Michael Lutin tells Aries not to drop out entirely

ARIES MARCH 21-APRIL 19

With so many scary things going on in the world, no wonder you feel happiest when you’re secure and cozy in your bunker. Go ahead and order in that large pizza and a box of jelly doughnuts. Heaven knows you have the right to treat yourself to some comfort food and domestic tranquillity; there are worse ways to celebrate the presence of Jupiter in your solar 4th house. Furthermore, considering the state of the economy, it’s great that you can scrape together a few dollars for yourself and your loved ones. Does that give you the right to turn your back on the rest of humanity, though?

TAURUS APRIL 20 — MAY 20

When you make sincere gestures toward your fellow beings, those who are envious of your unfailing ability to attract prosperity and to go wherever the money is may claim that you’re simply on another self-serving Taurean binge. However, the new moon in your 11th house testifies to your genuine concern for the welfare of others, and even if you are emotionally hungry—or, for that matter, starving and desperate—a 3rd-house Jupiter lets you approach life with a happy tune on your lips and a warm feeling in your heart, shallow though it may be.

GEMINI MAY 21-JUNE 21

There are so few people you can depend on these days that your existence could start to seem pretty dreary. But even if you are stuck playing the responsible, lonely adult when some of those you wish you could look to for support are acting like seven-year-olds, you can take comfort in the knowledge that when Jupiter is exalted in your 2nd house, you will find yourself living in comfortable surroundings, feasting on rich foods, and feeling a nice bulge in your wallet. Then you’ll discover that abundance goes a long way toward reducing anxiety.

CANCER JUNE 22-JULY 22

It’s an absolute wonder that you have stayed strong in the face of the forebodings of bony-fingered soothsayers who shiver at the mere thought of Pluto’s conjunction with the south node. In fact, if attitude counts for anything when it comes to prosperity and wellbeing, you should have it made right now. Thanks to the direct motion of the greater benefic planet in your sign (and a little help from meditation and/or medication), you’re as chirpy and cheerful as anyone could ever hope to be under such iffy circumstances. Just don’t look down.

LEO JULY 23-AUG. 22

Yes, you’ve endured heartache, but to your credit you remain hopeful. Even when your kids disappoint you or loved ones hurt you, the fact that you continue to exude optimism and faith is truly inspiring The wicked conjunction in your 5th house that keeps stabbing at you and reminding you that you are not playing the romantic lead right now doesn’t seem to weaken the resolve you get from Jupiter’s transit of your solar 12th house. Could that be the source of your unflagging belief that the universe will never let you down, even if your love life sucks?

VIRGO AUG. 23-SEPT. 22

There’s a Jupiter transit taking place which will brighten your day if 3 you let it. Friends will welcome you into their homes and hearts, and doors will open up all over the world. Go for it. Try not to get into a swivet if the home that is supposed to be your castle suddenly seems like a moldy mausoleum, though. It’s merely a result of the natural transformation that occurs when Pluto and the dragon’s tail converge at the bottom of your solar horoscope. The lesson here is that you need to get rid of a lot of crap you’ve been holding on to for far too long.

LIBRA SEPT. 23 - OCT. 23

If you’ve been hoping and praying for the opportunity of a lifetime, 9 it may arrive on a silver platter this month. The elevation of an exalted Jupiter in your solar midheaven occurs only once every 12 years, and with your ruling planet in the 7th house, you’ll be out there basking in the warmth of approval and raking in compliments and offers. The bad news: not even the greatest psychic in the world can predict how it will all turn out, mainly because you are restless and ambivalent when it comes to committing yourself. Typical.

SCORPIO OCT.24-NOV. 21

When Pluto, your ruling planet, goes retrograde near the south node in your 2nd house, it is always wise to curb your urge to rush out and buy a big-ticket item or spend a fortune on some luxury vacation. Such temptations are difficult to resist, however, when Jupiter is moving forward in your solar 9th house at about the same time, since your ever present fear of being wiped out financially is overshadowed by your unbridled belief that if you think “prosperity,” prosperity won’t pass you by. It wouldn’t dare.

SAGITTARIUS NOV. 22-DEC. 21

Isn’t it a real kick in the head? Just when fabulous opportunities start flowing in one after another, you’re too damned sick and tired of everything and everybody to chase after them. That’s another one of life’s not so funny little ironies. Your ruling planet is advancing in your solar 8th house while the ruler of your 12th is moving backward through your sign, so even when you do follow through and take people up on their offers, you simply are not fully there to enjoy it. The good news: some people are turned on by your self-absorbed lethargy.

CAPRICORN DEC. 22 — JAN. 19

If you can tolerate some good tidings (most Capricorns sneer at the thought), you are due for major support this month. There are still some very Jovian, nurturing individuals out there who truly love and respect you and who are ready to offer you whatever you may need, right down to a big plate of pasta when you’re hungry. It’s a good thing you have people who can satisfy your external needs. That way you can wallow in your solitary, Plutonian struggle to find deeper, more spiritually enriching meaning in your life. Confidentially, drugs are not the answer.

AQUARIUS JAN.20-FEB.I8

You’ll be ahead of the game if you acknowledge right off the bat that you are now living in the Tower of Babel. At least that’s how it seems when Uranus rules the heavens and the ruler of your solar 10th house goes retrograde in your 11th. You have to wonder why people can’t just live together in harmony—and do exactly what you tell them to do. Sorry, but at this point the best you can hope for is good health and the ability to go on doing your work. Forget grandiose dreams of world peace and enjoy life’s simple pleasures, such as holding down food and feeding goldfish.

PISCES FEB. 19-MARCH 20

Many members of your noble and gentle sign are currently wrapped up in an eternal battle between heartfelt sincerity and Machiavellian politics. On the one hand, a powerful conjunction in your solar midheaven indicates that you are engaged in a dangerous game with a frighteningly sophisticated player. The stakes are so high and the risks so tremendous that you’d be crazy to close your eyes for even a second. On the other hand, with Jupiter transiting your solar 5th house, if you open your heart and let the love pour out, how can you lose? Don’t ask.

To hear more about what’s happening in your horoscope—and everyone else’s—listen to Michael Lutin weekly by calling 1-900-28V-FAIR on a touch-tone phone. Cost: $1.95 per minute. If you are under 18, you need parental permission.