Weekly Astroguide

You're relieved of duty. And yet, it seems that you aren't relieved. Aren't you glad to have this opportunity to get some rest finally? Or are you itching to return to your post and get back into the fray? You may have invested more of yourself, your time and energy than was necessary. Your efforts are commendable and much appreciated by everyone involved, but you've done what you agreed to do. The astrological alliance insists that it's time for you to step back and enjoy the fruits of your labour. In your love life: You only have a problem if you will accept no alternative. Just a little food for thought: be more flexible.

This is a special time of year for Aquarians; you're always guaranteed to have a Full Moon in your sign. But this Full Moon isn't run of the mill. It's a Lunar Eclipse, and it arrives just before your modern ruler Uranus makes a rare alignment with Neptune. This should be a particularly inspiring week. Don't be surprised by a bolt-out-of-the-blue moment when you finally realise what it is that you've been waiting for. Be sure you remain grounded. Inspiration wedded to practicality is the match the heavens want to make. In your love life: You are in the process of having a brilliant idea. What you don't know now, you will know soon enough. Be brave.

Somebody once sang, A dream is a wish your heart makes', and your heart is wishing fiercely for something. Cynics would have us believe that dreaming's a fruitless exercise. They'll tell you that it's in your best interests to stay grounded. But since when did down-to-earth mean refusing to let your head float away in the clouds? Humanity's greatest achievements started with a fantastical idea. We were born with creative imaginations. So ignore the naysayers this week, and go with your craziest, wildest dreams. In your love life: Anxiety and responsibility can often distract us from the miracle of life. Now you have a real opportunity to enjoy life. Seize it.

The Moon reaches fullness as it aligns exactly opposite the Sun, thus creating a Full Moon and a Lunar Eclipse. Expect an increase in intensity in all those areas of life that involve your heart and your soul. Relationships are especially intensified under this powerful celestial spotlight. A strong connection with someone close can deepen as you develop insight into their feelings. Add the influence of your ruling planet, Mars, to this powerful celestial mix, and you can be confident that there's excitement and action in store. In your love life: Bends on the road to wisdom can suggest you are really getting nowhere just when you are about to arrive.

Our desires and dreams aren't easy to talk about. Sometimes it's hard to admit them to ourselves, let alone share them with other people. But when you see the shimmer of something that you've dreamed of on the horizon, it's time to speak up and make a move. This week, as the eclipse arrives opposite Mars, there's a silver lining in the clouds that will light the way towards something you've longed for. The courage you need to step forward towards your prize is easier to find than you think. You can do it. In your love life: You think you know what's possible and impossible. Thankfully and happily, you are wrong about the impossible' bit.

A matter you thought was closed has reopened. Like a door that, at first glance, appears shut, a second look reveals a sliver of light round the doorframe. Where you had all but given up hope, there's an invitation to re-enter a scenario that you need to revisit. Here comes the chance to resolve something. That residual feeling of unfinished business' can be addressed and rectified. We should be the change we want to see in the world,' said Gandhi. You have the power to influence, heal and move on in a better way. In your love life: You're receiving a signal you don't fully understand. Send out a signal of your own, and then monitor the response.

Apparently, TV producers have a penchant for pitching new ideas for shows as being the same as a popular old show but on acid'. If I follow their example, the coming lunar eclipse is going to be like a Full Moon on steroids'. The Full Moon is always a beacon of illumination this time, though, its power is enhanced to the point where shadows are overcome by luminosity. You're particularly sensitive to lunar effects. This suggests that the recognition you've been waiting for is on its way at last. In your love life: Remember that two wrongs don't make a right. And don't say something that you might later regret.

As a Leo, any astrological aspect involving the Sun has an impact. This week then, prepare for celestial adventure. The Sun is in your sign, which means that the coming Full Moon will be opposite. As the Moon darkens for a Lunar Eclipse, its magic and power weave to increase your powers of mystery. With the Sun-Saturn-Jupiter triangle focusing on your ability to charm and attract, you can find yourself commanding attention, and placed into a position of leadership. Sounds like just your cup of tea! In your love life: You are good at giving. You don't always find it quite as easy to receive. A great gift is in store for you. Accept it.

If you're a top level athlete, days off are rare. Training routines dictate your life. No melting chocolate puddings, or illicit tubs of ice cream either. A step beyond the level of commitment most of us mortals ever take is required. You, though, know about determination. In those moments when your heart and mind connect and know what they want, you can be incisive and move like an elite swimmer, cutting through the water to reach your target. This week, you can make a sweet and vital move. A prize is attainable. In your love life: New strategies are needed to reflect the greater sense of confidence you feel. Don't keep harking back to the past.

My son can be very creative with the truth. He knows, for example, that he was in his mummy's tummy. And he also understands, to some degree at least, that he was born via caesarian section. Yet when he talks about it, he insists on his version of events: I was in my mummy's tummy and I punched my way out!' We all tell ourselves stories to make sense of the world. This week, don't let facts get in the way of a deeper understanding. Believe what you must in order to make progress, and you will. In your love life: You know in your heart that it is time to move on. A more decisive and rewarding phase is beginning.

When NASA declared their intent to put the first man on the moon, their plan was backed by ambition, science and millions of US dollars. And, the calculations needed to get the shuttles off the ground was done with less computing power than you have in your phone. Now that's serious manpower! Although the adventure you're being drawn to is smaller in scale, in a way, it's your own moon landing. You want to go where no one has gone before. Luckily, all you need for this new adventure is ambition. Act on it! In your love life: Rise above someone's unacceptable behaviour, take the lesson to heart but don't chastise yourself or give in to doubt.

Is it me, or have weather forecasts become more dramatic? We used to be told to expect heavy rain', now we must shelter from cloudbursts'. Wintry showers' are thundersnow'. Perhaps it's because the weather itself is more intense. But no matter what the skies above our heads look like this week, the heavenly weather looks bright. The Lunar Eclipse gives way to a minor Grand Trine involving Saturn, in your sign, and your ruler Jupiter. Put your psychological umbrella away. It's time to step into sunshine. In your love life: When trouble brews, the more feminine participant usually gets more blame than they deserve. Reject such unfairness.

