PLANETARIUM

Michael Lutin wonders whether Pisceans should hang on or let go

PISCES FEB. 19-MARCH 20

There's no question that you are preparing to make an enormous, life-changing decision. With Saturn reversing its direction in your solar 4th house, the family scene you have sought to create, develop, and protect is undergoing certain transformations. Meanwhile, the odd motion of Uranus during 2003 can only add to the complexity of your situation. Highly evolved members of your sign recognize this period as an opportunity to exercise compassion and unconditional love. Many others, however, are teetering on the edge of insanity. Pick your category.

ARIES MARCH 21-APRIL 19

Try not to interpret recent developments as a sign that you have lost your power and become an old horse who's ready for the glue factory. Even the most prescient among us have been finding it impossible lately to predict which way the political wind will blow next. The ruler of your solar 10th house will be moving from retrograde to direct later this month, which should help clear up any indecision, restlessness, communication issues, or questions about what you're doing with your life. Not that any of that stuff could ever happen to you.

TAURUS APRIL 20-MAY 20

Only God knows where you'll end up professionally a year from now, but two things are certain: economics will always factor into your decision-making, and you will always have bills to pay. Considering the responsibilities that have been piled on your head lately, it wouldn't be prudent to get uppity and play the diva now. While you don't want anyone to think you would sell out your ideals for a few measly dollars, with Saturn transiting your 2nd house you'd have to be an idiot to walk away from a good offer on principle alone. You can't afford the luxury.

GEMINI MAY 21-JUNE 21

You've been so quiet lately that it sometimes seems as though only a vestige of your former social self remains, but don't think you have lost your youthful zest for life, even if you do feel as if you were 400 years old. This seemingly endless transit of Saturn through Gemini has cut you off and shut you down, leaving you to bear too many of life's burdens on your poor, tired shoulders. Although the problems that you thought would never get solved will soon be on their way to resolution, it's no wonder you've been in such a bitchy mood.

CANCER JUNE 22-JULY 22

Sometimes life deals you such impossible choices that, no matter what you do, you end up driven nuts by voices in your head insisting that you've made a ghastly mistake. With your 12th house so active that it's clear a sacrifice is being demanded of you and a spiritual crisis is occurring deep in your soul, take comfort in the knowledge that we are all trapped by the choices we have made in the past, and accept that, for all anyone knows, fate may have set us all up at the outset. Pray for guidance and you won't be misled. Guilt is the mind killer.

LEO JULY 23-AUG. 22

In order to explore parts of yourself you never knew existed and become a full-fledged member of the human race, sometimes you have to lose your traditional focus, drive, and motivation. Thanks to a transit of your 6th-house ruler through your 11th, you've been able to do that. The irony is that, over the last two years, your nervousness about not having a goal made you eager to belong anywhere. Although some friends have been lost along the way, you now see that a sense of belonging grows naturally and cannot be hammered into existence. You do see that, don't you?

VIRGO AUG. 23-SEPT. 22

Now that everyone knows you are not the paragon of rational perfection you have always billed yourself as, you might as well devote all your energy to preserving (or rescuing) the reputation you struggled for so many years to build. Although you have done your utmost to destroy your career out of fear that you'd be married to it and would never have a personal life, your work remains your main focus. If you stick with it now and re-establish your credibility, you will be able to walk into the sunset and lead a more or less normal life. Not yet, however.

LIBRA SEPT. 23-OCT. 23

While it's very romantic to believe that the human heart cannot be tamed and that love conquers all, the consequences of such notions can be disastrous, though admittedly exciting. The truth is that, this month, your solar 9th house, which rules higher consciousness, needs to start exerting at least as much influence on your affairs as your solar 5th house, which supplies the thrills and chills. Teacher-student or shrinkpatient relationships in any form should teach you the benefits of keeping healthy boundaries, as well as the dangers of eroding them. Take heed.

SCORPIO OCT. 24-NOV. 21

In astrology the 8th house belongs to Scorpio, so when an outer planet tenants that house, you usually end up either hooting with pleasure or writhing in pain. Since the current period of intense selfexamination and personal crisis is almost over, you can now begin to reflect on the past two years and see how profoundly your attitude toward money has changed, not to mention how deeply you've benefited from your amazing sexual transformation. You are such a private person, however, that we should probably not be mentioning such things.

SAGITTARIUS NOV. 22-DEC. 21

Even if you have sworn up and down that you would never again let anyone run your life, the fact remains that whenever you allow yourself to become deeply involved with someone you really care about you automatically give up some measure of independence. With Saturn transiting its exalted position in your 7th house now, the moment has arrived when you must either deepen your commitment further or turn and head in another direction. However it plays out, remember this: long-term relationships don't end; they just move to another level.

CAPRICORN DEC. 22-JAN. 19

Even the wealthiest Capricorns are growing weary of coping with wild fluctuations in their bank accounts. After all, economic instability is against your religion, which values security above all else. With your planetary ruler now moving ahead in your solar 6th house, there is one sure way to raise your net worth and lower your blood pressure. It's called work. You'd be surprised at the way a little consistency and diligence can steady your cash flow and restore your mental and physical health. You're right, though. It is damned boring.

AQUARIUS JAN. 20-FEB. 18

At times like these, when you feel as if your heart has been broken once too often, it would be easy to become embittered and lose faith in love. As Saturn goes direct, however, your belief in life needs to be stronger than ever, even if you are sick and tired of the rat race. Maintaining control over your affairs has become an exhausting full-time job, mainly because defending your independence has begun to seem less attractive than simply giving up and allowing the universe to take you where it will. It eventually will, you know.