars changes signs, with Mercury retrograde, you're realising that success isn't defined by a single encounter, and that progress is a meandering path. Don't question the wisdom of making the journey. Events this week will prove that you're on the right path. In your love life: You are hoping for the best, aren't you? Don't try to justify a hunch. But do follow it.

With Mercury retrograde, something controversial is in the air. Everywhere you turn, people are whispering, debating and arguing. Rumours are swirling and camps are forming. And you're being pulled this way and that, by people trying to make you turn you to their side. Let them talk. You don't need their half-formed thoughts or opinions. Although you might not have everything you wish for, you have wisdom in abundance and that's all you really need. This week, keep your own counsel. The only opinion that really matters is yours. In your love life: If we try too hard not to be noticed, we may end up drawing attention to ourselves! Can you get that balance right?

The great Terry Pratchet wrote there are times in life when people must know when to let go. Balloons are designed to teach small children this.' But the problem with this philosophy is that it doesn't teach us much about when the letting go' needs to be done. Difficult emotions have a way of sticking in our minds and hearts, and it's these that we need to learn to rid ourselves from. As your ruler, Mars, leaves your opposite sign, while Mercury is retrograde, perhaps the time has come to forgive someone for a past wrong. In your love life: Nobody has a deliberate agenda to make you unhappy. Make a determined decision to be happy; you will succeed.

The word generosity sounds like the conflation of generous' and ferocity' to me. That's almost certainly incorrect! But language and words are merely vehicles for expression. They're only right if they convey the meaning they're intended to make. As Mars changes signs, there's a risk that you'll exert pressure on someone through what you perceive to be an act of kindness. Though there's nothing wrong with being proactive, you're better off waiting for a distress call, than wading in without an invitation. In your love life: You are too close to a situation that you would be much better advised to stand further back from.

How can you change someone's mind? It's tempting to overwhelm them with the power of your argument and submerge their doubts under a deluge of facts. But this will only create feelings of coercion. And, when you want someone to see things from your point of view, the last thing you want them to feel is resentment. So let them carry on drifting down their path. When the right time presents, you can gently guide them towards your way of thinking. Be the sun, not the wind this week, and your influence will be effective. In your love life: Is an outdated expectation now creating unnecessary insecurity? If so, just relax. All will be well.

As Mars changes signs, it reveals unrealised potential. It's been lurking under the surface for a while, waiting for the right celestial conditions. You're becoming a force to be reckoned with. You're fizzing with unexplored inspiration and power. This week, if you think about an almost forgotten plan, you can revitalise your efforts to bring it to fruition. With Mercury retrograde, you'll need to walk before you can run. But, as your confidence reappears, any doubts about your ability to succeed will fade into a memory. In your love life: You may feel under stress; but much of this is just unnecessary worry within you. Things are due to turn out okay.

What brought you to this point? Was this the only road available? Was your planning flawless, or did you make a few wrong turns along the way? These sort of questions are inevitable now, as Mercury, in retrograde, prepares to conjunct your ruler, the Sun. But there is an alternative that deserves some consideration. Rather than being a problem, your present circumstances present a new reality that you're just coming to terms with. This week offers an experience that will be of immeasurable value. In your love life: An old arrangement needs to be looked at in a different way. A renegotiation is needed. It need not be a problem.

When we really want something, there's very little we can do to change our own minds. Even when what we're yearning for flies in the face of sense and reason. When we try to convince ourselves that there's a better, more logical option, our emotions overrule our pragmatism. You may be a realist, but your emotions are powerful. So, if you're finding it hard to disregard your feelings about something now, don't! Just be honest with yourself. Then you'll be able to strike a compromise between your heart and your head this week. In your love life: Are you reluctant to go towards that which you need to connect with? Just be calm, and enjoy the journey.