It's sometimes said that there are only seven or eight story arcs. That every movie made is just one, or another, with different faces and new clothes. And, throughout our lives we play out the same narratives. Some of them are from childhood, with just enough added complexity to prevent us from recognising them. This month, you have the chance to break the cycle of a primal pattern and emerge wiser and stronger. Don't regret the circumstances you find yourself in again. Welcome instead the developments that August brings. In your love life: You don't have to perform a balancing act. You will gain a lot of gratitude if you see someone else's viewpoint.

Be it people or places, or your interactions to the things that you can't control, the focus is on your relationship with the outside world this month. But that doesn't mean you won't have any influence over the proceedings. Precisely the opposite. The Solar Eclipse makes a harmonious aspect with your ruler. It encourages you to meet challenges with brave creativity and undaunted optimism. You needn't fear having your individuality compromised. In fact, you're only just awakening to the possibilities this new outlook brings. In your love life: There is something you would like to go back to, and something you would like to keep just as it is. Proceed with trust.

It wouldn't surprise me if you got a new job in August. Yet, neither would it surprise me if you kept your job, but started cycling to work. Because it's not your career that's due a radical re-think, so much as your experience of everyday life. How can you feel more fulfilled, and find greater purpose in the tasks you spend your time performing? The Solar Eclipse brings the opportunity to make tangible changes that will help deliver more of what you want. And this transformation isn't as well-hidden as you may believe it to be. In your love life: The cosmos is creating a cavalcade of confusion. But it will soon be replaced with a profound realisation of your own power.

We think that if we want to be strong, we must fight. To be heard, we must shout. But the truth is, that there are many ways to demonstrate strength, and many ways to use our voices. Engaging with others, though, is harder when we're focused on ourselves. It's much easier when we're able to hear perspectives that differ from our own. Understanding is so much more persuasive than a show of force. With the Total Eclipse linked to Uranus, in your sign, it's your ability to be counter-intuitive that brings success this month. In your love life: Don't be anxious just because something baffles you. The change you seek is occurring naturally. Lower your guard.

We're generally, quite rightly, scared of earthquakes. If we were to feel the ground move, we'd be quick to run for cover. Yet, most of us wouldn't be troubled by a bit of turbulence on an aeroplane. We might rouse briefly from a state of slumber, but only long enough to grumble at the uncomfortable nature of a red-eye flight. In August, whatever shakes your foundations, the ground isn't going to open up. The rumbling is a necessary part of your journey. It's a wake-up call to make a tectonic change that once seemed unlikely. In your love life: Something with hidden importance is happening, even if you don't yet feel able to identify and understand it.

In this age of global information, we're expected to know everything. Even though this is absurd, we're reluctant to admit that we don't know' afraid that others will see our lack of knowledge as a weakness. So we tell white lies to feign omniscience. But what's so bad about admitting ignorance? Knowledge is gained through experience and time. When you don't have an answer, there's no shame in asking. With Mercury retrograde, and a total Solar Eclipse, if you embrace openness whenever you encounter a tricky question this month, the answer will be forthcoming. In your love life: There is something you don't know. Forget your anxious expectations; just acquire the information you need.

When a good friend's coming to stay, I get excited. I make sure my house is as welcoming and homely as possible, plan things to do with them, and do my best to see that they want for nothing during their stay. As someone so nurturing and caring, this must sound familiar. In August, Venus travels through your sign. Not only will she help you take better care of others, she is looking after you too. With your needs met, you'll be free to focus on what you want. And you'll be very pleased to see how your priorities change. In your love life: Coming events in your emotional life should show you the cause of a recent problem followed by the solution to it.

The Total Eclipse in your sign is much more than any old New Moon. It's a talisman. A pillar of courage and conviction upon which to build a brighter future. It's a time to reshape goals and redefine the boundaries which have limited the freedom of your expression. Yet, even the fastest car, with the most skilful driver, won't get far with an empty tank. This is the celestial equivalent of a fill er up', but with new tyres and an oil change for good measure! Don't be scared of the power at your disposal in August. Be exhilarated! In your love life: Proceed carefully; you may be making an irrevocable move. As long as it is sincere, it can only have an excellent outcome.

We're all interconnected. Yet with smartphones, and now smart homes too, it's sometimes a relief to encounter dumb' technology. I've been staying with friends who live off grid'. I can assure you that the campfire we sat around, and the stars we gazed up at were reassuringly analogue. Yet, I haven't felt so in tune with the world for a long time. If you find yourself mis-tweeting, your Instagram becoming wait-agram, or your Hotmail cooling, don't worry this month. It's the first step towards establishing a more fundamental connection. In your love life: Heed your kindest inner voice. It may not seem to be saying anything logical, but it has a message that is valid.

No matter how hard you try, the way to resolve a difficult situation seems to be eluding you. It's a simple question of right and wrong. But the problem is that the issues in the middle are complex and fraught. You're negotiating a situation that's full of secrets, complexities and controversy. And you rightly suspect that others are serving their own agendas. August's Total Solar Eclipse, in harmony with Uranus, enables you to choose a direction and take a stand. Be strong this month and do what's right. The truth will prevail. In your love life: Can you get past a fear that's sapping your strength? When all is looking bleak, you will see your way to success.

We all like to be recognised for our achievements, but some people are almost too comfortable in the limelight. They're always on' and forever performing, even when the house is empty and the show is over. Perhaps you're a little suspicious about such characters. But this month, you might get a peek into their world. A more public and authoritative side of you is emerging. Your insight, and the power you possess, will be valued. Just try not to let it go to your head! Keep cool and it'll be an opportunity for meaningful change. In your love life: You will develop a new power to say what is appropriate in a warm, wise, well-timed way. That will prove so helpful.

Faith is intriguing. When we have it, life feels smooth and harmonious. We feel confident and sure of our path. But sometimes, it manages to slip out of our awareness. And, by the time we realise that it's gone, there's barely anything left to hold on to. A recent situation has left you feeling disillusioned and mistrustful. But, in August, relief is on its way. The Solar Eclipse arrives in between your ruler waving goodbye to Pluto, and Saturn beginning its final stretch in your sign. As your faith is restored, you'll find an easy path to success. In your love life: Happiness is attainable without a complex plan. Stop trying so hard; a much more rewarding thread awaits.

