By Quan Tracy Cherry

Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces, Aries,
Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo,
Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius,

(If you know your Ascendant read that information to ascertain how to approach the upcoming year. If
you know your Moon sign read that information to ascertain how to determine your subconscious habits
or attachments to the past may be interfering with your ability to enjoy the present moment.)

Writer’s Note: I have organized this column by element. Aquarius, Gemini, Libra are air signs. Pisces, Cancer, Scorpio, water; Aries, Leo, Sagittarius, fire; Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn, earth. Read your complimentary sign within your own element. During Aquarius time of year, we are inspired to break with routines. I am doing this simply through this reorganization.

Author’s Disclaimer: If I’ve heavier of late, it’s just the sign of the times — these be times to wake up and recognize your “environmental imprints” (period) A blog to come (whatever that really is or what form it takes).

Taurus: I want change, I just don’t know how to go about it. Do I focus upon me? With Venus in your sign for most of the month, yes. Focus on you and your pleasures. Just remember that they will be hell to pay in your home if you don’t take act, demonstrative action to please those who live with you. Mars, an antidote to Venus, will be in Leo after May 9 and his action blazes up from the cellars of hell. You can attempt to have it both ways. Enter in a certain shamelessness. I can think of two twin souls whose last names begin with a “C.” One of them has oodles of Scorpio, secretive and power shifts; the other has an instinctive signature (Moon) in Taurus. Passive resistance while twisting words won’t win you any popularity contests that matter. And, as the only fixated earth sign with hedonistic tendencies and shades of materialism, there are those of us who have longer emotional memories.

Virgo: Why bother? Because you’re the only one who has the adaptability to get it done perfectly without a lot of fanfare. Yes, you complain, but that’s your way, or one of them, of expressing feelings. Hello, Dr. Spock. Mercury, that Italian god of thieves, liars and business folk, will go retrograde from May 26 through June 19 in Gemini. A most challenging sign of changeable air, that’s Gemini. And, it bothers you to have to be swallowed up in the informational age greedily deciding what’s important and what is not. Use your seemingly unending pulse of knowing how to access collective frustration while staying behind the scenes to be your guide. What?! Realize you are perfectly suited because of the planetary positions to feed off the free-floating passions/frustrations, and yes, bitterness to manifest the next step for your life. Relationships will be made and unmade based on knowing when to battle for others— an advocate of sorts. When you stand up for another, you know yourself.

Capricorn: My sister sign (and I have two Cap sisters) is beginning to come in their own. Hallelujah! Saturn has begun to move. Yes, your ruler/guardian has taken a four and half month sojourn. He does this every year. But, it’s not every year he does this in such a compatible sign as Virgo. Realistically, he wants you to begin to see the forest and let someone else tell you about the trees. The details belong to someone else. Once you allow yourself to acknowledge your deeper (and soulful) desires, your world improves dramatically. Freedom from burdens, that’s your next step in your spiritual evolution. Miss the opportunities to leave your cultural and familiar conditioning behind. You won’t be left in the proverbial lurch, although, you might have to go out on a limb. Oh, come on, can’t you take a joke and a risk simultaneously?

Gemini: Lots of misinformation or is it disinformation going around? What you see may not be what you get. If you keep looking for the quick answer, you get what you pay for. Or are you knocking on a door with no one home? It’s time for a new approach. Use Hillary as an example. What are you willing to do win? But, more importantly, how are willing to be perceived? Yep, this be a perception argument. With Mercury, a major benefactor of yours, spending May 2 through July 9 in your sign, you have oodles of time to work on calculating the effect of your actions and the perceptions as such. In essence, this is a perfect window to try out new stuff. I am purposely being vague using the word “stuff” — in your mind’s eye come out of your “closet.” Why not? Who will be hurt through an honest examination of your impulses? Will your god turn away from you? If you’re questioning your identity and where life has taken you from a heartfelt motivation, how can anyone who professes to be of love turn away from you? Huh?

Libra: Ethic questioning? Yes, I see shades of gray in your future. Do you know the difference between jealousy and possessiveness? Have you experienced this difference personally? If not (you cannot remember), trust these are your upcoming lessons. And, I suppose trust (or the lack thereof) underscores why these are your lessons. The line between friendship and love is being erased. There is no more sand for a line in which to be crossed. Must there be war? Take a breath. We must not fight for peace. We must be peace. Embody peace. Love peace. Do you know the way to San Jose? What is your pleasure? How can we exponentially create more pleasure without suffering (and still remain PC)?

Aquarius: I’ve heard you like your lovers easily to get. If so, what happens when you no longer want the daily newspaper? Or you obtain the news on the Internet? I don’t know if you so much easy to get as you are a present moment kind of person when it comes to sex. Love comes later, if at all. Love comes through habits. Love grows through your seeing the other person’s heart. You’re suspicious by nature, but you can see others clearly. When they pass your spontaneous tests, then and only then, you open your heart. Lovers and playmates past are returning to your circle. How will you handle them, particularly if you are in a relationship?