If the sky had fingers, it would be reaching down to gently rub your shoulders this week. As Mars leaves your sign, so too does a source of tension. When you're in a state of relaxation, it's hardly the time to compete in a triathlon though! You may notice that you're energy levels are not as high as they've been. But easing off from a stressful situation is exactly what's required. It will not only help you to see how far you've come, it will help you consolidate the ground you've gained. Give yourself a well-deserved break. In your love life: We don't say what we ought to say, not knowing the right words. Why rock all those boats? Because you need to!

With your ruler Mars joining Jupiter in your sign, you are, at least temporarily, a god among mere mortals. You'll find that other people are more than willing to acquiesce to your heart's desires, and happy to be putty in your hands. This is a perfect week to explore a desire, or embark upon a great adventure. It's worth checking that you're clear that you really want to do whatever you decide to do, because however you decide to use your energy and luck now, there's a chance that you'll get more success than you bargained for! In your love life: The path you are on will bring wisdom and power. But you need to be absolutely clear about the ground-rules.

Explaining your feelings is never easy. You've poured your deepest concerns into someone's ear, but failed to elicit the response (or the interest) that you need. The problem is that we're all so used to this kind of non-communication that it's sometimes easy to assume that half-listening is the same as engaging in a meaningful way. And, rather than labour a point, we tend to shrug off the lack of interest, and keep our problems to ourselves. This week, though, if you try again, the chances are that you'll hear the response you need. In your love life: You fear that what you say may be misinterpreted or criticised. Stay patient in your emotional life now.

All the riches in the world aren't enough to buy your way into another person's heart. Money may open doors and oil wheels some people think it makes the world go round, but cold hard cash will never warm anyone's soul. Even in our consumer-crazy world some treasures remain truly priceless. As the Solstice arrives, and then the Full Moon converges with your ruler, June requires you to invest effort into potential relationships. There's every chance you will reap the rewards and establish new levels of trust and affection. In your love life: Fear of a conspiracy is a powerful thing. Rest assured; there is no conspiracy working against you now.

Your ruler Uranus makes another in a series of rare aspects with Neptune this month in the third of five alignments in a slow celestial dance. But there's little that could be described as slow' about your forecast. Energetic Mars is paying an extended visit to your sign. Even when it begins to move backwards, you're likely to be just as enthusiastic to race in a new direction as you were keen about your previous trajectory. With Venus opposite your sign, just be sure to cushion those you love from bumps along the way! In your love life: A protective force-field surrounds you. When trouble arises, you'll sense it. Your outlook is encouraging now.

Just before your ruler Neptune begins its annual trip backwards, it makes the third in a series of tense alignments with Uranus. With the tide turning for watery Neptune, plus groundbreaking Uranus shaking things up in earthy Taurus, you might be thinking that a tidal wave of change will sweep you off your feet. But the grand trine which Mercury forms with both your rulers suggests that you have the adventurous spirit and the presence of mind to adapt and thrive. No matter how deep or fast June's waters run, you'll swim just fine. In your love life: You instinctively know that you need a major change in a sensitive area of your life. You will soon achieve it.

Mars occupies the part of the sky that governs how you interact both with the environment and your political leanings. It also encourages you to move beyond what you would normally consider to be acceptable' and reach out to experience new cultures. We often surround ourselves with like-minded folk, but as Mars turns retrograde, and a campaign you've been passionate about loses momentum, you're being given the chance to extend boundaries and open up new possibilities. Your next step will take you as far as you need to go. In your love life: In a seemingly ordinary situation some magic is happening. Forget what makes you fearful. Trust what inspires you.

Sometimes we need to disagree with people. Strong friendships are built on shared challenges and setbacks we need to be able to acknowledge our true feelings with the people close to us in order to strengthen those bonds of trust. In June, there will be moments when you have to rock someone's boat. There will be occasions when someone's philosophy seems to be at odds with yours. But by nurturing the foundations on which your friendships are built, they'll be strengthened and prove just how valuable they are. In your love life: People are shouting. Do this. Do that'. Do they all know better than you? Perhaps they don't. Follow your heart.