Some businesses have a ban on workplace relationships. They fear that people will protect their partners rather than do the right thing for the company. They may have a point. But the same could be said of friendships. Human interaction means that attachment and preferential treatment can never be eradicated from the workplace. Even if your environment feels far from conducive to emotional matters this week, listening to your heart will enable your decisions. Listening to your head won't get you as far. In your love life: You are at a crucial point of growth and positive change. Stop thinking about how good things could be; start acting!

We both know that you're extraordinary. You're an outside-the-box thinker. Your natural inclination for imaginative, innovative ideas holds you in good stead when it comes to struggles and setbacks. You're so good at blue-sky thinking that other people are sometimes envious of your good fortune. This week, it's worth finding a little empathy for those who may not have your strengths. Your confidence and positive attitude may yet rub off on them. If you make your moves gently, you can move forward in good company. In your love life: Step back from a concern that preoccupies you. The only thing you are likely to lose is an unhelpful frame of mind.

No matter what your profession, no matter how stimulating your work, there are aspects of all jobs that just seem to drag sometimes. As grateful as I am to be your astrologer, there's plenty of admin that accompanies the honour. The forecasts would suffer if I didn't keep up my end of the cosmic housework! But every now and then, some project, person or moment comes along to remind us just how passionate our working life can be. Look for yours this week. Don't be tempted to question its origin just run with it! In your love life: You are better off now you see a friend's new side; and will be even better off for what you are about to discover.

You're coming into a winning streak. It's about time too, I can almost hear you thinking! Win-win situations don't come around very often. The gifts the cosmos bestows are accentuated when the person who receives them has done the preparation. You've been conscientiously working through some tough stuff lately, and, despite disappointments, you've continued to show up and do your best. Luck has little to do with happiness it's a simple case of cause and effect. So put your feet up. You deserve this. In your love life: You have no choice other than to stay dedicated to a noble cause. This, though, can now be a joy, not a chore.

Sometimes it seems as if we're on the end of more knocks than we know how to deal with. Then, the world feels like a cruel and unfeeling place. Every setback or negative experience seems like a personal attack, and it's easy to become short-sighted and believe that the universe is singling us out for misfortune. Yet, just when we're about to throw in the towel, the cosmos throws out a helping hand. So, before giving up on your dream, why not look at the gift you're being offered? It is exactly what you need. In your love life: In rethinking your own sense of identity, you're seeing someone else anew; it is exceptionally constructive.

Sometimes we realise that we need to make a change just when we're least capable of making it. It's like jumping on a train and discovering that you're headed in the wrong direction. You just have to wait until the next stop to get off, get on another train, and then continue your journey in the right direction. The route you've been travelling on has been taking its toll on both your time and your energy. Your batteries are low. This week, take a revitalising pit stop. The right time to make the right decision is closer than you think. In your love life: An uneasy peace is coming to a sensitive area of your life. Give more faith and time to a process of co-operation.

The Sun may be leaving your sign, but it's not taking your hope away with it. It isn't like a messy divorce, leaving you with only half of your stuff and an empty feeling inside. Actually, you're about to discover that many of your material desires can be more easily satisfied. An absence of optimism will only be due to the acquisition of what you were really hoping for! The celestial change needs to be recognised, though. As the New Moon arrives in Leo, if you're willing to find a fresh approach, creativity will inspire delightful results. In your love life: All your plans seem to have drawbacks. Plan a little less; for now, it is spontaneity, not strategy, that equals success.

The Beatles weren't known for making astrological predictions, but their song Here Comes The Sun sounds prophetic to me. Especially when I'm writing a Leo forecast. And especially when your week features a Sun-Mars conjunction in cahoots with Jupiter. The New Moon heralds the return of your ruler, bringing the chance for you to soar like a McCartney melody. The Mars connection allows you to add Lennon drive and passion. And Jupiter is the Harrison dash of creative freedom. Just don't mention the Ringos of Saturn In your love life: A small irritation is not worth worrying about. Turn a blind eye; keep your energy for something much more important.

This week, your ruler moves away from the powerful Grand Trine with Uranus and Saturn, and returns home as the Moon enters your sign. That's quite a homecoming and a powerful portent. With Mercury in your sign, your mental powers increase, your perception grows sharper, and your ability to communicate is enhanced. Buoyed by the Grand Trine, these annual effects are strengthened. It's as if Mercury has been spending its time away in the gym, preparing for this moment. You really are ready for anything. In your love life: It is not speed you need; it is a sense of purpose. Visualise what you truly want, and you will find it easy to get.

Someone is pushing your buttons. They might not be intentionally trying to wind you up, but they can't help it. Certain things they do are enough to drive you up a wall whilst tearing your hair out. We can all be irritating sometimes. It's just that when someone does it to us, we're not supposed to react. That would be bad manners. When it comes to our nearest and dearest, it's tempting to ignore that inner voice of restraint. We know they'll love us anyway. But it's worth thinking before you speak this week. In your love life: Sometimes you need to put yourself first. What those closest to you need now is your strength.

Emotions are intensified this week. If you're happy, you'll feel ecstatic. If you're glum, you could feel disheartened. You're like a rubber ball, pinging between extremes, with no obvious way to control your responses. There's a reason for this: the New Moon is stirring and intensifying your reactions. Should you try to restrain your responses? Sometimes it's important to give your heart the freedom to express itself. Too often, we hide from our truths. Express yourself; you'll be heard. The response will be a pleasant surprise. In your love life: Deep down you know something. But the time is not right to admit it to yourself or anyone else. Allow space for ambiguity.

Venus moves into opposition with Saturn in your sign this week. It suggests a chance to make an emotional commitment. Yet the playful Sun and passionate Mars converge in a part of the sky that represents exploration. They also make a creative angle to Jupiter, with its themes of fun, abundance and indulgence. With the temptations this seems to offer, it may prove difficult to maintain the aforementioned commitment. But, as long as what you explore is done in honest partnership, the adventure is only just beginning. In your love life: You are about to get all you need and something that makes more of a difference than you expect.