Cancer: You get what I call “The Personal Response Award,” the PRA. Not to be confused with the IRA or those pesky individual retirement accounts. Savings for what? Or for whom? Talk to me, cause I like to listen. Or I ought to say, talk to you, cause you like to listen. Are you crazy or just acting like you are? You talking about me? Take what bait? Lift what bail and tote what hay? Who knows precisely how to accept you for whom you are? End those simmering resentments from the past. No one can allow you to be you, but you. Make the world, your world, a better place through showing up authentic and self-assured. The PRA is given to you because you’re doing you very well. Be willing to suspend artificial connections.

Scorpio: All mind and no heart makes you controlling beyond belief. Keep stroking those home fires within. What? Locate your spirit, guidance and inspiration through taking long walks, yoga, meditation or zoning out through your favorite creative activity. Become your own best friend. However, when you over analyze, you become boorish, cold and oh so calculating. Not everyone has ulterior motives. Do you have to see those who’ve hurt you stumble? Don’t set yourself up for any boomerang karma. Well, unless it’s the Mother Teresa or Jimmy Carter Habitat For Humanity kind. Karma can be good, you know. Give without any expectations of return from the recipient. Listen closely what is not being said or asked for, and give to the unspoken need, then watch how your life takes on an exceptional glow and flow.

Pisces: Your key phrase is “I believe.” Beliefs are very powerful. Use the next two months to consciously examine what you believe. Is the world out to get you, to judge you? Do you discriminate between the different beliefs that others have of you? Have you become too focused on what others think or believe? Are you going along to get along simply because you believe this behavior is easier? I believe that this Democratic nominating process is taking its toll on our collective psyche because we have to wake up in order to grow up. Our collective beliefs about gender and race thwart our evolution in this country and to some extent the world. Having sexist or racist thoughts and feelings, I believe must be dealt with. Behavior follows thought and feelings, and the more unexamined these are, the greater the pain is for everyone. Maybe, just maybe, that’s why the beliefs (shown through their policy positions) of Obama and Clinton are so similar, in this way we are focused on the identity and character of each because they mirror what’s unexamined in us as a nation. I believe, no, I know this true. Wake up 2 grow up!

Leo: Our nation has to learn how to peer. You, as Leo, must learn how to have the requisite detachment to see the uniqueness of another in order to learn how to peer. A myriad of strengths and weaknesses. Teamwork and fulfilling long-term goals will be at the forefront of your mind and heart over the next 2 months. Use this Mercury retrograde (May 26 through June 19) to reassess your life in relationship to the big picture. No pettiness allowed. Aiding you is Mars returning to your sign on May 9. Self-affirmation and self-determination are your keynotes. Become the initiator and driving force behind a personal project, and, that project could be building a healthier you, an open hearted you.

Sagittarius: Your ruler turns around to appear like he’s moving backwards from May 9 through Sept. 7. He does this every year. These four months you will come to realize what wheel of fortune truly means for you. When life comes to easily to you, complacency takes over. You need a little bit of the alchemist, mixing this with that. Especially as you examine your financial bottom line. You see, Jupiter is twisting in the wind in the pragmatic sign of Capricorn, the guardian of your second state of resources, money and survival instincts. What makes you feel good about being on planet Earth? How hard do you work for your money? Do you have a garden going? In ancient Roman times, the Goddess Fortuna spoke in riddles. Your current puzzles can be best solved through talking with a trusted adviser who sees you for you. Reoccurring puzzles may mean an acceptance of your fate, and then living within said fate. Destiny can be a wonderful companion of this Ferris Wheel also known as life.

Aries: I cannot tell you how much I want to run away from this Sun sign column. I approach life like an Aries. I’m trying to make this more interesting to me. Aiding me in this wanderlust is Mars. The passionate and self-actualizing warrior planet hit‚s a comfortable fire placement from May 9 through July 1. For the past seven months his passions have been scattered in airy Gemini or smoldering in watery Cancer. Finally (long sigh), he gets his royal marching papers in fiery Leo. You will begin to feel like yourself again, plucky, assertive and ready to tackle your greatest challenges. Just don’t go overboard and burn down those bridges that have been painstakingly built. You can begin anew with those relationships and creative projects have been gathering dust in the backdrop of your mind. Green lights and chutzpah makes these next two months, just read all fine print from May 26 through June 19.

More information on Quan Tracy Cherry can be found at www.beliefisnotrequired.com

ASTROLOGY FEATURE

Glossary:

Tropical Zodiac, The Seasons —

Fire Element:

Aries, March 20-April 19, initiating spring

Leo, July 23-August 22, concentrating summer

Sagittarius, November 22-December 21, adapting fall

Earth Element:

Taurus, April 20-May 20, concentrating spring

Virgo, August 23-September 22, adapting summer

Capricorn, December 22-January 20, initiating winter

Air Element:

Gemini, May 21-June 20, adapting spring

Libra, September 23-October 22, initiating fall

Aquarius, January 20-February 18, concentrating winter

Water Element:

Cancer, June 21-July 22, initiating summer

Scorpio, October 23-November 21, concentrating fall

Pisces, February 19-March 19, adapting winter

Please note the date of the Sun’s ingress. You will need to know your time and place of birth for an accurate assessment of where your consciousness shines.