The Sun and your ruler may be leaving your sign during June, but they'll be no less active in your life. Mercury forms a wonderful supportive Grand Trine with Jupiter and Neptune, just as the Solstice arrives, which will revitalise the celestial energy. It's a clear cosmic signal that if you apply your resources, and work hard, many of the visions you have for your future can begin to be realised. There's inspiration in the air. With the Sun and Mercury converging in your sign before they leave, be ready to shine your brightest. In your love life: Might it be wisest to hold a relationship together rather than let it fall apart? It's an option that's open to you.

The Solstice heralds the Sun's ingress into your sign. And with Venus and Mercury both spending time in Cancer too, there'll be plenty to keep you busy. The challenge is going to be working out whether to follow your heart or your head they won't always agree! But even if the visit of Mercury emphasises the cerebral, your feelings are such an integral part of your personality that you can't afford to ignore them. This is the moment to celebrate your strengths and plan for your year ahead. You deserve to enjoy it! In your love life: Is your mind closed to the idea that it's okay to feel okay? In your emotional life now, all is OK. And that is okay!

The month of June is action-packed for Leos. With Venus entering your sign, the arrival of the Solstice and Mercury popping in, you can put on a charm offensive that could turn your worst enemy into putty in your hands! Yes, there will be moments of drama. No, not everything will go your way. The T-Square with Jupiter suggests that you'll need your skills to renegotiate a peaceful resolution to a problem in a key relationship. But there's a celestial promise that you'll finish the month with almost everything you need. In your love life: Are you a little fearful of the solution to a problem, and eyeing it up anxiously? Don't be afraid.

Even The Beatles needed help from their friends. James Taylor promised us that we had one. And Freddie Mercury sang about a best' pal. We are sociable animals. And though you sometimes feel like building a moat to deter unwanted attention, your support networks are invaluable. This month the cosmic focus is on relationships. With a willingness to accept other people's visions, serious progress can be made towards furthering a cause you're passionate about. All you need is commitment and courage. Luckily, they are in abundance. In your love life: You can now see an area of potential. Before you act on that possibility, just check what it is likely to take out of you.

Insanity has been described as the impulse to keep doing the same thing over and over again in the hope of getting a different result. Innovation, in contrast, is applying a minuscule, ingenious twist to the exact same thing in order to achieve a better outcome. Superficially, these two procedures are almost identical! The true definition of creativity is knowing how to inject just the right amount of madness into a process so that you attain your goal. As Venus forms a T-Square at the Solstice, you'll find the sweet spot this month. In your love life: Expect soon to find fresh inspiration and motivation as a series of inspiring events boost your confidence.

It's frustrating when you push on life's accelerator pedal and it doesn't respond: when no matter what you do, you can't change to the required speed. Are you out of fuel, or have you let your battery run down? This month brings the chance to overhaul a system and conduct a thorough annual service. Mars' retrograde movement is like a visit to the astrological mechanic and the Solstice brings the energy and inspiration to solve any problem. Once you've passed this test, you'll be fully equipped to get back on to the high road. In your love life: At the bottom, the only way is up. At the top...? The trick is to be in the middle. Stay where things seem about right.

There's nothing wrong with being idealistic. When you're ingenious you're bound to think outside the box and aim for goals that others find impossible. Your natural state is to see the world as an exciting place full of opportunity so compromise doesn't come naturally to you. During this month of the Solstice all you have to do to achieve success is keep experimenting with the various options that come along. With your head and heart working in tandem with your imagination, June can be a breakthrough month. In your love life: You are conscious of both a carrot and a stick. You are not a donkey. If you must look at anything, focus on the carrot.