We all know wind-up merchants. The folk who press and poke you just to get a reaction. Like wasps, they buzz around, making a nuisance of themselves, and stopping you from being able to enjoy your ice cream. Though it's not always easy to do, the best way to deal with these people (and wasps for that matter) is to ignore them. To do so, though, takes inner strength, resilience, commitment and not a little bravery. But you have these qualities in spades. Use them, and you'll soon be able to watch your troubles fly away. In your love life: Feeling tempted to nurture a negative emotion? You will benefit far more from being positive.

The late, great Rik Mayall played Lord Flashheart in the classic sitcom Blackadder. He'd crash through ceilings to make noise, win hearts, and steal scenes. With feisty Mars squaring up to your ruler, before bounding into your opposite sign, it could be that someone's making a similar impression on you. Despite yourself, you'll be swept up in a moment; brimming with passion, and driven with energy. But, don't forget where your strengths lie. You're known for your clarity. Let this be enhanced by, rather than abandoned for, emotions. In your love life: Sit and dream of the unattainable or enjoy the here and now with what you actually have. Choose wisely.

Appearances are often deceptive. How often has a person, a situation, an offer, or an event, turned out to be exactly what it said on the tin? It's important not to take things at face value. Even when things seem straightforward, the weight often lies in the nuance and detail. And this isn't negative. After all, a number of poisons when used in small quantities have healing properties. An apparent threat in your emotional life is just such an example this week. Don't be blind to the offer of reconciliation it conceals. In your love life: Consider this... Is someone in your life befuddling you? Or are you simply taking something far too seriously?

Hindsight is a wonderful thing. We've all had to make decisions that would have been much easier if we'd only known what we know now. And some of our choices might have been very different. But, you learn from every step of your life. What's gone before is what's made you who you are. There's no point looking back, and wondering what could have been. You can't change the past, but you can change the present. Mercury's movements are encouraging you to stop looking backwards and turn your attention to now! In your love life: Relationships stop being fun when those involved feel stifled. Fluidity is the key to greater harmony now.

We all like to think of ourselves as sensible, rational creatures. But what space does that leave for our intuition to work? Is it a strength to think with our heads more than our hearts? Is it even rational? Not only is our heart the seat of our emotions of love, friendship, and generosity but it's also the home of the insights and perceptions that have kept us alive, and thriving for thousands of years. All I'm trying to say is that if something's been nagging away at you recently, you might just do well to heed what it's saying. In your love life: For a stressful situation to improve, you and a certain someone must talk more or spend time further apart.

People have a funny way of gauging their own significance. We're all aware that our time here on Earth is limited, and that the world will go on spinning just as it always has done, long after we're gone. But despite this, we still can't shake off the notion of our self-importance. Deep down, we believe in our indestructibility. Eternal life, though, is only available to the deities and gods of our myths and faiths. Recently you've been feeling that you have almost god-like powers. Perhaps, this week, you do. Use them well! In your love life: You need to really understand why something keeps happening before you can bring about genuine change.

Although Mars may be leaving your sign this week, it departs with a bang. Just as the Sun joins it in Leo next weekend, the New Moon is close enough to be considered conjunct to the fiery planet. You may be tired of the emotional extremes you've experienced over the last six weeks. But soon enough, the Cosmos will allow you to take your foot off the gas, relax, and enjoy the scenery you've been climbing past. It's just asking for one more burst of energy. You're nearly at the summit. Then, you can begin the next, less challenging journey. In your love life: Your doubts are making it hard for you to conquer your difficulties. Those doubts are about to be cast out.

When I was a kid, Jim Carrey was the star my friends and I flocked to see at the cinema. The Mask was our favourite film. It was based on an ancient mask which gave superpowers to whoever wore it. At the film's climax, the hero defused an explosive situation by transforming into caricatured Italian garb, swallowing the bomb, and declaring, That's a spicy meatball!' As Mars enters your sign, a situation is about to get hotter. It'll take great strength to swallow your pride, remain calm and decisive. But you don't need a mask to be that hero. In your love life: Without inconsistency this world would be pretty dull. Don't demand perfection. Just keep a sense of humour.

Often, when you've almost reached your goal, it can be tempting to take your foot off the accelerator. You're almost there what's the rush? That can be a good attitude to take. But, whilst the pursuit of dreams shouldn't stop you from enjoying the journey, complacency is never helpful. Almost' isn't good enough especially when you have the tools you need to achieve something you've wanted for so long. Don't panic if you feel as if everything you've worked for seems to be slipping away. You're about to be greatly reassured. In your love life: Don't get so caught up in the passing scenery that you forget the destination you are trying to head for.

We're taught as children to distinguish between things: blue, not red; big, not small; good, not bad. When we become adults, this leads to us to make comparisons: am I more or less successful than that person? Happier? Sadder? It becomes an unhealthy way of thinking. No one ever knows the reality of somebody else's life. The only thing that matters is you, your progress, and your happiness. Not in relation to anyone else's either. If you can free yourself from restricting comparisons this week, you'll be surprised at what you discover. In your love life: Let yourself shrink a little, metaphorically; that will pave the ground for you to grow in a most exciting way.

It's tempting to race through life with a tick-list. Unless we've achieved that, seen this, and beaten someone else to that, are we even living? And, if you can complete this list in the shortest possible time then surely that's the ultimate success? But in the scrabble to be the best, the highest-achieving, and the most successful, the purpose of life slips away. Life's not a competition. The only winners are those confident enough to be who they are, and who follow happiness wherever it leads them. You're strong enough to be this! In your love life: Someone's talking as if from another world but you can find a way to stop feeling so alienated from them!

Some people are born worriers. They'll fret about everything; from big things right down to what they're having for dinner tonight. As an outsider, it's easy to be baffled by their capacity to overthink everything. But we should never laugh. We've all worried about something, then found that everything else seems more troubling. Worry is accumulative. Your concerns have been building up. This week, try to take a step back and evaluate whether you need to expend so much effort thinking things through. The chances are that you don't. In your love life: Asking stupid questions can undermine confidence. Be careful what you listen to and how seriously you take it.

If you're happy floating down the river, that's fine. Lie back, dangle your fingers in the water, put your hat over your eyes, let your mind meander, and go with the flow. But if you're unhappy about the direction you're heading in, remember that you have the power to change it. You have every right to take control, and divert your craft towards your own desired destination. And the tools you need to take command are at hand. Just grab those oars, hoist your mainsail, shiver your timbers and set a new course, captain! In your love life: Feeling less hopeful about a commitment that once excited you? It's time to refresh your enthusiasm.

There are those who see the world in black and white. This is right and that is wrong. This we know, and that we don't know. It's the simplicity that's so appealing. But this attitude ignores all the shades of grey in the world and the myriad of other colours too. If we try to traverse tricky terrain in a tank, we're likely to get well and truly stuck. A much nimbler approach is the key to progress. You're facing a question to which you're sure you know the answer. But think again before powering ahead it will save you from a future U-turn. In your love life: You want to act quickly. But consider going more slowly rather than putting a relationship under stress.

Experts think that willpower is a finite resource. If you expend lots of it resisting the temptation to eat a diet of burgers and chocolate cake, you won't have enough left to make you go to the gym. Perhaps self-confidence is similar. Sometimes we have too much of it in one aspect of our lives, and too little in another. Occasionally we get an opportunity to boost our overall self-esteem. While recent events have drained you, they've given you insight into your own motivations and into those of the people closest to you. In your love life: Pessimistic about your chance of success in one key area? Why so negative? Failure is not a certainty.

You can see what you want, but you can't get to it. Who's placing all those obstacles in your way? Is a malevolent force deliberately installing diversions and roadblocks to cause you frustration? Here's a thought worth considering: could it be you? Hidden beneath your desires lie a few nagging reservations. It's likely that your subconscious is nudging you to have a rethink. If you listen to your doubts, you can then decide whether to accept or dismiss them. The only person preventing you from reaching your goal is You! In your love life: You have a deep secret hope. It doesn't seem logical. But you should trust your instincts.

Venus has recently left your sign, but that doesn't mean you need to worry about feeling lonely or left behind. The weekend's Full Moon has something to teach you. It wants to reveal just how emotionally supported you are. You really can count on people's generosity. You can rely on your contemporaries to help you take advantage of opportunities. But you should also know that you're under no obligation to do so. You have the ability to do all this, and more, by yourself. Just remember that there's help on hand when you need it. In your love life: What is a person really trying to say? How should you interpret it? All will become inspiringly clear soon.

Most of us take our online connectedness for granted. We rarely stray far from a wi-fi or 4G network. But when you find yourself feeling lost, or anxious, in some remote corner of the planet, access to that signal becomes one of the most precious things imaginable. It's all a question of perspective. Do you have a surfeit of anything in your own life? Is there something you need, yet consider out of reach? Thanks to the Full Moon, you're able to recognise the true worth of something that you have previously undervalued. In your love life: You're concerned about a pressing matter. Be conscious of a possible problem but don't be overwhelmed.

The Full Moon, opposite your sign this weekend, is a powerful portent. And it's made all the more so by its conjunction with enigmatic Pluto in an astrological T-Square with judicious Jupiter. It suggests that you can finally start to clear up the mystery that's presented in your life, and that what you'll learn, in the process, will enable you to embark on a far more enjoyable leg of what's been a long, and at times difficult, journey. You can lay some ghosts to rest and calm some fears. And there'll be far less that holds you back from success. In your love life: Resist the urge to ride to the rescue. Wait a while to see if the cries for help continue.

Full Moons are emotional times we often find ourselves listening to our hearts and going off book'. If only we could combine these impulses with a more considered outlook, the world would be our oyster and the heavens would rain champagne! Yet, with Mercury freshly in Leo, and Jupiter's wisdom presiding over the Sun-Pluto opposition, this really could become your reality. Your instincts don't tell the whole tale now. But that doesn't mean they're wrong. Give them a chance, and you'll make a real impact on the life story you're creating. In your love life: A balance of power now changes in a close relationship. Now you can do something about it.

Why do the nice guys always finish last? What's the point in being kind if it never gets you anywhere? Do you have to suffer from seeing those who are less thoughtful and more selfish come out on top time and time again? Take comfort in the fact that they know their flaws and they have to live with them. They know they've used dubious means to succeed. And, to cope with that, they've had to develop a hard heart. You have priceless protection from this. What you see as your faults are actually strengths. Be glad of that. In your love life: It's better if some fantasies don't come true. Remember that in your emotional and personal life now.

The tallest redwood grows from the smallest seed. All living things have microscopic beginnings. We're all just atoms after all, aren't we? So why do some people seem to magic greatness' out of thin air? It only seems like that because we're on the other side of the curtain, in the audience. We all have the ability to nurture a seed into a towering tree; and guide an idea from a passing thought to a successful endeavour. You feel as if you're working with next to nothing. But, you underestimate yourself. Just keep watering the seed. In your love life: Little white lies can sometimes be acceptable. Trust your own judgement in this area of your emotional life now.

Nothing gets the social media channels buzzing like a controversialist. You know the sort a semi-celebrity who fans their notoriety by taking a contrary position on every issue going. It can prompt heated debate or light-hearted banter, but it rarely sheds much light. For that you need to push past easy opinions and dig down for some hard facts. The same is true in our own lives, where gossip and truths mingle like guests at a party. Now, more than ever, you need to distinguish what is real and what is hearsay. In your love life: Are you trying to reconcile things that do not go well together? You might not succeed, but nor will you fail.

One minute you're surfing the wave, the next you're sinking like a stone. While you have moments of unshakeable self-belief, these are all-too quickly followed by waves of self-doubt. Why does this keep happening? Might it be because every time your confidence swells, a certain person is on hand with a pin ready to burst the bubble? Perhaps, this week, it's best to avoid their company. Sail towards the future with as much optimism as you can muster, and you'll find that your fears roll away gently, like the tide. In your love life: A coming change will leave you with a challenge you wish you did not have, but it will be one to be glad of.