The great playwright, Oscar Wilde, once playfully, and paradoxically declared that he could resist everything, except temptation'. It's pertinent because your usually iron willpower could be about to buckle. Someone is making you an amazing offer and you're more than a little inclined to accept. It seems perfect so how can you refuse? Of course you shouldn't! But do you really need to show just how interested you are? Try not to scupper your negotiating position this week. But don't look a gift horse in the mouth either. In your love life: You want more respect from a certain someone. Try showing them some of what it is you would like them to show you.

What's next in this world of ever-increasing rules and regulations? No laughing? No expressions of joy? Perhaps they'll bring in a new Smile Tax, then we'd have to devote hours every day to trying to look miserable. But, by the look of your week ahead, you'd be struggling with that. Mercury changing signs is encouraging you to express yourself as fully as you know how. And the Full Moon suggests that you're about to experience an act of generosity from someone you're close to. Now that's worth smiling about. In your love life: The secret' is to relax a little, trust a little; it is time for you now, to trust your most positive, intuitive, feelings.

Imagine if we could apply science to the biggest moral questions. A group of physicists would call a press conference to reveal the solution to one of life's knottiest problems. After centuries of wrangling, they're going to define the difference between right' and wrong'. The world will hold its breath. And the answer is... never going to come. The truth, of course, depends on your viewpoint. Some questions can only be answered when you have faith in your instincts. Trust yours this week they'll give you the best possible guidance. In your love life: You may not seem to have much to choose from in your emotional life now, but one of your options is perfect.

We all know people who are quick to judge even when they don't know all the facts, loudly announcing their solution to a problem they don't fully understand. Their confidence means they're often listened to more than the experts! Right now you have the answer to a particularly tricky conundrum, but you're shy about letting others know. So, I'm going to say something that even those born under your sign occasionally need to hear much in your life will be improved this week if you are able to assert yourself a little more. In your love life: You may get a little emotionally overloaded soon. But that's more a blessing than a curse.

As your ruler forms a Grand Trine, the week promises wonderful developments in your social life. You're being encouraged to communicate with close companions because together you can take a dream a step further. With enthusiastic help, you'll see real progress in a cause that you feel passionate about. But, in order to encourage the most positive exchange of ideas, you're going to have to try to understand a mindset that has proved challenging. If you're creative, kind and generous you'll know what to do and how to do it. In your love life: Something deep inside you knows the right thing to say, do and choose. Find that emotional understanding and trust it.

The time comes, in all scenarios, when the chance to make a final adjustment has gone. A simple tweak that would have prevented the whole thing from unravelling. It's in times like these that we realise the danger of being reticent. Being overly cautious can be injurious, but it doesn't compare to the damage wrought by equivocating. Am I suggesting that you act with strength, bravery, boldness and speed? Yes! The problem is, that others don't seem to agree with you and are advocating restraint. Who will you listen to? In your love life: You are wondering what you have signed up for. You will find out soon. It will be less problematic than you fear.

Much as we might wish they would, our talents don't last forever. Whilst we might be agile, wise, courageous and skilful today, there's no guarantee that we'll stay that way. So as the Full Moon arrives, rather than deferring action, why not seize the moment? Make use of your manifold talents after all, you have a full arsenal at your disposal. How disappointing finally to get around to it only to realise you no longer have the right tools. Don't leave it a day longer. Forge your future now, whilst it's yours to shape as you will. In your love life: No one need know what you have within you. Your personal, emotional, secrets are as safe as you want them to be.

You seem to be surrounded by people who have very high opinions of themselves. Their certainty should be enough to set a million alarm bells ringing. No one's perfect no matter what they say. And when people believe they know almost everything about a situation, almost' is not the same as all'. It's in the tiny gaps that nuance and complexity lie. That one missing piece of knowledge might be the difference between success and failure. If you seek advice, this week, just be cautious of emphatic statements. In your love life: You've learned a lot in your emotional life lately, and soon you will gain another valuable lesson.