We all like to be well thought of. We appreciate recognition for our strengths, especially by those whose opinion matters most to us. This month, you need to realise that you have the ability to confound people's expectations. Someone has underestimated your capabilities. And as I know, and you should also be aware, that's a serious mistake. The cosmos is bringing you the opportunity to demonstrate just how powerful you are. And a grand, magnanimous gesture will do more than anything to enhance your reputation. In your love life: The less you are bothered about an emotional concern now, the more likely you are to succeed.

Maybe at the end of the month, you'll be able to sit back and decide whether you've enjoyed July or not. How can you do that now? The best you can hope for is an evaluation of your own forecast. Perhaps you think it's due to be tremendous. Or awful. That anticipation may colour your experience but it could yet be proved wrong. As an astrologer, though, I can give you your review of the month in advance! I can tell you now that it will prove surprisingly good. Don't be put off by minor annoyances. Be energised instead. In your love life: What you feel controlled by can be controlled by you. Whatever you need to find will find its way to you!

A few years ago, there was a big storm on social media about a dress that, depending on who was looking at it, was either black and blue, or white and gold. Recently I read about a picture of strawberries with a blue filter on it and the red pigment removed. When we see this image, our brains recognise the object, and fill in the colour we expect to see. This month, life may play tricks with your mind. But instead of seeing something that isn't there, if you believe that it is, you'll manifest the sweetness that the universe has to offer. In your love life: You are concerned about winding up somewhere dull. But you can only benefit from the effort you are making.

Can you think back and consider why you came here? When we try to recall the world we must have lived in before we arrived in this one, we just draw a blank! Yet I'll tell you what you didn't choose to visit Earth for. It wasn't for the stress, strain, hassle or difficulties. You never said, Hey, I know, I'll go ride an emotional roller-coaster?' Or, Great. I can spend my time struggling to pay bills.' You came here to feel and share love. And as your ruler conjuncts the Sun at the New Moon this month, expect a wonderful and timely reminder. In your love life: Sometimes you need the cavalry ready to ride to the rescue. Not now. Your emotional outlook is so encouraging.

As we head into July, it's important that you think carefully about what you love in your life. It's not that you need to fear it being taken away, nor worry that you'll no longer enjoy it, but there's a sense that some of the most meaningful elements are going to be set in stone. And a change of heart is far harder to achieve once encased in the foundations of our lives. So if you want to explore alternative desires, or discover hidden sides of yourself, this is a good time to take action. Once the cement dries you'll grow stronger, but less agile. In your love life: Take your time. Don't do anything that you can avoid doing for a while. Postpone and prevaricate. Be patient.

Satellite navigation systems have an option in their Settings menu called Shortest Routes. To the uninitiated, this may seem like an obvious mode to activate. But, soon they'll be skidding cross-country, down tiny tracks, across streams and through gated woodlands. The best way from A to B is rarely direct. It's not the shortest route you need to take in July, it's the most efficient one. And, with Venus in your sign, linking to Saturn, what you may now resent as a detour can become an essential part of a positive process. In your love life: There is now a promise of a positive change. You'll need courage. But that's better than trudging on a treadmill.

This should be when you're in your element. When every seed you plant comes up a rose. If you feel like dancing and do, you should score 10 out of 10 for originality and execution. But life isn't quite so simple because, although these things are possible, often you feel as if you need permission to do the things you want, or to have what you desire. The trouble with permission is that we invariably worry too much about someone saying no'. This month, concentrate on what you would do if you hear a yes' instead. It's actually far more likely. In your love life: You will benefit from the process of discovery you are entering. Prepare to feel confronted and then elated.

The Sun entering anyone's sign is big news. But it's your ruler. When it enters Leo this month, it's a bit like discovering money in your pocket and heading to the shops, only to find that they're auctioning everything you desire at bargain basement prices! Now, they say you can have too much of a good thing. With Mars in the mix, it's worth having a budget in mind, just in case you get caught up in the excitement. Yet you've nothing to fear. You're brave, brilliant, kind and charming And about to discover that your life is charmed as well. In your love life: Put down what you should never have picked up. That will show respect to all that you truly are responsible for.

Much of your time this month, preceding your ruler re-entering your sign, will feel like the build up to a special event. Like a host city preparing for the Olympics, it's time to get your infrastructure in place. You want to be sure that you have spare capacity, resources and the support required to take full advantage of this celestial celebration. It's been a long and not always comfortable ride. But you have a real opportunity, not only to make sense of what you've been through, but to see how close you are to something wonderful. In your love life: The harder you plan for eventualities, the harder you will make it for luck to enter your life. Magic is on offer.

If you intend to scale mountains, you eventually must also descend them. Where's the mountain that grows as fast as you ascend? Where's the challenge that rises before us as fast as we rise to it? For adventures like this, we must quest for integrity. If we aspire to be aware, enlightened and wise, we'll never stop striving. Every time we think we've made progress, we'll be back at the start! Yet in July, as your ruler Venus traverses the whole of Gemini, your ups will count for far more than any downs. In your love life: Someone is barking up the wrong tree. It may be wise to work out why this is before you bark back at them.

What does it mean when your two ruling planets oppose each other? Are you going to develop a split personality? Are you forever going to be searching for what you want? Or finding it and realising that you don't have the power to use it? These are all possible, but it would be a gloomy way of looking at what could be a fantastic opportunity. Be positive when exploring new situations this month. Life brings you the opportunity to achieve some of your deepest desires, as long as you don't let doubt or fear check your progress. In your love life: Get some perspective. Trust the broader, brighter, view of your life. Look away from a current problem. Cheer up.

We all push our luck a little from time to time. Life without risk-taking of some kind, is really no life at all. What you're doing now may not be wise, but, at least, it's fun! Or, at least, it might bring you great success, as long as you don't push yourself too far, too fast or too furiously. With Mars linking to your ruler, and the Sun's positive connection, events promise a month of discovery and delight. Prepare to learn more about yourself, your potential to be successful, and your ability to deepen an essential relationship. In your love life: Can't see the whole picture? Stand further back. What you need is not so much strategy, as a sense of humour.

Some people live to argue. They'll pick holes in anything and everything just to get a rise. It's exhausting, and destructive for them and for everyone around them too. Conflict breeds conflict. The more people fight, the more they're inclined to. They get addicted to scoring arbitrary, meaningless points, and to that false sense of victory'. The New Moon brings a time of intense and powerful energy. It's yours to harness as you choose. If you can channel that energy productively, you'll be delighted with the results this week. In your love life: Too much drudgery? You want more inspiration and fun? Turn on your charm; make something different happen.

The theorist Pierre Bourdieu argued that once something's invested with value, its capital can be appropriated by anyone. The challenge is when those things are ideologically charged; because it takes more than just physical force to overcome them. Instead, they must be negotiated and carefully dismantled. But some people recognise that ideological weight is a benefit, rather than a hindrance. Rather than dismantle a problem altogether this week, a small shift will enable you to flip a situation entirely to your advantage. In your love life: We all experience self-doubt and anxiety. Striking a better balance in your emotional life will be easier than you expect.

Is there someone who inspires you to greater things? Or drives you to utter distraction? Sometimes they can be one and the same person! And what about you: how do you influence your nearest and dearest? Naturally we all hope to be a positive force, encouraging others to scale greater heights. But might our actions sometimes hold others back? The New Moon highlights these key questions. If you can put aside what you might be receiving, and concentrate on what you have to give, the rewards, this week, will be tangible. In your love life: Expect a distinct increase in your ability to control events. You can also reverse a recent decision you now dislike.

It's time to check your priorities. Do you know when to jump into the fray and when to take a step back? Of course, jumping in headfirst has its benefits, but there's also much to be gained from watching and waiting. This week, as your ruler Mars makes dynamic connections, it's a time when you need to look before you leap. By all means, be at the ready, but remember that some fires just die out on their own. An apparent obstacle is really just a significant signpost directing you towards an easier route to success. In your love life: You don't need a little room to manoeuvre. You are about to be given an inch. Don't take a mile; an inch is all you need.

It's a very different experience to interact with my three-year-old than engage with anyone older. There are no filters. There's no manipulation (yet!) or hidden message. He simply says what he thinks, and asks for what he wants. And most of the time that's biscuits. That doesn't always mean he's easy to deal with often enough, he's already had enough biscuits and won't be allowed more. But, as with most things in life, he's already worked out that if he doesn't ask, he won't get. This week, don't be afraid to give voice to your desires. In your love life: Someone needs help. But their plea is being expressed in a strange way. Help them and you'll help yourself.

A skilled negotiator is capable of settling outcomes to the mutual benefit of both parties. Not only do they secure success for themselves, but their negotiating partner is far more likely to do business with them again. Underhand tactics and one-upmanship only undermine potential future successes. Of course, mutually satisfying results aren't easy to achieve. Whilst your path to success seems shrouded in uncertainty, be reassured this week. As your ruler links to mysterious Neptune, a compromise is a real possibility. In your love life: Can you let go of the emotional concern you are hanging on to? This may be your most constructive option.

There's a moment, in all the best superhero movies, when disaster strikes and everything goes into slow motion. Meanwhile our action hero is working at superhuman speeds to catch the falling plane, or turn back the hands of time to avert catastrophe. This may be the stuff of fiction, but you can do something strikingly similar this week. The New Moon, and a plethora of planets in your sign, exert a powerful influence, setting your mind into overdrive and empowering you to get things done. Make the most of your super powers! In your love life: You have to play a role you are not fully prepared for. Admit you are out of your depth, then offer to try your best.

Some people try to reduce experiences to black and white. They need everything to make sense which can sometimes involve flattening not only the truth, but the experience itself. Paradoxically, in their quest to make sense of the world, they often end up distorting it more than clarifying it. The truth is that life's not straightforward! The New Moon suggests it's time to reconsider some things you take as absolute in your life. Few things truly are. In re-evaluating your assumptions you might discover something truly remarkable. In your love life: You're always helping others. Why be nervous about requesting what you need? Ask for it boldly.

For the caterpillar, transforming into a butterfly is a natural event. For the rest of us, our transformative potential requires a little bit more work. Still, it's there. Often, though, we take for granted our ability to create and forget we have this amazing potential. We all have as much natural drive to be creative as the caterpillar has the biological imperative to build a chrysalis. Add some determination to your imagination and it won't matter if you lack the materials you need. Your innate creativity will see you through. In your love life: Don't fear change. Only one thing is going to alter. So, relax. Everything that happens will please you.

Librans like to play devil's advocate. This can make it difficult for people to work out where you stand. And it can make folk think twice about confiding their troubles because when they reveal how they've been wronged, you often see the reasoning behind the cause of their upset. This isn't a quality to be ashamed of, though it's an essential step in resolving conflicts. Yet sometimes you must be seen to pick a side and declare a position. This week, don't be shy about making your views known. Pursue that idea you're passionate about. In your love life: Is your emotional life speeding in overdrive? Don't make an overly emphatic move or you may swerve. Gently does it.

When people want to justify their actions, they might say that they were left with no choice'. Or there was nothing else I could do'. Sometimes this is true, but such circumstances are rarer than you'd think. In most cases, people say these things because they weren't aware of other options. They took the only road they could see. Bear this in mind this week. Your internal satnav is guiding you along one route, but if you can simply take another, deeper look, you'll you see alternative, interesting roads. In your love life: To be a Scorpio is to be an idealist and a pragmatist, too. Keep calm as you tackle a minor nuisance in your emotional life.

You have a lot in common with Sherlock Holmes. Something doesn't add up, and you're inclined to investigate. You don't know where the clues will lead, but you're prepared for whatever you uncover. Aren't you? New information can't be returned once you know it. You might even be better off not knowing what you currently don't know! Might you regret ever asking? Actually, the only thing you'll regret is that you spent so long in the dark. The knowledge you can gain is powerful. Like our detective, use it wisely. In your love life: Don't be dazzled by immediate worry. Remember, in your emotional life, the long-term matters much more.