STOP IT! I can still hear it. No, no, no, it's still going that little voice in your head that's always telling you that you're no good at this, rubbish at that, and that anything that can go wrong will go wrong. Why do you listen to it? There's absolutely nothing wrong with you - except, perhaps, your propensity to be overly self-critical. Fortunately, events this weekend provide you with a reminder of just how much you're valued, how happy you are to know such good people and how much you have to be proud of. In your love life: A difficult situation? Accept what you can't alter. Do your best to make what you can of it. It's more than you think!

Surely the secret to success isn't elusive. You simply work hard, invest your resources and then enjoy the fruits of your labour. At least that's the theory. Not all business plans can rely on such a harmonious and holistic approach, though. Many require more than a little luck too. Others need public acknowledgement and awareness in order to be profitable. But without perseverance, even the most advanced plan will fail. Although harvesting might be hard work, you can reap the rewards of what you've sown this week. In your love life: It's time to who in your emotional life is benefiting more than you are from a state of affairs?

I've had the opportunity to meet a lot of clairvoyants and psychics. At first, I must admit, I was apprehensive. Do they know what I'm thinking? Better not think about... too late! Yet, as I spent more time with them, I began to see that mindreading is a skill. But even the most talented psychic can only read what we allow them to see. If we're beaming messages across the room they can intercept them. This week, when it comes to your deepest, darkest fears, no one need know anything unless you choose to let them know. In your love life: What counts now is not what you can do with a dramatic gesture; it is what you can do slowly, subtly but surely.

Have you noticed that the most dramatic fights are often between very close friends? I know a family with twins who famously go from being thick as thieves to mortal enemies in five seconds flat. It's perplexing when people so close can fall out so profoundly. But rather than step in, the best thing to do is to stand back and let them cool down on their own. They'll be best of friends again before we know it. This week, rather than being tempted to wade into an argument, save your advice for someone who really needs it. In your love life: Meaningful communication is a rare commodity. But every so often, it happens, as you'll see in your emotional life soon.

A little sensitivity is in order this week. But, of course, no one can tell you how you should behave. You can be as blas© as you want to be. There will be consequences, though. Sometimes we're all tempted to throw our hands up and ask, Why should I care? But a life without caring is a life filled with pettiness and shallowness. It's one where distance and loneliness might replace close friends and shared experiences. That's why it's worth going the extra mile when it comes to emotional responsiveness this week. In your love life: Something is tugging on your heartstrings. What advice you would give to someone else in your position? Heed it.

You can be gorgeously generous, astoundingly approachable, incredibly ingenious, and unbelievably understanding... when you choose. And you can swing dramatically in the opposite direction too. Both of these paths can be successful. But once chosen it's hard to move from one to the other. Although you may be feeling unsettled or nervous about a scenario or person, try to fall back on to generosity and hope this week. Give the road of positivity absolutely everything you've got and it will give at least as much back to you. In your love life: We can look silly when we doubt something authentic. Give the benefit of the doubt. You will benefit.

It's as if you're walking around with a glowing light bulb above your head. People are attracted by your ingenuity. Even though you might find this perplexing, there's no doubt that your imagination is in overdrive and your ability to find extraordinary solutions to complex problems is at its height. As you lend an ear to those around you, the inspiration you're handing out will find its way back and affect your life. You'll find a simple way to resolve a conflict in your personal life too. Watch out for Eureka moments this week. In your love life: Is there a difference of opinion that can't be quickly fixed? To be properly cleared, this must be properly aired.

There's nothing less likely to create tranquillity than someone telling you to calm down. It's a point worth remembering when you're galvanised into action and looking for supporters this week. Now that Uranus has left your sign, and as Jupiter links to Neptune, your enthusiasm has been sparked and your zest for life awakened. Just be sure that you use your energy to inspire rather than alienate. If you want people to invest in your vision, you need to be inspiring dreams and shared visions. You're more than capable of that! In your love life: An aspect of the future remains hidden. Be glad. When the light dawns, you will be glad you were kept in the dark.