If there's something you can't have, maybe you don't need it. The Solstice marks the return of the Sun to your opposite sign and is a strong suggestion that you're being well taken care of by a kindly cosmos. Not only are the planets well disposed towards you, but people (who tend to act as agents of the cosmos) are inspired to assist with your most important endeavours. Don't underestimate your ability to charm the birds from the trees, knock the socks off a stranger... or perfect a solution out of a seemingly daunting difficulty. In your love life: You can make happy progress in your emotional life through being more willing to express your inner-child.

The heart is always quicker than the head. No matter how sharp our minds, they trail behind our gut reactions like tortoises following hares. And, because they go so much more slowly, they have more time to mull things over, question instinctive responses and come up with complicated caveats to explain what ought to be obvious. You can get into a long discussion now about the relative merits of an idea or a suggestion. But passionate Mars suggests that if you really want to make progress, don't ignore what you feel. In your love life: Trust your experience and remain calm yet determined. Take all your reasons to worry with a pinch of salt.

This isn't a perfect world, and it might never be one, no matter how many Solstices come and go. But it's not such a bad place, either. And our experience of how perfect or imperfect it is varies according to the mood we find ourselves, in or the attitude that we take. Now, I'm really not saying, Imagine everything is fine and it will be fine. That's a justification for living in the kind of ignorance that rarely turns out to be blissful. But you really should now look more favourably on something you've previously felt inclined to resent. In your love life: Expect reassurance on a subject that has been a concern. Doubts will reduce. Be confident in your abilities.

When comedy writers look for an easy gag, they get their central character to declare, You won't find me doing this ever again. Then, in the very next scene, we see them contravening their vow. So much for their self-control or their luck! It's funny when we observe this happening to someone else, less amusing when it happens to us. But, as your ruler links creatively to Uranus ahead of the Solstice, if you find yourself back where you once said you'd never go again, it may be something to smile about, rather than cry over. In your love life: The truth about a sensitive matter may soon come to light your opportunity to show someone trust.

The trouble with a sense of security' is that we can never have one that's strong or deep enough. Even if we buy the best burglar alarm in the world, we'll still have a problem. What if someone sets out to steal it? As with physical protection, so with our emotional defence mechanisms. The more we try to protect ourselves, the more we find ourselves becoming vulnerable. One of the best ways to guard against unwelcome intrusion is to maintain a high level of openness. Be trusting as much as you dare this week. In your love life: You have a good hand in a high-stakes game. Or is it a game? Slowly you will see how to get what you want most.

Jonathan told a story about a friend who hated washing dishes. She'd do all she could to avoid it. One day, he noticed that her sink wasn't overflowing with the usual crockery. He asked, Did you get help? She said proudly, No. I did it! , and explained, I realised that I loathed dirty dishes, even more than I disliked cleaning them. With your ruler opposite Saturn, a similar approach can be applied to a problem you're facing. Ask yourself which may be the lesser of two evils. You might enjoy what comes out in the wash. In your love life: It is time to ask if some of your ideas may have a destructive impact, even if you see them as constructive.

A few weeks ago, you were twiddling your thumbs. Now, with Mars in your sign, you're able to use them to grip tightly to the handlebar of life's motorcycle, and hare down straights, and race round bends. You could break records for speed and efficiency as you make things happen, and deal with things that other people have made happen which need to be put right! You've a lot on your plate but you can absorb and digest every last bit of it. As long as you take one step at a time. With the Solstice arriving, those are giant steps. In your love life: If you are happy with your circumstances, fine. But if change beckons, put all your effort into this endeavour.

Where's the guard, clutching the rifle, guarding the door through which you can never hope to pass? Are you sure it's even locked? And if it is, what's that key-shaped object lying on the floor? As Mercury combines with your ruler, at the Solstice, you're being helped to see new possibilities, options, alternatives, and invitations. These aren't fanciful visions, intended to bring comfort in moments of frustration. They represent real chances, as long as you're willing to take them. But you need to stop doubting your abilities. In your love life: Someone needs your support; a situation you can't ignore. Accept as much and you will start to feel inspired.

What pleases Pat may anger Alex. What makes Jo jolly may sadden Sam. It isn't easy keeping people happy. It's particularly frustrating when we find ourselves trying to balance conflicting needs and mutually exclusive preferences. Perhaps you're thoroughly tired by all your efforts to pursue peace and harmony. You deserve to be applauded for even attempting this, yet it seems you just keep incurring criticism. Don't throw in the towel just yet. The Solstice suggests that someone's becoming a lot more reasonable. In your love life: There is a wish you can't ignore; it could turn into something much more substantial. Be sensitive.

Nobody can do the impossible! But what about the almost impossible'? Well, those things aren't actually impossible. They may be tricky. They may take luck, effort and ingenuity. But how do you know that something's impossible until, or unless you try? Don't risk everything on a crazy, far-fetched scheme and if you perceive that it poses potential danger, keep well away from it. But, if the risk's small and the potential reward is big, with Venus encouraged by dreamy Neptune, ahead of the Solstice, at least give it a try. In your love life: Life should become less stressful soon. Turn to the pleasant business of enjoying a rare, special opportunity.

There are times when we should give thanks for our problems. We should look at them, look at the trouble they've led us into, look at the steps we've been forced to take to get ourselves out of that trouble, and then recognise that we might never have wound up being so smart if we hadn't first been so dumb. Forget, this week, how or why a situation came about. Forget too, your feelings about whether it's been bad or good. The Solstice brings the chance to just look at what it now has the potential to offer you. Be glad of that. In your love life: Be grateful for your uncertainty. Dwell on it as much as you dare. Ask yourself if a greater misgiving is behind it.

Few people deliberately spread misinformation. The vast majority of us have integrity and sincerity. But we also have a very strong, natural sense of faith. When we believe something to be true, we share that belief with evangelistic zeal. We want others to believe it, because we believe they'll benefit from knowing what we know. This is all fine unless we don't actually know what we think we know! Are you giving someone else's enthusiastic assumption a little too much credence? The Solstice helps you get to the root of the matter. In your love life: The role you have been thrust into, is a part you were born to play. Be yourself. Be brave and spontaneous. Shine.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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