Since you're looking for advice, may I gently direct you towards Thomas Jefferson, who said, I'm a greater believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it. Given your current situation, even though you don't always heed other people's words of wisdom, their insight might be well worth listening to. Seeking good counsel this week isn't a sign of weakness, nor will it make you vulnerable to misadventure. You'll find that support is available which will lighten your load and help you finish a tiresome task. In your love life: Every situation has an upside and a downside. Recognise what is possibly wrong; but focus on what is right.

Astrological forecasts can contain storm clouds, bright sunshine and everything in between. But just as it is possible to be happy in the middle of a downpour, so we can smile even when the planets create spots of turbulence. And though the weather doesn't have to control our moods, sometimes it means that good things are easier to come by. Venus is leaving your sign this weekend, but the Sun is arriving. With your ruler set to form a mystic rectangle it's time to put your worries aside and enjoy the celestial sunshine. In your love life: No matter how good things have been, you are going to see moments that far outshine those rays of hope.

We're all subject to the tides of political, economic and social uncertainty, no matter where the ripples originate. But it's always possible to find the warmth of compassion, even if we find ourselves in cold, insensitive environments. Hope can be found, even in apparently hopeless situations. This week, the circumstances you're working in shouldn't define you're capabilities. Your ingenuity and imagination aren't limited by external forces. As Venus moves into your sign you can start to be very confident in your abilities. In your love life: Don't fill your life with regrets and if onlys'. You will soon be glad of the thing that makes you feel most regretful.

You're so independent that you don't always feel comfortable asking for support. But this isn't always a strength. When you're contained within your self-sufficient bubble it's easy to be cut off from the joys of working with other people. Teamwork might be challenging but it brings satisfaction and friendship. This week, as long as you're prepared to rely on other people's assistance the cosmos provides the help you've craved but been reluctant to ask for. Once you open up to new possibilities, you might be amazed by what they bring. In your love life: You see a solution to a puzzle that's perplexing someone. Before you help, check that they want your assistance.

Go ahead, complain if you need to. No one can say you don't have a right to that. There are so many reasons to feel unsatisfied or discontented. Nothing's ever perfect, and a critical eye is one of the most important steps towards improving things. But what's most important is that you don't get into a state of mind when you see drawbacks rather than opportunities. Although you're free to come to your own decisions and voice your opinions, don't be surprised if you find yourself confounding your own expectations this week. In your love life: They say love makes the world go round. In your case it's true; things are about to turn for you in a good way.

In many corners of the globe, when a visitor arrives it's considered good practice to offer them a drink. Can I get you a cup of tea? Perhaps a coffee? In this ritual the accepted reply is, Please don't put yourself to any trouble ; at which point, the host insists that they wanted one anyway. This can lead to a scenario in which both parties are left trying to finish drinks that they never even wanted! This week it's important to make a gesture of kindness. But don't let a facade get in the way of a truly insightful and wise connection. In your love life: A situation seems serious; it requires discussion. If you don't just ignore that need, all will have a happy outcome.

My son loves watching superhero cartoons featuring Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman battling against Brainiac' an alien who's primary weapon is a shrink ray. You could easily form part of their heroic Justice League this week! With Jupiter in your sign, you have your own personal growth ray'. Just because it's focussed on communication issues doesn't mean that you're due a week of battling against dark, nefarious forces. It's magnifying your imaginative, creative powers too. You're equipped for success. In your love life: Relationships involve power struggles. There's nothing wrong with any tension you are experiencing. Fear not.

The American magician, T. A. Waters said, Misdirection is the cornerstone of nearly all successful magic; without it, even the most skilled sleight of hand won't create an illusion of magic. You need to provide your audience with something awe-inspiring this week. Baffle their imaginations. Blow their minds. They'll be so busy watching the glitz and glamour that you'll be able to do what you want to do. Then, as long as your motives are good, the magic you create can change the dynamics of a tricky relationship for the better. In your love life: There's a temptation to take a superficial view of a situation that has great depth. It deserves more thought.